High School Vaulting in the Rain
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 3:10 pm
Hi everyone,
I would like to hear your thoughts regarding the safety of pole vaulting in the rain. I am a current high school coach in the Seattle Area and I have some concern. I would like to state up front that I am a vaulter myself. I have jumped in all weather conditions including rain, wind, hail, snow, and even lightning. I am very blessed to have lived and learned through some very poor decisions regarding vaulting in unfit facilities and weather.
First, are there any specific regulations about pole vaulting in the rain (not lightning)? I don't think that there are but I may be wrong. If I am wrong could someone please point me to any written documentation regarding these rules.
Last year we had many meets where I felt the students should not be jumping. When the rain occurred during a regular season 'dual' or 'tri' meet I was able to talk with the other vaulting coaches and head coaches to postpone the competition. Usually not a big deal. Most knowledgeable coaches will not argue regarding safety. However, my concern is for the larger more important meets where pole vault coaches do not have the authority to call or postpone the competition. At county and district qualifying meets the meet director has final say. Usually, in my experience, he/she is not knowledgeable with the vault. The officials want to finish the meet on time and do not want to come back another day. They seem to laugh it off because we are in the northwest and in Seattle we just deal with the rain. I feel that this is a concern, especially when it occurs in big qualifying meets where students will push the limits because they want to go to States.
Most young high school vaulters that I see at meets do not understand how to prepare to jump in the rain. Vaulters and unfortunately some coaches do not understand the need to keep the pole dry, keep fresh dry tape on the pole, wear spikes, use a towel, or even sticky spray.
I feel that there should be some guidelines to address how and when it is appropriate to jump in the rain. Maybe even set rules that students must follow in order to compete in the rain. Also, I think there should be a rule that states if it is raining during a meet, the pole vault coaches (by majority vote) have final say whether or not competition is canceled not the meet director. If the meet is to be resumed on a different day the competition should be started completely over, to be fair to a kid that NHs because of conditions.
Any coach or official that doesn't put the safety of the athlete's first shouldn't be involved in high school sports. I think we all need to look at our policies in these conditions before someone gets hurt. If we are serious about safety, we need to address this situation, not laugh at it!!!!! I think any coach has the authority, responsibility and requirement to pull their athletes out of any unsafe situation whether for weather conditions, facility or equipment concerns, or health of the athlete at anytime without penalty.
Unfortunately, most new rules are not made until someone is hurt or killed. This should not be the case.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for reading
RamboRich
I would like to hear your thoughts regarding the safety of pole vaulting in the rain. I am a current high school coach in the Seattle Area and I have some concern. I would like to state up front that I am a vaulter myself. I have jumped in all weather conditions including rain, wind, hail, snow, and even lightning. I am very blessed to have lived and learned through some very poor decisions regarding vaulting in unfit facilities and weather.
First, are there any specific regulations about pole vaulting in the rain (not lightning)? I don't think that there are but I may be wrong. If I am wrong could someone please point me to any written documentation regarding these rules.
Last year we had many meets where I felt the students should not be jumping. When the rain occurred during a regular season 'dual' or 'tri' meet I was able to talk with the other vaulting coaches and head coaches to postpone the competition. Usually not a big deal. Most knowledgeable coaches will not argue regarding safety. However, my concern is for the larger more important meets where pole vault coaches do not have the authority to call or postpone the competition. At county and district qualifying meets the meet director has final say. Usually, in my experience, he/she is not knowledgeable with the vault. The officials want to finish the meet on time and do not want to come back another day. They seem to laugh it off because we are in the northwest and in Seattle we just deal with the rain. I feel that this is a concern, especially when it occurs in big qualifying meets where students will push the limits because they want to go to States.
Most young high school vaulters that I see at meets do not understand how to prepare to jump in the rain. Vaulters and unfortunately some coaches do not understand the need to keep the pole dry, keep fresh dry tape on the pole, wear spikes, use a towel, or even sticky spray.
I feel that there should be some guidelines to address how and when it is appropriate to jump in the rain. Maybe even set rules that students must follow in order to compete in the rain. Also, I think there should be a rule that states if it is raining during a meet, the pole vault coaches (by majority vote) have final say whether or not competition is canceled not the meet director. If the meet is to be resumed on a different day the competition should be started completely over, to be fair to a kid that NHs because of conditions.
Any coach or official that doesn't put the safety of the athlete's first shouldn't be involved in high school sports. I think we all need to look at our policies in these conditions before someone gets hurt. If we are serious about safety, we need to address this situation, not laugh at it!!!!! I think any coach has the authority, responsibility and requirement to pull their athletes out of any unsafe situation whether for weather conditions, facility or equipment concerns, or health of the athlete at anytime without penalty.
Unfortunately, most new rules are not made until someone is hurt or killed. This should not be the case.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for reading
RamboRich