Where to focus?

[TheBestVaulterAlive]

Coming from Bubka's presentation in Jamaica, I recall him stating that when on the runways his focus was "to the front, [because] many jumpers look at the box, the box doesn't move, it is always there. I think it has to do with mental pressure or being scared. " What is he talking about when he says the front? Does he imply just looking straight forward? Or is looking just above the box towards the pad? Does he mean this when he is only running down the runway?
Personally, I have always looked at the back of the box when completing the approach and after takeoff my focus changes but if I am interpreting this correctly, Bubka kept his attention neutral. Almost as if he was a long jumper not looking at the takeoff board to increase his takeoff angle. This does make some sense to me because if an athlete has his or her head focused on the back of the box then a) their drive into the takeoff could be flat or downwards b) the chin rests on the chest increasing the low takeoff and breaking the kinetic chain between the body and back and c) having the athlete not rise up.

[vquestpvc]

Quite honestly, I don't know what Bubka means by "front". But, I've learned and believe there should be various focal points throughout the vault. However, the last thing one sees at about takeoff should not be the box. There can be an athlete's runway check mark and even a quick glance at the box several steps out. My suggestion is to look through or past the "window" (the area the uprights and bar make). What does a sprinter look at while running a race? A vaulter should be a good sprinter with a pole. At take off though, look to either the upper hand or between the hands at the pole. Think of it as jumping to a horizontal bar. At take off to a horizontal bar the eyes focus of course is on the bar; try doing this with eyes closed. Then through the vault keep eyes primarily on the same focal point. Even if you are capable of doing this, perhaps you'll see the right hand go to right hip or see legs cover the pole. I state "perhaps" because it only takes seconds to get through the entire vault and one surely will not see everything. But I think it is absolutely important to have "focal points". Many vaulters claim they don't see anything through the vault. I ask why? One doesn't close their eyes when driving for a layup in basketball or a good wrestler relies on their eyes to determine positioning. Imagine a gymnast who performs on the balance beam or parallel bars with eyes closed. So, I believe one should also work on using the eyes through the vault; from start to finish. Only through practice will one get better.

[TheBestVaulterAlive]

Good illustration of the sprinter. I would also like to add something from BTB. Not 100% sure about this reference but I believe the book references Bubka (on his first 6m in particular) looking through the figurative window in which his arms have created at takeoff. As he has resisted any "pushing, pulling, blocking" of the left arm and has treated the pole as if it were a straight pole, his left elbow slightly points outward, allowing him to drive through with the hips and chest. Thus enabling him to look forward and then towards the upper hand.