Preliminary announcement of altius clinics in the US.

[altius]

An Australian Approach to developing pole vaulters.
In June and early July 2013, Alan Launder (author of “From Beginner to Bubka, and Isinbayeva too!”) will cooperate with some of America’s leading coaches in a limited series of clinics to present a unique approach to teaching and coaching the pole vault. Alan brings immense experience as an educator who has been involved in teaching and coaching a range of sports in Great Britain, The United States and Australia. His detailed professional vitae is available on request but in essence he has been involved in teaching and coaching the pole vault for over fifty years. He has drawn on this experience to develop a unique approach to the development of pole vaulters.

This approach combines two elements. The first is an emphasis on the importance of the athlete understanding the advantages of the Petrov technical model, while the second is the use of the smallest number of drills and practices necessary to achieve mastery of the model. This combination of understanding with minimalism simplifies the task for both the athlete and the coach, especially intelligent novices in either role! It is for this reason that we would like to make a special appeal to young or inexperienced coaches to attend any of these clinics.

The understanding element stresses that
1. “Perfection does not come from doing extraordinary things, it comes from doing simple things extraordinarily well.”
2. The Petrov technical model is totally integrated from the first step to bar clearance.
3. That any determined athlete can completely control their technique from the first step to the instant of take off and can begin to master successive elements of this technical model, simply by committing to intelligent repetitive practice.

The minimalist element stresses that
1. “Sok kicsi socra megy”.
2. Training for the pole vault should be highly specific in nature.
3. All training and drills must contribute directly to the development of key elements of the model.

[Bubba PV]

Can't wait to see you Alan (& Jenny). Plan on staying here and doing at least a few clinics in SoCal! Bubba

[Bgruver]

How can I get more information? Have dates, locations cost etc been announced yet?

[altius]

Clinics limited to Oregon City, Sacramento x 2, Southern Cal. x 2, Houston x 2 and Minneapolis St Paul. Got to go to where the real interest is and prioritise from there - can't afford to stay in the USA too long - no reciprocal health care arrangements with OZ!!

[altius]

Looks as though we may have small gap between June 30 and July 4 - if anyone is interested in helping me fill it - somewhere en a fairly direct route between Houston and Minneapolis St Paul - please pm me. I know enough US history to understand that this a holiday period so not a good time for a clinic - although I have never worked out why any folk would want to secede from the great British Empire.

Todd Cooper has generously offered us the chance to stay with him for a break and that is a possibility - but I would rather be coaching if that is possible. As a pensioner I need the money!

[Andy_C]

Glad to see you are going back to the US again Alan! Wish I could be there for the SoCal clinics! All the best, I know you guys will have a blast.

-Andrew

[vaultman18]

Will have more details an dates for the Sacramento leg of the tour soon.

[powerplant42]

Any idea when Minneapolis will be roughly? Will it at least be after mid-June?

[RPVA03]

We are going to be having the Minneapolis clinic on July 5, 6, and 7th. More details will be coming soon. PM me if you want some details sooner.

[altius]

Note that we are hoping to have a competition for any youngsters who are attending the clinic and would like to jump the night before. In addition we intend to hold a clinic for coaches on the same evening - IF there is enough interest. I hope there is some interest because I will be presenting ideas that have evolved from over fifty years of highly successful coaching in track and field and which will draw together the results of study with great coaches like Anje Kresinski, Maurice Houvion, Vitali Petrov, Jean Claude Perin and Alex Parnov - all who have coached Olympic Champions, plus of course Roman Botcharnikov - whose athlete only finished second at the Olympics!!!

[botakatobi]

You left off the influence of the one person who coached the US National High School record holder, two NCAA record holders, two world record holders and both the gold medalist and silver medalist in two Olympic Games.

[altius]

Well I will sincerely apologise if I missed mentioning someone who directly influenced my thinking - but I would like to know who it was before I can do that.