An Article from WA

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Regulations put crimp in pole vaulting
New safety precautions leave some schools without sanctioned facilities


GAIL WOOD THE OLYMPIAN

In an age predisposed to litigation, at a time when spilt coffee can mean a million dollar lawsuit, it's getting harder and harder to be a thrill seeker.
Or, at least, a sanctioned one.

That's the case for today's high school pole vaulters, track's equivalent to bungee jumpers, hang gliders and mountain climbers. All rolled into one.

"You need to be just a little crazy to pole vault," said Terry Scott, Black Hills track coach who pole vaulted in college.

And besides crazy, the national governing power of high school track wants to ensure they are safe.

This year, several more safety precautions were added, leaving a number of schools without sanctioned practice facilities. Aberdeen dropped pole vaulting entirely. Timberline, North Thurston and River Ridge are sharing a pole vault pit. So are Tumwater and Black Hills.

All because a new rule requires landing pits add another five feet of cushion to the skirts of the existing landing pad. It's seen an added buffer from injury.

"It's smart," Shelton coach Brian Brickert said about the added safety requirements. "You're protecting yourself. Litigation-wise, when people sue at the drop of a hat, you have to."

Shelton, a school with a rich pole vault tradition, bought a collegiate size landing pit several years ago, putting them in compliance and ahead of the game.

The extra padding costs an extra $2,500. If schools elect to super-size, opting for the bigger, giant-size pad, that will cost about $8,000.

"It's not cheap," Scott said. "For a lot of schools, that's more than they can afford."

But the extra five feet of landing space isn't the only new requirement. Added padding (a box collar) around the area vaulters plant their poles is also required. Then there's the white square that needs to be painted on the landing pad. Vaulters who land outside of that square receive a series of warnings, with the third violation resulting in disqualification.

Standards, the supports for the cross bar, must now by bolted down.

"They're going to chase pole vaulting out of high schools," Timberline coach Todd Taylor said. "Schools can't continue to make these changes. It's expensive."

For schools like Timberline to be in compliance, the added padding would stick out into lane one of the track. Next year, Taylor hopes to move the pole vault to the end zone, where there's more room.

The rule changes also require coaches to be certified. There's now supposed to be a designated "coach's box" for the pole vault coach. That coach is supposed to be in that box and be prepared to catch the vaulter if necessary.

"I think all of this might be an overkill," Taylor said. "We've never had an injury in pole vaulting."

In 18 years of coaching, Scott has not seen a serious injury in pole vaulting. Tumwater's Greg Williams, who has cleared 14 feet, injured his knee when he landed on it while practicing.

"But extra padding wouldn't have made any difference," Tumwater coach Rich Taylor said. "It was just one of those unfortunate things."

Yet because Timberline and River Ridge don't have certified coaches or have approved facilities, it sends a handful of vaulters to North Thurston on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Black Hills, in a similar situation, sends five vaulters to Tumwater twice a week.

"It's ridiculous," River Ridge coach Phil Lonborg said.

All this raises questions about what happens when schools without approved pole vault pits host a meet. One option is to hold the pole vault competition at another site on another day. Since pole vaulters typically compete in other events, that necessitates holding the pole vault competition another day.

"We had to get approval from the WIAA to share facilities," North Thurston coach Brent Warner said. "It's tough for kids to commute over here. But the only other option right now is to drop it."

Taylor and Lonborg hope to have their problems remedied by next track season.

"It would greatly change high school track if we lose the pole vault," said Yelm coach Mike Strong, who has an approved pole vault facility. "Pole vaulting is the most athletic and awe-inspiring event in track. It would be a shame to lose it."