step counting during run up.

[vaulthigh]

Does everybody count their steps during the run up for timing? It seems it's more difficult to know when to start your plant without step counting?
or is step counting for beginners?
any feedback?

[ashcraftpv]

I still do it in my head sometimes when i jump, but I make my beginners do it all the time.

One way to ensure you plant on time each time is to count down, not up. Count every time your left foot hits, starting with how many lefts you are taking. Hands start to move (plant) on 2, and you takeoff on 1. pretty simple to remember and its the same no matter how many lefts you are going from.

Code: Select all

                                             plant      TO
         6        5        4        3        2        1
L        L        L        L        L        L        L
R    R        R        R        R        R        R


[scubastevesgirly]

I get confused if i try to count steps...but that's just me

[CHC04Vault]

I never ever count when i do my run up. I can tell if my steps are off the with in the first 2 strides. I think if u count, ur thinking too much, and u should just be able to run. The less to think about the better is my theory.

[VaultMarq26]

The kid who's picture is on the main page for this web site that goes to U of I yells out his step count as he is running.

[Mecham]

In counting my lefts

1-2-3-4-1-2-3!

[VaultMarq26]

I go 1-2-3-4-5 on lefts.....then I do a quick 6-7-8 (left, right, Left)

[Purewrath]

i dont count yb i know some people who count each step then say "plant-drive-swing-clear"

[achtungpv]

i dont count yb i know some people who count each step then say "plant-drive-swing-clear"

AAAGHHHHH!!!!!

[lonestar]

i dont count yb i know some people who count each step then say "plant-drive-swing-clear"

AAAGHHHHH!!!!!

LOL

[vaulthigh]

Thanks for the input guys!

[Russ]

In high school I never counted. When I began vaulting again 3 years ago (at age 45), I switched to counting. Last winter, Mike Yurko (who had just spent a year at Tennessee w/Coach J.B.) convinced me to count-down, so that #2 is always the cue for planting. I'm a convert. I know that jump much better now that I count down. I now try to convince all of my vaulters to count down; although the two best male and female high school vaulters with whom I've worked (a rising h.s. senior who jumped 15' last week and a rising h.s. junior girl who's pr is 10'6") both tell me that they don't count.

My advice to everybody is: learn to count down.