I have a concern about Elite Athletes

News about Elite US pole vaulters and elite competitions that occur on US soil.

Moderators: achtungpv, vaultmd

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Re: It is not just my problem it is eveyones problem

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am

ESSX wrote:The application was filed properly with Houston TX association online. The girl there said they had a sponsor for track that was a competitor of mine and that she needed to send my application and fee back. I am not sure she knew what she was talking about. The amount of time it took them was 2 months and the meet was over.
It was when Adam Kiel had gotten his poles and uniform from me and he wanted to show his appreciation at the USATF Meet.


I am not sure what they can and cannot do at the Association level, but when I applied to be Brian's sponsor I found the info through the USATF website and applied through the National office.

Note that the requirements for Olympic Trials are way stricter than normal USAs, I don't think Brian will be able to compete for me there, but whatever.


Of course pole companies are not doing the volume of the shoe companies.
There is not a lot of money in the pole business. Even a company that carries a full track line will have to struggle.
There is a big gap between shoe companies and track companies and many other companies that could sponsor at a different level that could and are bigger than track companies but smaller than shoe companies. (Shoe companies do 30 to 60 million in sales) Track companies do $1 million to 5 million or more).


I am certainly not suggesting that the pole companies are not doing all they can to help athletes.


Neither is a company like Jared jewelry, In & out Hamburger chain, deodorant companies, hair product companies, Pei Wei Asian Diners, Salt grass Steak house. Logan steak house, Grocery stores, 7-11, But as long as you have a rule that stifle the ability to bring these type of businesses in the loop you will only get top athletes sponsorship and the emerging athlete must foot the bill until they hit the big time.
I still say there is a problem here it is not just my problem it is everyone’s problem and I am not going to let it go. We can say all you want it is the way things are and dismiss it or you can stand and fight for what is right.


It's not USATF rules that are stopping these companies from sponsoring athletes, it has a lot more to do with the decline of track and field in general.

I do not want to hear from those that feel it is a waste of time to fight, I want to hear from those who feel it is a worth while effort and needed to keep Track alive.
We let far too many people talk us down and we need to stand up to negative things that harm Track & field. There will always be a bad apple in the basket we need to throw the apple out and stand for up for things to help us grow.

But I think we need to lobby to have the rule changed in order to save Track & field, I need more people to stand with me. I assure you this is not a benefit just for me; it is a benefit for everyone who believes track & field should grow! We all cannot take the burden of responsibility of actions other people do to harm Track & Field. We must stand to be the exception and to show that we all are not taking drugs, not cheating and are adult enough to manage our own organization.
I believe, having more sponsors of different levels is the key to building track and field.

Bruce Caldwell


I don't disagree, just trying to point out where the root of the problem is so you can apply things in the right direction. It's not something USATF can directly change.

Getting involved with the PAA may be helpful. More companies sponsoring athletes on a small scale and showing that there is interest may help. USATF making the process more clear on their website may help.

User avatar
Bruce Caldwell
PV Enthusiast
Posts: 1783
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 3:19 pm
Expertise: It is all about Pole Vaulting. I even catch the competitors poles!
Lifetime Best: 15'8"
Favorite Vaulter: Kjell Issakson, Jan Johnson
Location: DFW TEXAS
Contact:

Re: It is not just my problem it is eveyones problem

Unread postby Bruce Caldwell » Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:18 am


I am certainly not suggesting that the pole companies are not doing all they can to help athletes.




Neither did I!



It's not USATF rules that are stopping these companies from sponsoring athletes, it has a lot more to do with the decline of track and field in general.



USATF is the our governing group and it has to start with them we cannot lobby the IAAf directly they will tell us to go back to USOC and the USOC will tell us to go to the USATF.



I don't disagree, just trying to point out where the root of the problem is so you can apply things in the right direction. It's not something USATF can directly change.

Getting involved with the PAA may be helpful. More companies sponsoring athletes on a small scale and showing that there is interest may help. USATF making the process more clear on their website may help.


Do you have computer links to the PAA?

This is not between you and I!
So sorry you seem to take personal need to surpress it?
I really do believe many out there feel the same way I do!
Again this is NOT about me or you it is about all those athletes who have the potential to be OLYMPIANS if given the oppertunity!!!

User avatar
SlickVT
PV Follower
Posts: 554
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 1:06 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, Post-Collegiate Vaulter, College Coach, High School Coach
Location: Blacksburg VA

Unread postby SlickVT » Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:22 pm

Bruce,

Don't get me wrong... I am with you 100%.

I am glad you brought this up!

Lets keep it rolling!

Bing
Vertical Technique Pole Vault Club
Blacksburg, Virginia
verticaltechnique.com

User avatar
Bruce Caldwell
PV Enthusiast
Posts: 1783
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 3:19 pm
Expertise: It is all about Pole Vaulting. I even catch the competitors poles!
Lifetime Best: 15'8"
Favorite Vaulter: Kjell Issakson, Jan Johnson
Location: DFW TEXAS
Contact:

Thanks

Unread postby Bruce Caldwell » Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:49 pm

I believe we need to be above all the “well that is too much troubleâ€Â

User avatar
SlickVT
PV Follower
Posts: 554
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 1:06 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, Post-Collegiate Vaulter, College Coach, High School Coach
Location: Blacksburg VA

Unread postby SlickVT » Fri Dec 14, 2007 5:30 pm

Bruce... I completely agree.

However, this topic has gotten me thinking. Sadly, because of so many people cheating in track and field, I have become very skeptical of the very sport I love.

It is now hard to sit and watch a World Championship and see someone blow away the field in ANY event, and not suspect steroids are involved. It is the sad truth that the difference between track and any other sport, like basketball, is when someone in basketball like Michael Jordan or Lebron James rip up the court, it is because they work hard and are talented, and not because they are cheating.

Every time a sprinter breaks the world record, I know how many times it was broken by a cheater, and therefore, the new record holder must be cheating right? Bad mentality, but is how the brain works.

A movement of this magnitude will never succeed and sponsors will never grab on to track until cheating is eliminated.

And with more sponsor money, more pressure to cheat is created, so it is a big vicious cycle...

Maybe we could incorporate past cheaters like Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin to put forth effort to clean up the mess and help the up and comers?
Vertical Technique Pole Vault Club

Blacksburg, Virginia

verticaltechnique.com

User avatar
achtungpv
PV Rock Star
Posts: 2359
Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:34 pm
Location: Austin, TX

Unread postby achtungpv » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:43 pm

SlickVT wrote:It is the sad truth that the difference between track and any other sport, like basketball, is when someone in basketball like Michael Jordan or Lebron James rip up the court, it is because they work hard and are talented, and not because they are cheating.


I'd argue that there's more drug use in each of the 3 major sports than there is in T&F. T&F has by far the most stringent testing policy and makes its cheats known. NFL was giving players 2 months notice before their test. MLB was very similar. Both test for a very small list of drugs. No idea if the NBA even tests but you have to wonder how a body can recover day in, day out during an 80+ game season with only a couple days in between and still function at 100%.

Plus, how many tracksters can even afford steroids? Most of them are just above poverty!
"You have some interesting coaching theories that seem to have little potential."

User avatar
Barto
PV Great
Posts: 919
Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2002 1:55 pm
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie

Unread postby Barto » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:53 pm

My 2 cents....

The idea that shoe companies have a stranglehold on athletes is a myth perpetuated by the athletes. Most athletes recieve very little from their shoe contracts, but pass up far more lucrative sponsorship opportunities from other sources. This is the athletes' own fault. The few athletes who do get sizeable amounts of money from the shoe companies are not interested in finding other sponsors. The rest are just posers who would rather look cool than make money.

The USATF rule regarding the number and size of logos allowed on uniforms is actually an IAAF rule. They are not going to budge on it.

There is less drug use in track and field now than at any time in the last 25 years. The best thing we can do for track and field is stop talking about our imaginary drug problem.

Sorry, that was 3 cents worth....

User avatar
old vaulter
PV Whiz
Posts: 158
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:18 am
Expertise: High School Vaulter. High School Coach
Lifetime Best: 13'4
Favorite Vaulter: Jeremy McGrath
Location: San Diego Ca.
Contact:

outside sponsors

Unread postby old vaulter » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:44 pm

If the shoe contracts say do not change the uniform...then we need to be creative in how we can get around it...advertise on the poles themselves,or create space on the pole bags....logos on jackets when you are not jumping ...etc we may be on the cusp of something

User avatar
Bruce Caldwell
PV Enthusiast
Posts: 1783
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 3:19 pm
Expertise: It is all about Pole Vaulting. I even catch the competitors poles!
Lifetime Best: 15'8"
Favorite Vaulter: Kjell Issakson, Jan Johnson
Location: DFW TEXAS
Contact:

I welcome ANYONE

Unread postby Bruce Caldwell » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:23 pm

ANyone who can get Pepsi or Coke to sponsor them and put the logo on the ESSX poles
Hey do not cover the ESSX label but I am jiggy with it!

Bruce

User avatar
ec1vaulter
PV Nerd
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 12:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, Coach (All Levels)
Lifetime Best: 4.73
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

Unread postby ec1vaulter » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:27 am

How about a simple idea that is already in place. Sponsorship contracts that stipulate commercial advertisement. If we get more athletes on these small television spots that many major companies spend millions of dollars on each year, then we would get more recognition and attendance without the need for additional logos. How many athletes from the top 3 sports are in commercials versus the olympic sports. We only see them in commercials related to olympic sponsors in olympic years. This is out of the hands of USATF, IAAF, or the IOC. The hardest part of this is that, to get it started, a lot of effort is required by those of us willing to reach out to potential sponsors with the concept.

If the sponsors wish to have advertising at the meets, then the idea of having the logo on a pole bag, spike bag, etc. may be the best route to take.
What did you do to get better today?

baggettpv
PV Master
Posts: 707
Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2002 2:04 pm
Location: Oregon City, Or
Contact:

Sponsorships...

Unread postby baggettpv » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:22 am

I believe that the agents for the Post Collegiates need to generate more income for both themselves and the athletes, by creating more sponsorships....Presently they get the athletes into meets and try to get one shoe maker sponsor. Then they are done. I am pushing my post collegiates to produce their own income and direct them to agents away from the sports arenas, into the entertainment area. These guys know how to promote an individual.

Rick Baggett
WSTC LLC
Good coaching is good teaching.

KLocke
PV Whiz
Posts: 127
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:17 pm
Location: California
Contact:

Re: Sponsorships...

Unread postby KLocke » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:47 pm

That idea is perfect but difficult. Top entertainment agencies do not choose to represent Track and Field athletes. They are labeled "OLYMPIC" athletes and the commercial market does not demand Olympic athletes. Michael Johnson did not cash in until 1999, even after breaking the WR in 1996 Games he had maybe one other sponsor outside of Nike. Coca Cola and the Milk Board chose "one" T&F athlete in there upcoming 2008 ad campaign. The message that I receive is that sponsor want to be involved in the Olympics. They don't want to necessarily support otherwise.

I can tell you that Michael Phelps is the most popular of the so-called Olympic athletes.

baggettpv wrote:I believe that the agents for the Post Collegiates need to generate more income for both themselves and the athletes, by creating more sponsorships....Presently they get the athletes into meets and try to get one shoe maker sponsor. Then they are done. I am pushing my post collegiates to produce their own income and direct them to agents away from the sports arenas, into the entertainment area. These guys know how to promote an individual.

Rick Baggett
WSTC LLC


Return to “Pole Vault - USA Elite”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests