Email Questions 14: Pole Vault Education.org

Question: I have a pole in inventory that was originally a 13'-1" 130# Pole. Six inches has been cut off the bottom end of the pole making it now a 12'-7" pole. Is this still considered a 130# pole? Is it possible to have this pole re-flexed? How? By whom? Where? What Cost? What is the current legal status of this pole under USAT&F Rules? If an athlete is injured using this pole is the manufacturer of the pole absolved of any legal responsibility because it was altered from its original form? What should be done with this pole?

Answer: Thanks for your inquiry and series of questions. Occasionally we hear of poles broken in a similar place (6" - 8" from the bottom) after being "wedged" above the box and under the pit, or a pallet that may be under the pit. Your pole is no longer a 13' 130 and should not be used.

All poles are designed, engineered and fabricated in accordance to the precise length and test weight. Furthermore all poles are designed with material calculations made from the bottom of the pole as an origin point.

As each pole bends, the energy and stress is distributed through the pole as engineered to withstand such stress. All parameters, the integrity, structure and stress distribution has been changed and compromised in a pole which may have been damaged, cut or altered at the bottom.

After each pole is molded, part of the examination, test and inspection procedure requires that the pole meet "flex" requirements for that pole (e.g. 130 lb.). Using an established deflection test, determined by the pole length, a centimeter (cm) value is provided. The only credible authority recognized in flexing poles is the original manufacturer.

Any re-flexing of this pole would be meaningless and of no value. The integrity and flex number on a pole is only valid in consideration of the material, structure and design of the pole (i.e. its length and weight). In this case the pole can not be recognized with a test weight for a 12'7" or even 12' pole since it was not made from a pattern or design intended for such a pole.

This pole should not be used to take any bending stresses at all. Running only such as "pole-runs" or no-load bearing plant drills would be acceptable. A pole damaged like this has NO IDENTITY with an acknowledged test weight and should NOT be used. Under High School rules all poles must show "the manufacturer's pole rating" see Rule 7, Section 4, Article 3, 5, and 6. Back to Top.

Question: I would like my pole vaulters to start wearing helmets for extra safety due to an injury that occurred during a meet. I know helmets are allowed, but what type would be the best?

Answer:
Thank you for your inquiry in reference to helmets. We are aware some coaches have encouraged their vaulters to wear helmets. To our knowledge no helmet has been tested and approved for pole-vault activities. Back to Top.

Question: I am concerned about the dimensions of the pit increasing which of course will cost more money, what are the present required dimensions? And what is the anticipated dimensions if there is going to be an increase? Do the experts in the field of pole vaulting expect the pit dimensions to increase? Are pole vaulting helmets being designed for required use yet?

Answer:
The High School rules committee has already met and we are waiting to hear of their determination of new dimensions. When "new dimensions" are released, we will post them on this website.

To our knowledge no helmet has been tested and approved for pole-vault activities. Back to Top.

Question: What are your feelings about wearing helmets while vaulting? I have had several coaches say it will not help and may increase the chance of injury or it would not prevent any of the deaths that have recently occurred.

Answer:
To our knowledge no helmet has been tested and approved for pole-vault activities. Back to Top.

Question: I have been coaching pole vault many years and I am interested in knowing what you feel about keeping a straight lower arm at plant or would just the application of pressure be ok? Sufficient.

Answer: by Kris Grimes, Jumps Coach at Washington State University
The lower arm plays a secondary but important role in the pole vault. At take off, the lower arm should be extended as much as possible upwards without inhibiting horizontal speed and/or causing abrupt rotation of the vaulter. For the advanced vaulter, both arms are fully extended at take off. The lower arm presses up into the pole but can flex or be flexed to allow the torso to stay upright immediately after take off. In the beginning vaulter, no effort should be made to extend the lower arm, equally there should be no pulling with the lower arm, only swinging from both hands. Teach up pressure with the lower arm only after the vaulter is flexing/bending the pole with their swing. Back to Top.

AQuestion: I have never (and I've been coaching girls in Florida for 7 years now) been able to get a girl to bend the pole unless I make them brace the bottom arm against the pole at plant. This, of course, inhibits their swing, but I have found NO other way to get the pole bent just through the run/takeoff. We're talking about average HS girls who can barely do 5 pull ups and are not rockets down the runway.

I can get the average girl to bend the pole with a braced bottom arm and they can at least get their feet up to make 9'. I watch the other girls at 10' and 11' and either a) they brace also or b) the pole collapses into their chest and they jerk their feet over their head to get high. My daughter made 11' by bracing her arm and then getting her feet up to the top of the pole, but it was a 5 year effort because her braced arm kept her from swinging correctly. The boys can do what you ask because they are faster/stronger.

Bottom line: I really do want to follow your advice to "teach up pressure with the lower arm only after the vaulter is flexing/bending the pole with their swing", but I think I'm in for a long wait before that's going to happen with the average girl in high school. True/false? Give me some small shred of hope that my patience will be rewarded. P.S. I have 100 girls on 70 pound poles and it still ain't happenin'!!!

Answer: by Kris Grimes, Jumps Coach at Washington State University
No problem, this is great question. As you have indicated there is a required level of speed and strength-to-height/weight ratio that allows vaulters to extend the lower arm AND have a great swing. Can extending the lower arm be taught before the appropriate ratio is achieved...sure...but in the career of the vaulter what will be required for success...a great swing (Stacy Dragila, Billy Olson).

I am as vexed as you when I try to find an absolute answer. The problem is bending the pole with the lower arm and not with the swing and if the vaulter/coach does not distinguish between the two, progress will be limited. Teach the vaulters all the elements of the vault and require them to have a great swing. If they have a great swing with an extended lower arm...great, if not, require them to have a great swing! You will find a higher degree of success in the long term if they are good straight pole vaulters and learn to flex/bend the pole before they begin up pressure with the lower arm.

As a college coach, I look for vaulters with a good run who can swing the pole to vertical. As pole vault coaches we get an amazingly wide variety of athletes who want to vault. Maybe the biggest challenge we face is figuring out what is best for each athlete. The progression for the not so strong, not so fast freshman girl is going to be different that of the senior girl with the same qualities. The freshman will spend more time on strength and speed development and straight pole vaulting where as you need to move through the progression faster with the senior. What a splendid challenge to figure what is the best for each athlete! Back to Top.

Answered Questions • Next • Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 • Back


ANSWERED QUESTIONS!!! Continued... Question: I have a pole in inventory that was originally a 13'-1" 130# Pole. Six inches has been cut off the bottom end of the pole making it now a 12'-7" pole. Is this still considered a 130# pole? Is it possible to have this pole re-flexed? How? By whom? Where? What Cost? What is the current legal status of this pole under USAT&F Rules? If an athlete is injured using this pole is the manufacturer of the pole absolved of any legal responsibility because it was altered from its original form? What should be done with this pole? Answer: Thanks for your inquiry and series of questions. Occasionally we hear of poles broken in a similar place (6" - 8" from the bottom) after being "wedged" above the box and under the pit, or a pallet that may be under the pit. Your pole is no longer a 13' 130 and should not be used. All poles are designed, engineered and fabricated in accordance to the precise length and test weight. Furthermore all poles are designed with material calculations made from the bottom of the pole as an origin point. As each pole bends, the energy and stress is distributed through the pole as engineered to withstand such stress. All parameters, the integrity, structure and stress distribution has been changed and compromised in a pole which may have been damaged, cut or altered at the bottom. After each pole is molded, part of the examination, test and inspection procedure requires that the pole meet "flex" requirements for that pole (e.g. 130 lb.). Using an established deflection test, determined by the pole length, a centimeter (cm) value is provided. The only credible authority recognized in flexing poles is the original manufacturer. Any re-flexing of this pole would be meaningless and of no value. The integrity and flex number on a pole is only valid in consideration of the material, structure and design of the pole (i.e. its length and weight). In this case the pole can not be recognized with a test weight for a 12'7" or even 12' pole since it was not made from a pattern or design intended for such a pole. This pole should not be used to take any bending stresses at all. Running only such as "pole-runs" or no-load bearing plant drills would be acceptable. A pole damaged like this has NO IDENTITY with an acknowledged test weight and should NOT be used. Under High School rules all poles must show "the manufacturer's pole rating" see Rule 7, Section 4, Article 3, 5, and 6. Back to Top. Question: I would like my pole vaulters to start wearing helmets for extra safety due to an injury that occurred during a meet. I know helmets are allowed, but what type would be the best? Answer: Thank you for your inquiry in reference to helmets. We are aware some coaches have encouraged their vaulters to wear helmets. To our knowledge no helmet has been tested and approved for pole-vault activities. Back to Top. Question: I am concerned about the dimensions of the pit increasing which of course will cost more money, what are the present required dimensions? And what is the anticipated dimensions if there is going to be an increase? Do the experts in the field of pole vaulting expect the pit dimensions to increase? Are pole vaulting helmets being designed for required use yet? Answer: The High School rules committee has already met and we are waiting to hear of their determination of new dimensions. When "new dimensions" are released, we will post them on this website. To our knowledge no helmet has been tested and approved for pole-vault activities. Back to Top. Question: What are your feelings about wearing helmets while vaulting? I have had several coaches say it will not help and may increase the chance of injury or it would not prevent any of the deaths that have recently occurred. Answer: To our knowledge no helmet has been tested and approved for pole-vault activities. Back to Top. Question: I have been coaching pole vault many years and I am interested in knowing what you feel about keeping a straight lower arm at plant or would just the application of pressure be ok? Sufficient. Answer: by Kris Grimes, Jumps Coach at Washington State University The lower arm plays a secondary but important role in the pole vault. At take off, the lower arm should be extended as much as possible upwards without inhibiting horizontal speed and/or causing abrupt rotation of the vaulter. For the advanced vaulter, both arms are fully extended at take off. The lower arm presses up into the pole but can flex or be flexed to allow the torso to stay upright immediately after take off. In the beginning vaulter, no effort should be made to extend the lower arm, equally there should be no pulling with the lower arm, only swinging from both hands. Teach up pressure with the lower arm only after the vaulter is flexing/bending the pole with their swing. Back to Top. AQuestion: I have never (and I've been coaching girls in Florida for 7 years now) been able to get a girl to bend the pole unless I make them brace the bottom arm against the pole at plant. This, of course, inhibits their swing, but I have found NO other way to get the pole bent just through the run/takeoff. We're talking about average HS girls who can barely do 5 pull ups and are not rockets down the runway. I can get the average girl to bend the pole with a braced bottom arm and they can at least get their feet up to make 9'. I watch the other girls at 10' and 11' and either a) they brace also or b) the pole collapses into their chest and they jerk their feet over their head to get high. My daughter made 11' by bracing her arm and then getting her feet up to the top of the pole, but it was a 5 year effort because her braced arm kept her from swinging correctly. The boys can do what you ask because they are faster/stronger. Bottom line: I really do want to follow your advice to "teach up pressure with the lower arm only after the vaulter is flexing/bending the pole with their swing", but I think I'm in for a long wait before that's going to happen with the average girl in high school. True/false? Give me some small shred of hope that my patience will be rewarded. P.S. I have 100 girls on 70 pound poles and it still ain't happenin'!!! Answer: by Kris Grimes, Jumps Coach at Washington State University No problem, this is great question. As you have indicated there is a required level of speed and strength-to-height/weight ratio that allows vaulters to extend the lower arm AND have a great swing. Can extending the lower arm be taught before the appropriate ratio is achieved...sure...but in the career of the vaulter what will be required for success...a great swing (Stacy Dragila, Billy Olson). I am as vexed as you when I try to find an absolute answer. The problem is bending the pole with the lower arm and not with the swing and if the vaulter/coach does not distinguish between the two, progress will be limited. Teach the vaulters all the elements of the vault and require them to have a great swing. If they have a great swing with an extended lower arm...great, if not, require them to have a great swing! You will find a higher degree of success in the long term if they are good straight pole vaulters and learn to flex/bend the pole before they begin up pressure with the lower arm. As a college coach, I look for vaulters with a good run who can swing the pole to vertical. As pole vault coaches we get an amazingly wide variety of athletes who want to vault. Maybe the biggest challenge we face is figuring out what is best for each athlete. The progression for the not so strong, not so fast freshman girl is going to be different that of the senior girl with the same qualities. The freshman will spend more time on strength and speed development and straight pole vaulting where as you need to move through the progression faster with the senior. What a splendid challenge to figure what is the best for each athlete! Back to Top. Answered Questions • Next • Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 • Back
FAQ's • Register • Email Coaches • Coaches Special • Tools • Home NOTE: Pole Vault Education.org LLC is a non-commercial, information-only Web site created for superintendents, principals, athletic directors, coaches, and athletes as a resource to promote improved safety and performance in the sport of pole vaulting. The materials presented on this site represent the best current knowledge about this sport, but should not be considered as a substitute for proper personal coaching by trained professionals. © 2002 Pole Vault Education.org LLC. (Photos: courtesy of the 2001 UCS Spirit/West Point/USATF Pole Vaulting Camp at West Point, NY)