Quick Questions: Beginning Pole Vault

Q: At what age do you think athletes should be getting in to Pole Vault?

A: Every Pole Vaulter will have their own pathway to the event so I can really only talk about my own experience. My background was in gymnastics, so I was always a very powerful and acrobatic athlete. I was never an elite gymnast, but from 7 up until the age of 13 I would train up to 12 hours a week and reached Level 7.

There were a couple of things that I would do in gymnastics that translated really well to Pole Vault. Firstly, we did a lot of tumbling and all the power elements are very useful for vaulting, but particularly the acrobatic elements. When you swing on a high bar, that swing mimics the swing in the Pole Vault - getting upside down by swinging upside down is great preparation for the flight phase in Pole Vault. So, a lot of vaulters do gymnastics training, particularly a lot of swinging on the bar because that is one of the main elements in the jump.

From a young age I had that acrobatic and power base and a good understanding of where I was in the air. Once I finished up with gymnastics, I started athletics at the age of 14. Initially I did everything from hurdles, sprints, long jump and and high jump. During those years I used to watch Emma George training and thought that with my gymnastic background and ability to run fast, I had the potential to do that event. So at about 15 or 16 I started really getting in to the event.

Q: Is a gymnastics background essential for a Pole Vaulter? If an athlete is 15-16 and thinking about getting in to Pole Vault, is it already too late?

I don’t believe it’s ever too late to develop the athlete’s gymnastic ability. Steve Hooker is a good example of that, he came down to train with us and had never done gymnastics in his life. He was a tall athlete and was terrible at gymnastics when he first started training with us but he developed those skills as he progressed.

Q: For the coaches, what qualities should they be looking for in identifying potential Pole Vault talent?

A: They need to have a good top speed and strength. Being tall and having long limbs is really helpful. Pole Vaulters also need to be courageous and little bit crazy - the more you think about it the worst you perform so you definitely need to be brave.

When you think about it, the physical characteristics of a Pole Vaulter are quite similar to a Long Jumper, but it’s that additional danger element you need to consider. You need speed on the runway and a strong and powerful take off with a technical element that requires good coordination. The difference is, I don’t think you could kill yourself long jumping, but you could seriously hurt yourself vaulting.

Q: How do you prepare an athlete in a safe way for them to move into rotation for the first time?

A: A lot of Pole Vault training is gymnastics training, so we spend a lot of time learning to land safely and developing body awareness when you are in the air. So a lot of swinging, climbing ropes, rings, tumbling, handstands, cartwheels and trampolining - all of those things where you are moving your body in the air.

When you progress to the pole vault you begin with the one or two step run up so you are not moving very quickly and you are not bending the pole. Everything is done with a straight pole - as soon as you start bending the pole it adds a lot of room for error because once it straightens it can flick you in any direction.

It is a slow progression, you don’t start bending the pole for at least six months. By very gradually adding complexity, it helps minimise the risk and improve the athlete’s ability to react if something goes wrong and still land safely. In that time you can continue to develop the athlete’s acrobatic skills so they are well equipped for further progression.