January 2017 Vaulter Magazine

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FROM THE EDITOR

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BENEFITS OF BEING A MULTI-EVENTS ATHLETE

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RICE UNIVERSITY OWLS: FOREVER STUDENTS OF THE SPORT

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LEAPS OF FAITH

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FROM HIGH BEAM TO HIGH BAR

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ATHLETE TO COACH

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FROM THE EDITOR Welcome back as we start the 2017 calendar year with a magazine all about the sport of pole vaulting. 2016 flew by in an instance and before you know it, you will be jumping at your first outdoor meet. This sport is exciting and constantly on the move, so keep reading, and we will bring you the articles that you want to read.

vaulting is Nic Caldwell and his insight into middle school athletes that love to pole vault.

Hana Hill, age 14 and in the 8th grade competed last year in the pentathlon and pole vault. You don’t want to miss this article and the journey that Hana has taken over the last few years to become one of the best 8thgrade vaulters in the nation.

that leap of faith. This month Kreager Taber writes about that very same aspect within the world of pole vaulting.”

Fighting through metal blocks and the time that it takes to press through to the next level. An article not to be missed, read this before your next leap of faith.

Coming through again this month for the sport of pole

We have all had to face our fears and take that leap of faith. This month Kreager Taber writes about that very same aspect within the world of pole vaulting. “We have all had to face our fears and take

Bubba Sparks is back, and he wants to hear from you!

This month he talks about Reno and getting back to the form needed to jump at bigger meets. He wants to answer your questions and be part of

This month for Vaulter magazine we have Rice University on the cover to start 2017 off right. Samantha Kaplain writes up a sweet article featuring the pole vault squad and their legendary coach David Butler. Under the guidance of coach Butler for 17 years, this men’s and women’s team is sure to continue a long tradition of bringing a combination of old school values and his new philosophies. Drills and perfection are the names of the game for this coach, so read inside about Rice University and what they bring to the sport.

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Tim Murphy Jr. writes this month about the relationship between the coach and the athlete at all level of the sport.

“To list them they are trust in your coach, trust in your athlete, trust in your pole, and trust in yourself.” Stay tuned and see what this article has to offer about the relationships and trust that take place between the vaulter and his or her coach.

Many of our readers are multi-event athletes, and Kreager Taber has just the article to enhance your understanding of what it takes to be just that! The benefits of being a multi-sport athlete are endless, and they don’t have to be wrapped around just the sport of track and field. A great read and something that all pole vaulters should consider as they continue their vaulting career.

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the pole vault world by providing solution and answers to your questions.

This month is starting off with a bang, and so is Vaulter Magazine. Stay tuned for more news

and information as we start a massive new year together. Good luck, vault safe, and jump high.

Doug Bouma Editor, Vaulter magazine - Vaulter Club Inc.

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BENEFITS OF BEING A MULTIEVENTS ATHLETE By: Kreager Taber

Learning to pole vault means learning how to sprint, how to jump horizontally and vertically simultaneously, how to do basic gymnastics and acrobatics, and how to control one’s body in the air. It is a sport comprised of basic skills from many other track events and vastly different sports. In order to be a successful pole vaulter, one needs the body awareness and strength of a gymnast, the speed of a short sprinter, the explosive power of a long or

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high jumper, and the timing of a hurdler. In training for other events or playing other sports, one learns skills essential to be a successful vaulter. In addition to regular pole vault practices, learning how to do other events in track and field can prove to be beneficial to increase vaulters’ stamina, strength, and speed.

Since playing another sport can sometimes be too time-intensive for committed vaulters, ways to maximize practice time by learning the techniques of other

track events will be elaborated on. Alternating pole vaulting practices with sprint, long jump, and hurdle practices both gives the athlete’s body a break from vaulting and provides fun ways to develop skills that transition into a safe and effective vault.

Sprint practices, primarily, help vaulters develop the speed and power necessary to run and take off on the runway.

They strengthen the muscles of the legs, which could help to

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decrease the risk of injuring the quadriceps or the hamstrings while vaulting. Additionally, sprint warmups, especially when done barefoot on grass or turf, can toughen the calf muscles, which can lead to lowered rates of shin splints in the long run. Practicing block starts into sprints leads to the development of a more explosive knee drive and a more powerful run. Sprinting

itself, when done with good form, reinforces proper posture during the approach phase of the vault and teaches the vaulter how to keep their knee drive strong and their core engaged. The approach and the takeoff phase are arguably the most important phases of the vault for maximizing power and energy transfer, and therefore, sprinting is one of the most essential exercises for

pole vaulters to practice during their off-days.

In long jump and high jump, similar to pole vault, one needs a fast approach phase and a powerful knee drive to be successful. Long jumpers have to maximize the power obtained from a moderately short distance and effectively translate it into a jump that covers both horizontal and Ashton Eaton

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Ashton Eaton

vertical distances, making it a perfect event to practice the approach and takeoff phase of pole vaulting. In long jump, special attention is called to the placement of the takeoff foot so that the jumper does not foul, teaching the jumper how to “chop” their last step to

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take off in an optimal position.

This concept can be helpful for pole vaulters that struggle with taking off too close to the box. By reinforcing proper positioning of the takeoff foot in long jump, the vaulter becomes accustomed to taking off with their foot in the right place

relative to their body. Secondly, in high jump, a powerful knee drive is enforced and body awareness in the air is obtained.

Although the backward bend in high jump is the opposite of the ideal positioning for a pole vaulter, learning how to control one’s body in the air, especially

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way to cross train for pole vaulting. In training for hurdles, the athlete learns how to count their steps, how to practice the timing of their steps leading up to an obstacle, and how to effectively transfer speed on the track into power for a jump. The transitions between running and hurdling could reinforce the mechanics for a powerful takeoff and a fast transition from the approach phase into the plant phase.

over a crossbar, is a vital skill for pole vaulters. Practicing for high jump and long jump can teach the vaulter how to translate an approach into an explosive jump.

On the other hand, hurdle drills can be another effective

However, one sport rises above all others when examining its benefits for pole vaulters-gymnastics.

Incorporating gymnastics into pole vault workouts is a fun and easy way to practice the swing, the inversion, and to develop body awareness in the air. Even small skills like backward rolls or back extension rolls become a perfect pole vault exercise when a bungee is added for the athletes to pike over. Larger skills, such as kips, free-hips, or giants on bars, allow the vaulter to develop grip strength and improve their swing.

Variations of kips on a strap-bar can simulate a more dynamic bubka exercise, in which the vaulter inverts almost to the point of a free hip. However, instead of extending through the shoulders, the vaulter snaps back to their starting position on top of the bar. Exercises like simple kips work to improve

the athlete’s core and shoulder strength and stimulate many of the same muscles as a bubka.

On the floor, back extension rolls are a great way for vaulters to gain shoulder and arm strength and increase their body awareness while piking over an object. Round-offs are another exercise that aids in building body awareness, and they also practice pushing the body into the air. This exercise is perfect for simulating the upward extension from the hands into the air and mirrors the upward extension when the vaulter releases the pole and pikes over the crossbar.

Gymnastics is both the perfect introductory sport for pole vaulters and also the perfect cross training opportunity.

Cross training is crucial in a pole vaulter’s practice regimen to not only give their body a break from the physical demands of pole vault, but also to develop outside skills that are applicable to vaulting successfully. A pole vaulter can’t reach their full potential without developing the speed, strength, and power that are so commonly found in other track events. Alternating vaultspecific practices with drills and exercises to build upon the foundations of the vault helps athletes realize their full potential, in both pole vault and as an athlete in general.

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Rice University Owls:

FOREVER STUDENTS OF THE SPORT By: Samantha Kaplain

As of late, the pole vaulting world has been obsessed with new. New philosophies, new technique, new practice structure, and although innovation is always encouraged, there is something to be said for studying the pioneers of the sport.

Coach David Butler of Rice University in Houston Texas is not one to pass on the wisdom of the veterans. By developing close relationships with some of the greatest minds in pole vault, Coach Butler can provide the Rice vaulters with his unique perspective on the vault that he has developed through a combination of old school values and his own new philosophies.

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Rice University is a school rich in track prestige. Both the men’s and women’s teams have three full time coaches, and for the vault, Coach Butler is a volunteer who works with the male and female vaulters.

The Owl’s vault coach has been with them for 17 years, and coached vertical jumps at the nearby Memorial High School in Spring Branch. Butler’s experience as a pole vault coach is vast, as he has coached vaulters from all levels, from beginners in high school to NCAA champions, but that only scratches the surface of his experience. As the first American coach to travel to It-

aly to work with Vitaly Petrov, David Butler’s roots run deep in European tradition. Butler studied under Bob Fraley, Herbert Czingon, Rick Attig, Tom Tellez and Jim Bemiller, making his knowledge of the vault very open minded toward the philosophies of many cultures and ages of pole vault. To learn more about the vaulters who Butler admires and studies, and about his own thoughts on pole vault, follow his wildly popular Facebook page, The Vault: How Bamboo, Steel, and Fiberglass Changed our Lives.

Anyone who knows Butler knows he is “the coach with

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1000 drills,” and his coaching technique proves it. A typical early season practice for Rice University vaulters is all about technical work. Lacking an indoor season doesn’t hold the Owl vaulters back, as they get right to work in week one of practice, taking advantage of the fleeting nice weather. Butler keeps the practices “short and sweet,” mainly focusing on drills to nail the small details. The fall is the season for endless pole drop and straight pole drills. The Owls heavily Amanda Pasko

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emphasize drills, but will never do a drill without a purpose.

“Drills are worthless without technical or mental improvement,” says Butler, so each and every drill is tailored to a specific aspect of the jump, whether it be physical muscle memory or to improve the understanding of mechanics. Rice University owns 170 UCS Spirit poles, so the Owls always have what they need to match their improving strength and technique. During the off season, the Owls are not to even

touch a pole, as their minds have been pushed to the limit in season, so they stay in shape in other creative and fun ways like climbing and gymnastics.

The drills pay off, contributing to Butler’s goal to improve his vaulters 2-4 feet within their collegiate careers, but to be an Owl vaulter requires commitment to a dream, as well as to the training. Under Butler’s coaching within the last 16 years, the Rice University pole vaulters have earned

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Kylie Swiekatowski

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61 conference medals, 32 being gold, while remaining successful students at “one of the best academic institutions in the world.” Rice pole vaulters have even gone on to be Olympians, and in the case of Fred Hansen, Olympic gold medalists. For any high school vaulter looking at Rice, know that only athletes who have the passion of an Olympian and the dedication of a scholar will be recruited.

A commitment to the sport is important for any athlete, but especially for athletes who compete in the NCAA Division I Conference USA (C-USA) like the Rice Owls do. The C-USA is made up of 14 Division I schools from 10 states in the Southern United States, and is always highly competitive in all sports. “This year, under 30 centimeters separated the top eight vaulters, both men and women,” says Butler, stressing the competitive nature of the C-USA. Rice University vaulters consistently jump in the top of their conference, and earned the top two spots for women this past season.

This year, the Owls vault squad consists of four female and three male vaulters, three of whom are freshmen. “It is always exciting and a great challenge to have 3 new fresh-

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man competing for Rice,” says Butler, “but all seven of my vaulters are working hard, are motivated and really want to improve.” Also vaulting with the team is emerging elite Ari Ince, a former Rice vaulter who, with Butlers newly refined “never stop being educated” coaching style, has improved from a 4.15 collegiate vaulter to a 4.45 mature athlete. A mix of vaulters who are new to the college scene and some veterans is what helps make the team atmosphere at Rice so experienced and disciplined.

Rice University puts out champion vaulters, but first, the vaulters must put their dedication, passion, and hard work into Rice University. With the help of a veteran pole vault coach, who has studied more of the history of the sport than most anyone, a vaulter with dreams and desire can find a home as an Owl. Butler believes, as the great Bela Karolyi once told him, “Practice is not for fun, it is for blood, sweat and tears, pain and the struggle. Fun is standing on the podium, with a medal around your neck.” Any vaulter who shares this philosophy on the price and rewards of victory will fit in nicely as a Rice University vaulter.

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Aya Rossano JR

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LEAPS OF FAITH By: Kreager Taber Pole vault may be one of the most difficult sports to pick up, both physically and technically, but the challenges that the mental component of pole vaulting create are sometimes the deciding factor of a vaulter’s limits. Getting into funks that could last anywhere from a few days to a few months is common, and these funks too often coincide with the important peaks in a vaulter’s season. Getting back into the sport after a long mental block not only takes time, but also takes diligence, devotion to the sport, repetition, and in many cases, a leap of faith.

Mental blocks often stem from a supposed mistake in the vaulter’s form, leading them to believe that performing a full vault could be dangerous. The vaulter feels like their step could be off, that they are too close to the box to commit to a safe takeoff, that leaving the ground could lead to consequences. The vaulter

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tries to correct their form or their step and attempt another vault, and finds yet again that they feel unsafe taking off the ground. When these actions are repeated over and over again over the course of a practice, they are reinforced until the vaulter’s body is used to bailing out of jumps because it is conditioned to feel unsafe, even when the conditions are perfect for a vault. If the next practice yields the same results, the fear of taking off becomes even more engrained.

In order to combat this process, my high school coach offered a “golden rule” of mental blocks- if you run through or otherwise find yourself unable to take off three times in a row, it’s time to put down the pole and revisit the problem at the next practice. In doing this, running through has less of a chance of becoming a habit and is more likely to be viewed as an isolated incident. At the next practice, getting back to the basics by concentrating on

drills and working on short approaches can put the vaulter back in the correct frame of mind to pole vault safely. If the vaulter once again finds themselves unable to take off, it can be beneficial to go back to a three or four step after the incomplete vault or lower their handgrip from a full approach.

Slide box drills are also a useful tool if the vaulter’s problem or fear stems from the running approach, the location of the takeoff foot, or the beginnings of the takeoff. While the “golden rule” worked for inexperienced high school vaulters, finding ways to adjust to the mental blocks that stem from the transition from high school to college athletics can be more complex.

Some mental blocks stem from a general discomfort instead of outright fear. For example, college freshmen could be more likely to suffer from mental blocks due to a changing in coaching style, a differ-

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ent pole selection than the one they had in high school, or increased pressure to perform well instead of the fear induced by poor form. The changes in environment, in diet, and in practice structure brought about by collegiate athletics can also influence a vaulter’s mental state while on the runway. Specifically, the introduction of weight lifting as a part of a practice regimen

can be difficult for a vaulter to adjust to because of the increase in muscle mass, increase in speed on the runway, and slight weight gain that are commonly associated with lifting. Gaining muscle mass and speed translate to a faster approach, which is beneficial in the long run, but can be difficult to adjust to for a vaulter in a new environment. Additionally, it is possible that a more

intense practice regimen and an increase in the stress put on the vaulter’s body can make the athlete feel like their legs are too tired to vault, that irritation to the shins or the ankles caused by the workouts can greatly affect their performance, or even that they feel too slow on the runway to effectively and safely transfer energy into the pole during the takeoff phase.

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The change in academic course load for college freshmen can also influence their mental state on the runway.

Extremely stressed, sleep deprived students make frazzled pole vaulters, and vaulting while under such high mental pressure can be dangerous. In addition, pole vaulting while sleep-deprived and stressed can cause a slower run, making the vaulter feel like taking off is unsafe and making them run through instead of jumping. If this behavior continues practice after practice, it can create a stress-induced mental block.

This could also be possible in high school vaulters.

Sean Young

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In many cases, working through the mental blocks that are due to the discomfort of a new scenario is a simple matter of time to adjust to the new situation. Time to adjust to the coaching, to a new environment, or time to adapt to a new, more intense practice regimen.

In more serious cases, in which a vaulter cannot take off the ground from a full approach at all due to fear or discomfort, small steps to get the vaulter back into the air can be taken.

Drills such as Bubkas, swing ups on a bar or on rings, sliding box drills, and three step swing-ups can all proactively use the time that the vaulter needs to break out of their mental block in a

positive fashion. Nailing down the basics of each sequence of the vault not only can help to restore a vaulter’s confidence, but will also lead to improvements once the vaulter is in the air again. The time in which the vaulter is working to overcome their mental block should not be looked at as a complete setback- it is an opportunity to nail down the basics of the vault without taking full approach jumps. It is chance to work on the skills that the vaulter lacks while building their confidence.

Mental blocks may be a taxing experience for the vaulter, but they also give them an opportunity to come back stronger than ever.

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Jake Blankenship

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FROM HIGH BEAM TO HIGH BAR By: Nic Caldwell Hanna Hill

HANNA HILL Height: 5’3” Weight: 135 LBS Age/Grade: 14, 8th grade Favorite book: Fifth Wave Favorite color: Orange Favorite food: Rice Favorite movie: Up Favorite pre-vault snack: Trail mix and chocolate milk Favorite vacation spot: Okinawa, Japan Ice cream or cake: Ice cream Siblings: Older brother and younger sister Favorite thing about vaulting: “the feeling you get when you just clear a height and you can see the bar and you’re coming down and you’re free falling and it feels like your stomach leaves your body and just for a second it feels like you could actually be flying!”

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Sam Kendricks

Vault with Confidence The lightweight Kendricks Special Edition and Recoil Series poles by UST-ESSX are engineered for superior power, stability and consistency. The world’s best vaulters trust our technologically-advanced designs to help them reach their full potential, from approach to push off. Jump with UST-ESSX, and start raising the bar on your level of confidence.

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No matter what hurdle has been in front of Hana, she has risen above it. Hana is about as tough as they come. Before picking up a pole vaulting, Hana competed for Dynamic Gymnastics Academy in Spokane, WA for 9 years and was a multiple state competitor. When Hana decided it was time for a new focus, her friends introduced her to track. Hana quickly became good… at everything. In her short career, she has qualified for the USATF Regional Junior Olympic championships 3 times in multiple events. But, it was only this past summer season that Hana fulfilled her athletic ability and competed

at the USATF Regional Junior Olympics in the pentathlon and pole vault. Both events, she has only competed in 5 times or less. Hana has also competed in the USATF National Olympic championships as well.

As a matter of fact, the USATF Regional Junior Olympic meet was her first official pentathlon scored meet. Hana respectfully finished 5th with a score of 2047 out of 8 female athletes in the 13-14 age division. Hana also finished 1st in the pole vault at a height of 10’ 7.95. This was only her 4th time competing in pole vault, ever. The first time Hana pole

Hanna jumping at the Junior Olympics

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vaulted was 1 month earlier at a very small meet. She finished with an astonishing height of 10’6. When I asked Hana how she got in to pole vaulting, she claimed that it was Google that helped her. She learned that having a strong gymnastics background can carry over to pole vault. Thank you Google!

You definitely persuaded the right person. Hana is addicted and is willing to put in the extra effort to get better.

Learning to fly

I asked Hana about her mind-set when she pole vaults.

She said that she “Has done

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everything already to prepare.

She deserves what she gets.”

Wise words from such a young athlete. And her training backs it up. Not only does Hana have select volleyball this winter, she also lifts 3x a week and is enrolled at a pole vaulting clinic at Spokane Community College. Hana’s personal best so far is an amazing 11’ 1.86 which was in her 2nd competition at the USATF Inland Championships back in June.

Her goal this upcoming season is 12’-12’ 6. Which, if you peak at her Instagram account, should be easily met as there is a video of her clearing 12’ over a bungie. According to Athletic.

net, Hana is currently rank 2nd in the nation in the 13-14 year old category. She just misses the top of the list by 3” to Texas native Montana Piper.

From a coach’s perspective, Hana has spent very little time with the Vault. With the right amount of patience and a little guidance, Hana could have the potential to be a 13’ vaulter in the next year. When I spoke with Hana on the phone, she came across as willing and hungry to get better. Hana wants to vault and wants to compete in the Washington state high school decathlon championships when she be-

comes a freshman next school year. She has set her standards very high (pun intended) but will reach them with help of her coaches.

What’s next?

Hana will continue with her workout routine and strive for her goal this upcoming season.

She thanks her coaches and parents for all of their support.

Hana hopes to “be more aggressive and outgoing” as she continues to vault.

Hanna Jumping

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ATHLETE TO COACH By: T.J. Murphy

Trust is something that is slowly built up like in any relationship and in pole vault there are several relationships that work on one another. To list them they are trust in your coach, trust in your athlete, trust in your pole, and trust in yourself. That last one is the most important and for me it was the hardest one to work on. In the beginning of my career progress would come in small waves. One day I would be struggling to swing up over 8 feet and the next day something would click and I would pop myself up another foot or two.

I was slowly making my way up every few weeks until one day when my coach brought a new

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pole to use. It was longer and in my coaches mind holding higher meant jumping higher.

By the laws of physics yes that makes sense. But as an athlete, coach, student of the sport I can say its not that simple.

I held where my coach told me to hold, which was a dramatic increase that made me nervous. Mistake one. I ran down the runway faster than ever because he said I have to run faster if I wanted to get on this pole. Mistake two. After several attempts with the pole and refusing to swing up I gave in and I listened and stopped trusting myself. Mistake three.

I was being yelled at to “just

jump” as my coach was frustrated with me. After hearing the same thing several times I figured I must be wrong. I sprung myself into the air about 15 feet soaring higher than the 14-foot bungie only to realize I was completely in front of it.

As I turned in the air all I saw was red track before landing in the metal box. Keep in mind this was before the good old box collars were required. As I slowly stood up a sharp pain pierced my lower back and ran down my leg. Nothing was broken but all activity was on hold while I saw a chiropractor about three times a week for the next month. It’s not until you’re laying on a couch that you realized

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how valuable your body is and that you should have trusted yourself.

After that incident you can imagine how hard it might have been to get back on the runway and regain confidence. But more importantly how hard it was to trust what my coach told me to do from there on out. This slowed me down dramatically since I second-guessed often and being outside my comfort zone was twice as scary and I didn’t trust myself either. As a result I decided to seek more

advanced coaching, which is how I came to meet the infamous Tim St. Lawrence of Warwick New York. His place, The Barn or the Flying Circus, was where I became a collegiate competitor.

When I walked through the doors of The Barn I was greeted by a hard working and quick paced gymnastics like aroma.

Bodies were flying from trapeze bars, swinging upside down on ropes and juggling poles on the runway. I was mixed with excitement and intimidation, in

other words I was in heaven.

When I first met Coach St. I was greeted with the largest genuine smile I’ve ever seen. He was a happy guy and reminded me of the Energizer Bunny with his ability to just keep moving around. I felt welcomed, comfortable and extremely excited.

And that right there is the perfect environment to learn.

After every jump I took I would take time to think about what I felt and I was immediately informed with what I did well. This was the positive rein-

Mary Saxer and Danny Wilkerson

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forcement that kept my training positive and strong. Then came the criticism, which felt less like instruction and more like understanding. If it was my step then we might do some drills to cycle my last steps better. If it were my swing-phase we would hang on the rings to try to feel the right positions and imagine them in the quick moment of my jump. And most importantly I never left The Barn feeling demotivated. If it was a bad practice I learned to shake it off and if it were a big break through we started our thinking on what was next remaining disciplined with where we were at and composed to move forward. This is an aspect I carry with me everyday in all things. A good coach may instruct well but a great coach provides understanding to that instruction.

It’s like teaching to teach.

One last encounter that went a long way for me was when I took a trip out to Arizona and found Dean Starkey’s back yard. For about three weeks I showed up to train in the hot sun for some summer conditioning before college.

I didn’t expect much in the form of coaching as I did repetition down the runway since I had never met this coach before. However, Mr. Starkey did something small that made a

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huge impact. And it wasn’t a critique of my jump either; it was a change in my thinking.

Jordan Scott coached by Tim Mack

I had trouble taking off without getting ripped off the ground and at this point the feeling felt right to me.

Mr. Starkey, like a few other coaches, noticed this habit and that it was translating my swing to be premature and slow thus I was landing shallow on the mats. He knew getting my step out would fix this.

But not only that, it was about being confident having my step out. He moved me back and the first few times it felt odd and I gave up on the jump. Then he said “think about diving like superman at takeoff and just push everything forward.” On the next jump instead of thinking about “being out” at takeoff I thought about “diving.” When I jumped off the ground the whole jump moved in a way I had never felt. It was smooth and rather simple and everything that followed seemed to happen naturally. What I found was that the way I had thought was what changed; I exagger-

ated my thinking. The result was not actually “diving” but the thought of diving that triggered different muscles and positions in my mind to obtain the desired result.

Trust, although it may seem simple, can be much more complicated than you think. There are several components to trust like gears in a system and the biggest gear is trust in oneself. There are also many qualities required to being a top athlete like discipline, passion and commitment. But trust, in my experience, has been the basic adhesive to success and without it things fall apart quickly.

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VAULTER MAGAZINE 2017

JANUARY 2017 ISSUE

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Kathryn Elizabeth Nageotte coached

by Roman Botcharnikov

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! By: Bubba Sparks I’m baaaaack!! After two years away growing my company, to say I have maintained my fitness and quality for jumping would be a lie. That said I’ve managed to do enough running, lifting, jumping and high bar to be able to stay in touch enough to remain somewhat competitive for us old fossils.

Tremendous respect for what it takes to truly be at the top levels, and I sincerely hope to be back there before my 65th birthday.

Lots of hopes and dreams begin anew on January 1. For pole vaulters, your “new start” should be well underway. You hopefully enjoyed a nice break after last season before doing

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some summer training. By now you are seeing some results of your fall program. Remember to keep it fun, be patient and get the most out of each level before moving on.

For me, it will be vaulting in the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand on April 27, and then hit the Grand Haven Beach Vault and a couple of other fun meets this summer.

Where’s your fun? Make a list and plan for it!!

The Reno Test

I believe this is my 23rd year to go to Reno for the National Pole Vault Summit. Our rule has always been, if you’re not ready to PR at Reno then you are be-

hind. Many may disagree, but I believe the earlier you get to certain benchmarks, the more time and room you have to improve. A slow and steady progress and hoping it all plays out in the end scares me to death.

Ideally, we are looking for 2-4 peaks per year. The PR target of Reno is the best way to assure a peak at indoor championship time, and the big relays are your chance to again approach PRs so that you may be in peak form for your championship season.

I bring this up because it’s important to have a logical understanding of expectations and plans for training to get the most out of each season. Unfor-

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tunately, once we start jumping, many of us tend to forget what got us here, and it’s not long before we find ourselves frustrated and stuck. Failure to plan means planning to fail, and impatience means you have no confidence in your plan. Get with your coaches and be clear on your progressions toward each objective.

Pole vaulting is a joyous experience and a lifetime sport.

I will be 64 this year which

means I have been vaulting 52 years. During that time, I have met tremendous people of all levels and ages. Some people golf and surf, I pole vault.

Never has there been a sport where everyone is cheered and encouraged by their “competition”, no matter what their skill level. It makes me so proud to see the culture that has endured since I first started jumping. I particularly have a blast following the progress of the young vaulters on Facebook.

PLEASE feel free to reach out to me with questions or just to say hello. You will find no shortage of great people who want to help you. As always, my closing message is have fun!! Happy New Year!! Bubba Sparks PS – I want this to be YOUR article so please shoot me an email at bubb@bubbapv.com and give me some ideas of things or challenges you would like me to address. All the best and God bless you all!!

Bubba Sparks

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by Sam MAAgjghjgZINE Kendricks

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