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TRACK AND FIELD - POLE VAULT – TECHNIQUES PART I Pole vault, in practice, is a series of body
movements – muscle movement –, which, step by step, takes you to a
crescendo, culminating in your clearing the bar high above and landing
safely on to the mattress. It is not an “isolated motor skill” but a
“whole motor skill” encompassing every muscle movement right from
starting run to the fall. The gradual building of thrust and the final
explosion of energy that propels you up above have to be done with
surgical precision and any lack of it at any building up stage will
surely result in unsuccessful vaulting! There are eight basic techniques which a beginner
has to master in order to compete in major competitions. The eight
rudimentary techniques are:
The Grip: A beginner should try a light pole having a length
of about 3.5 meters. The grip is the most important criterion for a
pole-vaulter since, only it can determine the height the pole-vaulter
can clear with ease! If your grip is high, you have the potential to
vault high! A right handed competitor should have his right hand as the
top hand while the left hand should hold the pole about 1.5 to 2 feet
from the top right hand hold. However, the size of the pole and the grip
i.e., the holding position of hands should have to be arrived at by the
individual through trial and error method. After a few false starts one
is bound to achieve the right combination of pole size and hands grip
that may turn out to be a winning combination!
The Carry: The action of progressing towards the pit is known
as “the carry”. In a majority of cases the pole is carried towards
the right side. Pole Positions:
Hold the pole steady without rocking it back and forth. Approximately 45 to 55 feet from the ‘pole plant’, you should start lowering the pole gradually. The position of elbows is important. Normally an elbow bent approximately 70 to 90 degrees is recommended for the pole carry. |
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