1. PAGES 1-35 - Texas Track & Field Coaches Association

a pole relative to their top
speed. Much of this difference
is likely due to pole size more
so than to carry efficiency but
that was not tested.
These willing athletes exhibited
a wide range of abilities. All
of them did have experience
with none being raw beginners
(no experience). Those with
more experience and with
greater performances (higher
vaults to their credit) tended to
run faster and had a more even
acceleration curve. An example
is provided in Tables 3 and 4
with their corresponding
graphs. Comparing these two
athletes, one was a high school
intermediate and the other a
skilled high school athlete (in
fact, one of the top high school
athletes attending the clinic).
This may suggest that it is a skill
to develop an approach that
can smoothly and effectively
bring an athlete to top speed, or
put another way, bring an athlete
to useable top speed.
Observing all the data, it seems
that just running from further
back is not likely the key factor
in bringing out the athlete’s
very best.
TO SUM UP THE STUDY
OF THIS GROUP:
These athletes were running
at 90 percent of their top speed
less than 60 feet into their trial
run whether they carried a pole
or did not carry a pole.
On average, the remaining 10
percent of their top speed required a distance of between 50
and 60 feet, or roughly half the distance required to accelerate
to top speed, again whether carrying a pole or not. The boys
tended to need a little more distance to hit top speed when carrying
a pole whereas the girls tended to need a little less distance.
Carrying a pole while running slowed these runners about
five percent.
An unmeasured observation was that the faster and more
experienced athlete took longer (distance run) to reach top
speed and tended to have a more regular acceleration curve
than the less-experienced and slower athlete.
I think these observations are worthy of consideration for the
coaching of all jumping events. Of special coaching note is that
if an athlete needs more technical preparation in jumping
mechanics, taking more trials from an approach of six to 10
steps (three to five lefts) makes good sense. The athlete will, in
all likelihood, be able to take more attempts, concentrate
jumping technique, and still function near top speed. The
process of achieving top speed in a controlled and “smooth or
regular” manner also appears to be a skill and therefore needs
to be practiced as well.
ADDENDUM
The Brower timing system was also used in the Friday night
elite men’s and women’s competitions. In congruence with
existing research model on runway velocity just prior to the
take off, photo gates were set up to time the last five meters
prior to the take off. Results of each attempt of these elite athletes
was recorded and shown to the audience on the display
units provided. My sincere thanks to Mark Brower and the
Brower Timing System staff for their support of the Reno Pole
Vault Summit and this project.
AUGUST 2011 techniques 15