Walk Around – Check for any safety hazards
Remove or Pad any hard or unyielding surfaces (at least one meter around the pit)
Remove Pit Weather Cover – make sure the cover is placed so that it doesn’t become (or cover) hazards Note: The Pit Cover is NOT padding
Make sure pit is solid – no gaps or holes in sections (if found – must be fixed before competition)
Make sure box collar is intact and correctly located
Examine box – no lip to runway – remove water or other stuff – if there is a box “lid” move it far away from pit
Crossbar – find the “bend” in the crossbar – mark bar so that bend is always down when the bar is up (FRONT) Note: roll the bar on forearms-it should roll to the bend”up”. Note: Secure bar “ends” at level, even, and with flat side to the “down” side of the bar – tape to secure if needed
Check standard pins for bent, lose or missing pins (also USATF pins versus NFHS pins – especially at college locations) Note: Fix what you can – develop a strategy of raising the standard to avoid “bad” pins Note: Make sure the standards will go high enough for anticipated competition-also low enough Note: Make necessary accomodations to reach needed heights (extenders)
Move the standards to “estimated” zero – make sure the standards are set to the same height Note: Look for paint marks on standards or ground if available
Use the measuring stick and the level, place cross bar on the lowest pegs to check “estimated”zero
Adjust standards to zero at the box – then use the bar, “eyeball” the standards to equal zero at the standards
Mark Zero (if not already marked) both on the standard protectors and on the ground Note: If paint marks not available – and there’s time – use the triangulation or no-pit methods* If not – use Crossbar method – realize that’s it is not exact but vaulters will adjust
Adjust standard measures to reflect “true” zero – mark where on the standard measurement is made (back side) Note: IF not marked – use athletic tape and measure out from 0 to 31 1/2 and place on standard protector
Mark on the standard where the standard setters are to measure – a pencil or rod attached to the back of the standard works
Check that the crossbar is level – manipulate standard setting to get it there
Note: Mark adjustment on the standard protectors (ex: left up 2″)
Set Crossbar to opening height – use measuring stick and level to double-check
Note: Eyeball both standards to make sure they are “even” – double-check
Measure from zero point on box up the middle of the runway to 13 feet Note: Check existing marks for accuracy
If no existing marks (or not accurate) – mark on runway every foot from 6′ to 13′ (on side for takeoffs) Note: Put marks on the “coaching side” of the runway if possible
Extend measuring tape on the side of the runway from 7′ to 110′ (I use push-pins to hold) Note: don’t put the pins in the “foot” marks – put them randomly so that the tape doesn’t wear-out as quickly
Coaches Box Establish a “coaching area” – close enough for coaches to be able work Note: make sure there’s room for officials and workers – use cones to establish boundaries
Get the competiton “Sheet” to use when checking in athletes Note: If available, I make my own (from online) – 1 page on WaterProof Paper
No Pit Method of establishing Zero at Standards – Best
Place a straight line (snap line, steel tape or 20′ rod) on top of and even with the top of the back of the box Mark the location of the ends of that straight line where the standards will be set. Set up pit and standards – align standards to marks
Triangulation Method of Establishing Zero at Standards – Second Best
Estimate Zero at both standards
Put Up Crossbar – use measure stick and level to get zero on crossbar at the center of the top of the box
Measure from a common point on both standards to the true (measured) center of the runway (even with the center of the box) at 15′ Maintain the “center zero” on bar – adjust the standards so there are equally distant from the 15′ = center of the runway mark
Move the standards back to 31.5 – and move the common point on the runway up 31.5 – it should be the same equal distant (if not – then the standard tracks are not parallel – and need to be aligned) – Thanks to Kris Marshall, state PV official for showing me this part of the “triangulation method”
Crossbar Method of establishing Zero at Standards – Fastest
After finding Zero at the box (measure stick and level) – set the crossbar directly over zero
Distriubte ends of cross bar as “evenly” as possible at either end to approximate zero location on standards
Note: I arrive at the meet site at least 90 minutes before the event. That gives me: 30 plus minutes to prepare the pit – 60 minutes to check in vaulters – open the pit for warmup as soon as they’re checked-in allows for plenty of time for warmup and the event to begin on time
What I carry with me (in equipment bag):
- 165’ Tapes (2)
- Weather clipboard
- Push-pinsTape – Athletic
- Tape – Duct
- Vice Grips
- Vault sheets on water proof paper (single page)
- Pens, Pencils, Markers, Chalk – reading glasses
- Flags – (red and white for pit boss, yellow for Runway/Timer)
- Measure Stick ALWAYS
- Bar – Lifters (2) If needed
- Box Pump If needed
- Cones (six small) Const. Level
X-tra Check in Cards - standard “markers”
- Multi-Tool Stopwatch
- Tape/Labels for marking poles
I’ve added a couple of items:
I now carry a plum bob to speed up the process of finding zero at the box
And I’ve added rubber door stops to my bag for windy days when the standards tend to drift
Ohio Pole Vault Safety 