Category Archives: Uncategorized

After fifty years as a track athlete then a coach,  meet manager, and now an official who “specializes” in Pole Vault; weather in Ohio is always a factor.   We can run in anything short of lightning.  I’ve vaulted in snow, wind, and even light rain.  And my “reputation” is:  if they can play a football game in the weather, weContinue reading “There’s A Window”

I had the privilege of officiating the pole vault at  Ohio’s OHSAA 7th and 8th Grade State Track Championships Saturday.  It always fun to officiate the vault, but what made Saturday different, was motivation.  The officiating crew was highly motivated to give the athletes their best efforts.  The pole vault pit crew did a fantastic job under some of the toughestContinue reading “Making “The Call””

This is a short post about a technical vertical jumps situation.  It’s all about, “who controls the bar”.  It happened twice in two days, first in a collegiate high jump (under NCAA rules) and then, the next day in a high school pole vault competition (NFHS rules).   How should officials handle the single remaining jumper/vaulter who isContinue reading “Who Controls the Bar?”

Don’t Dally If you’re the lone pole vault official, looking at a one-day meet with 35 boys vaulting and 28 girls, you know one thing for sure.  You have to be efficient.  The average working number is six vaults per vaulter per competition.   A little simple math:  that’s 378 vaults.  At a minute a vault (including moving standards and placingContinue reading “Is it Cheating?”

Mentor A mentor is someone, usually older, who goes “above and beyond” to bring you into a different “world”, often a profession or career.  They may be a “boss”, but if they are, they’re a “boss” that’s as interested in your learning and success as their own.  They may just be a more experienced co-worker or contemporary,Continue reading “PV Mentor”