Uncategorized – Page 4 – Ohio Pole Vault Safety

Old Poles Never Die

Provenance I have an advantage over a lot of track officials when it comes to pole vaulting. I “became” a pole vault coach in 1983 out of necessity. I was a young (really young, and really “confident”, looking back at it) high school head boys coach, with a good pole vault program, and no one to coachContinue reading “Old Poles Never Die”

You’re ALIVE!!!!

Now Hear This – all you “old dogs”. I’ve got a “new trick”, one that I absolutely stole from BJ Duckworth, the Track and Field Director of Officiating Development for the Ohio High School Athletic Association. This “new trick” is about an old subject in running the pole vault (or High Jump) – Five Alive. (The NCAAContinue reading “You’re ALIVE!!!!”

Old Poles, New Labels

High School National Federation Rules require that pole vault poles have a manufacturer’s weight label, placed at the top of the “grip range” of the pole. And while pole vault poles, if properly cared for, can last for years (even decades) the labels often don’t. If the Pole Vault Official can’t read the label, thenContinue reading “Old Poles, New Labels”

The Last Attempt

I am a track official, but I was a track coach too. As an official I take each attempt in a field event as it comes. There aren’t any “mitigating” factors: first attempt or last, to win, place or go out, just one more ½ inch in the jump; none of it matters. Either the jump or throw isContinue reading “The Last Attempt”

Too Bad to Vault

Assumed Risk Let’s start with the basics. Every track and field event, pole vault included, needs to be conducted safely. Weather conditions might change the focus from “citius, altius, fortius” (faster, higher, stronger) to “survival mode”, but the event still needs to be safe. With every event in track and field there is also an “assumed risk”. AContinue reading “Too Bad to Vault”