Rock Light's Theory of Pole Vaulting (Texas Tech)

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http://www.cstv.com/sports/c-track/uwire/012607aaa.html

Light's theory of pole vaulting


By Paul Roberts Daily Toreador
January 26, 2007

Lubbock, TX (CSTV U-WIRE) -- In order to be a good at pole vaulting, Texas Tech track coach Rock Light said one's strength is not important, but the athlete must be an expert in physics and gymnastics.

"The laws of physics are pretty much set in place," Light said.

The key to becoming a good pole vaulter is learning the transition of energy from the vaulter to the pole, then back to the vaulter, Light said.

The Tech pole vaulting crew looks to add onto last year's success in the second meet of the 2007 season Friday when the team travels to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Zia Classic.

Light said even though the team lost two All-Americans from last season's team, he has expectations of a successful 2007 season.

On the women's side, Light said a trio will be leading the squad.

He said sophomore Amanda Alley, senior Lindsey Walesheck and senior Kelly Schulz have been All-Big 12 team members in the past, and with reaching Regionals last year, will prove to be a solid group.

Alley earned the Red Raiders their first provisional mark of the season Friday with a height of 12-11 1/2 to place first in the event.

Light said the Tech team will have the No. 1 pole vaulter in the country next season when Katie Veith is added to the roster.

On the men's side, Light said senior All-American Seth Harris looks to make a big comeback after injuring his ankle in 2006.

"He had a really bad ankle injury last year," Light said. "But he is a really tough kid. He was chosen by the entire team as team captain for this season."

He said an example of Harris' toughness is the amount of time it took for him to get over the foot injury.

"He dislocated his ankle in the first meet of the year at the beginning of January," Light said. "At the end of February, he jumped at the Big 12 indoor meet - he's a tough kid."














Coach Wes Kittley said he looks for the pole vaulting squad to be a huge boost for the entire Tech track team.

"We've established a little bit of tradition in the past years in pole vaulting," Kittley said. "It's a group that's been together for a long time. They should prove to be a great opportunity for us to score valuable points."

When coaching athletes in the pole vault, Light said he takes the approach of teaching consistency, physics and different gymnastic exercises during practice.

He said being focused is key during meets to increase chances of placing first in the event.

"This an is event where consistency is so important," Light said. "Making the first mark each time the bar goes up is crucial."

He said the way the event is scored, a vaulter could lose points if he or she is inconsistent.

He said during the event, each member gets three tries to clear the set height before he can advance. However, athletes can receive more points if they reach the bar on the first try than someone who does not.

"If you make it on the second jump and someone else makes it on the first jump, then they are winning," Light said of the latter.

Light broke down the sport into four parts - the approach, planting and taking off, the swing and the fly away.

The team does not practice any specific techniques, but take on a style that is consistent throughout the entire team, Light said.

"I believe there is a common theme in style for good pole vaulters," he said.

All the approaches are the same and the plant and take-off are similar as well, he said.

"So if they deviate away from these methods, then something is not right or I am teaching something wrong," the coach said.

For one of his coaching lessons, Light goes straight to the physics book.

"The key is understanding the vaulter and the pole have kinetic energy," Light said.

It is imperative to learn how to use all the available energy from the pole to reach a maximum height, he said.

Kinetic energy in the vaulter running is transferred to kinetic energy in the pole when the vaulter places and bends the pole, Light said. The kinetic energy is then transformed to potential energy, which represents the height the vaulter can achieve.

"The goal is to get the body extended in a line with that pole," Light said. "That's where you get the nice, smooth vault at the top."

He said it is crucial for his athletes to learn how to utilize 100 percent of the stored potential energy for maximum results.

Every week during practice and in between physics lessons, Light takes his team for gymnastics lessons to learn proper technique.

He said besides core strength in the chest, pelvic region and abs, he teaches his athletes to stress strength in a dynamic plane.

"We work on the rings, the high bar, trampoline," Light said. "Everything we learn in the gymnastics room, I am always talking pole vaulting. I tell them this is what they want to feel when pole vaulting. We get some really good training done in there."

Light said psychological factor of pole vaulting is the most difficult part of the event.

"When you're running down the runway 120 feet then vaulting 18 feet in the air, I think there is somewhat of a psychological fear factor there," he said. "I teach to put that fear away and be confident. There can be no doubts when you're on that runway."

(C) 2007 Daily Toreador via CSTV U-WIRE