For my background re this topic, please refer to "
How to avoid injuries from landing in the box?"
http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=16700That's one of my big questions too: Is there any physical
or psychological impact due to the WINGS during the pole plant?
And will the pole hit the strikeplate in such a way that the collar won't impede the bend of the pole?
i.e. Will vaulters concede that it's OK, after they get over the initial adjustment period of the wings covering the sidewalls of the box?
I would be concerned that I couldn't place my pole in the left corner of the box (I'm a lefty), which is where I used to aim. Now, the wings will guide the pole to the center of the strikeplate. I'm not saying this is bad - I'm only saying it's different, and needs to be tested. It might even be BETTER, since the pole is now guaranteed to not hit the RIGHT corner of the strikeplate - where there's less room for the pole to bend. This needs to be tested by some independent, responsible governing body (NOT the manufacturers!).
1. We know that ASTM have not specified any usability tests - they only specify a missile impact test, to ensure that the material is dense enough so that it won't bottom-out upon impact by the vaulter.
2. If the NCAA has sponsored or endorsed any usability testing for this, they haven't made it public. This usability testing still needs to occur - with the SafetyMax+ or competitive products that meet the ASTM spec.
3. Gill will have already conducted their ASTM tests to ensure compliance, but I haven't heard of them conducting any usability tests ... yet.
I personally like the design of the wings - tapering from next to nothing to the full width at the pole bend cavity - and I SUSPECT that poles will slide down the floor of the box without any interference. However, with lives at risk here, this needs to be proven by adequate testing - not by subjective reports and hearsay from less than impartial "testers". I'm hopeful that we'll see some objective usability test results this year, now that the SafetyMax+ is available to test with.
New collars should be no problem, but I'm also concerned about the wings wearing down over time - by poles continuously glancing off of them. At some point they WILL be worn down (or decay) so much that the pole WILL be impeded if it strikes a bad spot (about halfway down the sidewall). But how to specify that? Because this is material-related (as opposed to usability-related), this sounds like a job for the ASTM!
As I mentioned above, I'm also concerned with the issue of the pole bending into the box collar, causing a potential safety hazard - rather than preventing one. Since the planes of the collar follow the planes of the box and (for pits that are designed to fit tightly around the box) the planes of the front buns and front apron. Being the middle tier on each of these planes, the collar SHOULD be OK IMHO, but REAL testing by REAL vaulters under REAL training and meet conditions is needed to verify this. Even if it can be mathematically proven that there's no possible way that the bent pole can touch the collar, thorough testing is still prudent - before blindly mandating this new NCAA rule.
Superpipe wrote:
There really needs to be a label attached to the collar.
That's not mandated in the ASTM specs, and your assumption seems to be that the manufacturer is responsible for conducting the ASTM tests. The specs only say:
Code: Select all
11. Instructions and Labeling
I l.l Each pole vault box collar shall be provided with instructions for proper assembly and installation.
I I .2 Each pole vault box collar shall be permanently labeled with the following items :
I 1.2.1 ldentification of manufacturer,
1 1.2.2 Model designation,
1 1.2.3 Specific warning on installation, and
11.2.4 A warning label limiting the intended use.
However, the Gill website
http://www.gillathletics.com/store/product/safetymax-vault-box-collar does quote the ASTM F2949 spec. And there does appear to be some printing in the top-left corner of their collar. What does it say?
Kirk Bryde