college rules

[MillerTime]

hey guys, i heard somewhere that the pole weights dont matter in college, is that true? in high school my P.R. was 11'6. well i took a year off between HS and college to work, and i went to 1 HS practice near the end of the year and after a few practice jumps with the bungie, i jumped 13 feet on my first attempt!! i was using a 125 pole instead of the 140 pole i had to use last year (i weigh around 132). if this is true, i cant wait untill college, if i gained 1'6" on my first try with 1 new pole, i cant wait to see what i can do when i have a full season to practice and try different poles! so do pole weights matter in college?

[FreightTrain]

The prohibitions against using a pole rated less than your weight don't apply in college like they do in high school. But the safety issues of using a pole rated appropriate for your style, ability and weight are still very much a concern regardless of whether you can "legally" jump with a softer pole. As an adult, you become responsible for your own choices, but I would still recommend that you talk with an experienced coach about such a decision before pursuing that course of training and competition.

[Bruce Caldwell]

You want to use a lighter than your weight vaulting pole? SO the pole is rated less than your weight, how do you expect to get the pole to lift your weight up fast enough to lift your hips above your hand grip?

There is not rule in college that requires one to use a pole rated at or above their weight.
However if a coach suggest that you do so I would question his knowledge of poles, risks, and vaulting!!!

From the beginning of the fiberglass pole the manufacturer has stated
DO NOT USE A POLE RATED BELOW YOUR WEIGHT.
THERE is a reason that not many understand, but to jump properly, jump above the handhold, and excel in the event you need to follow basics and follow the rules set by manufacturers.

OK OK I have heard short run, bad day I will not put pressure on the pole.
IT causes bad habits to use a very light weight pole, unless you are gripping so low the pole will not bend.

Learn why you need to be on bigger poles not longer ones go to
http://www.therightpole.com

[lonestar]

Well before everyone jumps in here and attacks you for using a pole under your weight dude (which, by the way, is all relative to handgrip), give us some more specifics. How much do you weigh, what is the length and weight rating of the pole, and how far from the top are you holding (better yet, measure from the bottom tip of the pole to the top of your top hand and tell us how high you're gripping) Also, how many steps are you taking and do you plan to stay there or lengthen your run?

THEN, we will all be better informed to give you advice on pole selection.

[polevaultdad]

Speaking of college rules - can anyone help with this one.

I saw that in Helsinki a vaulter attempted a vault but did not land on the ground or the pit beyond the end of the box (probably bailed and landed on the side mat.) HE then ran back got another pole and re-attempted his 3rd vault within the time limit (about 5 seconds left when he made his last try). I did not know this was legal.

In college isn't once you leave the ground, it is an attempt?

[lonestar]

Speaking of college rules - can anyone help with this one.

I saw that in Helsinki a vaulter attempted a vault but did not land on the ground or the pit beyond the end of the box (probably bailed and landed on the side mat.) HE then ran back got another pole and re-attempted his 3rd vault within the time limit (about 5 seconds left when he made his last try). I did not know this was legal.

In college isn't once you leave the ground, it is an attempt?

NCAA uses a different rulebook than IAAF and USATF, although many rules are the same. Not sure about college, but in IAAF and USATF if you don't break the plane of the box (whether you left the ground or not) and still have time on the clock, you can re-attempt. In high school, if you leave the ground, it is an attempt and you cannot re-attempt.

[lonestar]

Speaking of college rules - can anyone help with this one.

I saw that in Helsinki a vaulter attempted a vault but did not land on the ground or the pit beyond the end of the box (probably bailed and landed on the side mat.) HE then ran back got another pole and re-attempted his 3rd vault within the time limit (about 5 seconds left when he made his last try). I did not know this was legal.

In college isn't once you leave the ground, it is an attempt?

NCAA uses a different rulebook than IAAF and USATF, although many rules are the same. Not sure about college, but in IAAF and USATF if you don't break the plane of the box (whether you left the ground or not) and still have time on the clock, you can re-attempt. In high school, if you leave the ground, it is an attempt and you cannot re-attempt.

Just read in the other thread that you answered this question in regards to NCAA: http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/vie ... highlight=

Still, in USATF and IAAF, it's whether or not you break the plane, not whether you left the ground.

[VaultMarq26]

With all the different sets of rules this gets pretty confusing. I am not a fan of some of the rules that determine what is an attempt or not. At conference last year, I was on my final attempt of a height I should have had no problem with. We were on an elevated runway and the there was a 2 inch bump accross the runway about 6 feet from the box. I stopped my run and my pole hit the bump and bounced up onto the box collar. The official ruled it a miss. It was the correct call by the rules, but it was by no means an attempt to vault.

[polevaultdad]

Thanks - did not know there was that much difference between NCAA and IAAF. Also saw the half rounded cross bar and a few other things.

Pretty cool for the guy to have the presence of mind to try and reload, change poles and go again.

[ashcraftpv]

In high school, if you leave the ground, it is an attempt and you cannot re-attempt.

Jan clarified this rule for some of us coaches in WA at a seminar he gave up here. The intent of the rule is that you leave the ground "in an attempt at the bar", then it is an attempt. I've had a couple of arguments with other coaches (that I won) that kids who try to stop before they takeoff and hop up a little bit or step onto the side of front buns next to the box shouldn't be charged with an attempt.

[lonestar]

In high school, if you leave the ground, it is an attempt and you cannot re-attempt.

Jan clarified this rule for some of us coaches in WA at a seminar he gave up here. The intent of the rule is that you leave the ground "in an attempt at the bar", then it is an attempt. I've had a couple of arguments with other coaches (that I won) that kids who try to stop before they takeoff and hop up a little bit or step onto the side of front buns next to the box shouldn't be charged with an attempt.

I agree

[MillerTime]

i used a lower rated pole because it was stiffer, so it actually lifted my weight up faster, thats prolly how i broke my PR by 1.5 feet in 1 jump.

someone asked for specs so here they are. i weigh around 130-135 depending on when i ate last. i think the 125 pole that i used was 12'9. i usually take 5-6 steps. my top hand was holding 1 hand grip below the end of the tape (theres an area at the end of the pole that says not to hold that high, is that included in the 12'9, or is there 12'9 of pole before that area?) so i was holding 12'6 above the ground, or 12'0 if that "dont hold above this line" area counts in the length.