The fitness of pole vaulters: a discussion...

[lonestar]

Using these concepts the intensity of each jump or rep and be calculated into the set up, and now we can limit ourselves to say, 50 contacts a week (a number I found to work pretty well with intermediate athletes...a higher number for beginners, a lower number for advanced).

Andy,

I found your post humorous, not because I disagree, but because it brought back memories...

3 years ago I assisted with training a Russian vaulter...he had been training since about age 12 in Russian sport schools, and later in Israel under former Soviet coaches. Anyway, I was consulting with a Russian coach (of other event areas) who had a copy of the Soviet Senior Training Manual for pole vault. She would translate it for me and I would furiously try to copy down notes as she spoke quickly and with a heavy accent. Anyway, for the "Fundamental" or "Preseason/Precompetition" phase, the first DAY of training had like 200+ plyo contacts!!! It just got worse from there! I think we can all venture a guess as to how even "senior" level Soviet athletes were able to endure that kind of torture without completely crumbling.

Kris

[Lax PV]

Using these concepts the intensity of each jump or rep and be calculated into the set up, and now we can limit ourselves to say, 50 contacts a week (a number I found to work pretty well with intermediate athletes...a higher number for beginners, a lower number for advanced).

Andy,

I found your post humorous, not because I disagree, but because it brought back memories...

3 years ago I assisted with training a Russian vaulter...he had been training since about age 12 in Russian sport schools, and later in Israel under former Soviet coaches. Anyway, I was consulting with a Russian coach (of other event areas) who had a copy of the Soviet Senior Training Manual for pole vault. She would translate it for me and I would furiously try to copy down notes as she spoke quickly and with a heavy accent. Anyway, for the "Fundamental" or "Preseason/Precompetition" phase, the first DAY of training had like 200+ plyo contacts!!! It just got worse from there! I think we can all venture a guess as to how even "senior" level Soviet athletes were able to endure that kind of torture without completely crumbling.

Kris

ahhhh yes... the ruskies in the 80s... who could forget...