JUST TALKING # 1 PIT/POLE CONFLICTS

[Bruce Caldwell]

JUST TALKING #1
TOPIC: THE POLE HITTING THE VAULT PIT AND THE PROBLEMS IT CAUSES!!

Have you ever vaulted and the pole bent so much it made contact with the pit? And then what happened?

When the pole makes contact with the pit in the cutout area, the pole when pressing against the pit stops the bending action and drives the energy back up the pole causing the pole to start its return to vertical prematurely.

THE PROBLEM:

1. The pole does not return the amount of energy you stored in it or it returns the energy not timed with you and the pole.
2. The pole will act as if it is shorter and stiffer, thus you have difficulty getting the feet up and getting inverted.

THE CAUSE:

1. In most cases this is caused by too flat of a take-off/ plant.
2. However there are those pits that do not have enough cutout for pole rotation.
3. Other reasons for this are energy storage being too low in the pole due to too low of a grip on too soft of a pole.
4. A brand pole that is designed for use with a higher takeoff, but with a low takeoff the pole bends low.

THE SOLUTION:

1. Check for the pit to have plenty of room for pole rotation and still maintain safety.
2. Choose a pit that has either a Y or a V type cutout or a circle cutout all with plenty of corner room for both left and right handers.
3. Moving the pit back the maximum allowed will help as long as there is a Box protection collar in place.
4. If the pit is not the problem, then check to make sure you are on a pole that allows you to hold within the grip area as well as one that fits you properly.

If you need help go to http://www.essxsport.com/XLOGIC/disclaimer.htm for free help

5. Never use a pole rated below your weight. Never hold below the recommend grip area.
6. Check your take-off angle, the faster you are the more you have to leap at the take-off to gain the proper blend and transfer of energy to the pole.
Have fun
Vault safe
Jump your best

Bruce Caldwell
ESSX

[mdavis2685]

Hey Bruce,
There was one meet that i went to where the pit was not cut at an angle around the box it just went stright up all around it. THis was a major problem the pole would bend slightly and hit the mat and it would throw me way off to the side i almost didn't land on the pit a few times. It was terrible.

[rainbowgirl28]

Don't the new NFHS rules require that pits be tapered behind the box?

[ashcraftpv]

yes, they do.......

from what I remember the new rule changes this year are

1) no taps in warmups or competition
2) all mats have to have a sloped cut-out around the box to allow the pole a maximum bend
3) standard placement can nonw only be between 15.5"(40cm) and 31.5"(80cm)
4) you get 1-1/2 minutes for an attempt

this is all off the top of my head from skimming the new rule book last night

[KYLE ELLIS]

I think that happened to me last meet!