Helmets

[VaultFreak]

It's sad that people keep getting hurt. I think that if they want to bring on the helmets, they should just do it instead of waiting for someone to get hurt first. I'm not really for them, they wouldn't be comfortable, even though they are a good idea. But if we had to, I would.

[jmayesvaultmom]

How do you know they are not comfortable if you haven't ever vaulted with one on? Do you really think about your seatbelt while you are driving???? No...after you get busy doing what you are doing you won't think about it...Just make sure you don't get one that is too big or too small...that's important..

[VaultFreak]

You're right. I would definitely be using one if I had to, as long as we can keep vaulting. Some teachers (those who aren't very knowledgable about the event) approach me and ask me how I'm doing with the pole vault, and they also mention that they've heard that the event will be "outlawed" because of so many people get hurt. I don't think that it will happen, I think the new rules have made it safer and that if we use our heads and vault right, we'll all be ok. Does your daughter have to wear one? (Just out of curiosity)

[jmayesvaultmom]

She has worked with Don Hood Sr. quite a bit. He will not LET you vault without one. After Jodie going to work with him so much and wearing one while there, she knew it didn't keep her from vaulting well and she knew it didn't bother her. We had already made a decision as a family that we were going to buy her one and she was going to wear it while vaulting at home. Then Kevin Dare's accident happened. It just brought the point home. At that time I had been discussing safety with the athletic director and told him she was going to start wearing one and he ordered some for the kids. They are required to wear them. After the first meet, then some kids from other schools started wearing them. The question again is "Why not?" Don't knock it til you try it, etc....you don't ever want anyone in your family to WISH you had been wearing one.

[vaultfan]

Hey. I think that Jodie Mayes mom deserves an enthusiastic “high fiveâ€Â

[jmayesvaultmom]

I hope that if they have a session on helmets at the summit that it is for everyone, and not just for parents and coaches. The more helmets that are worn at the summit, the more of an impression it will make. Jodie was the only vaulter that competed at USATF Jr. Nationals this June with a helmet on. She was not allowed to represent her high school (Arkansas has stupid track rules) so she wouldn't have had to wear it, but chose to wear her helmet anyway. She didn't even think about it! It made her more unique...along with the fact that she was the youngest vaulter there

HELMET WEARERS UNITE!!!!!!!

[vaulter580]

here is how i see it..................
wearing a helment while pole vaulting is like wearing a rain coat in the shower.........if you dont want to get wet dont get in the shower.........
and if you are afraid of getting hurt.dont jump.
thats just me

[ttuvaulter]

I know that I should really keep my mouth shut here but I really can't. That previous post makes about as much sense as a screen door on a submarine. First off the analogy of wearing a rain coat in the shower has absolutle no possible parallel to pole vaulting with a helmet. It just goes to show that the only vaulters that wear helmets are the only ones with brains worth protecting

[PinkPoleVaulter]

If you feel safer wearing a helmet, go right on ahead. However, it should not be made a requirement. There have been studies that show that wearing a helmet puts additional stress on the back of the neck if even a small accident were to occur. Also, a helmet could get snagged.
I am not nervous about knocking my noggin quite that hard, or I might find another sport. I read a quote on time that related to scubba diving, but can be manipulated to suit pole vaulting: You can die pole vaulting, or you can stay at home and slip in the bathtub and die. I don't mean to be incompasionate about those who have died from vaulting. I would just like to point out that people die from crazy things every day. I do believe in being safe. However, there is a line where safe stops and ridiculous begins.

[PVJunkie]

Man I thought I had seen every article out there about pole vault safty and all of the accident research in the past 10 years. Who did this study and where can I get my hands on it. I know that Dr. Spencer Chang made some basic assumptions that he made sure to note had no research to back (it was his opinion). Why do we struggle with change, are we that arrogant and stubborn that we would rather DIE than try something new. If this were a new shoe or pole that made the event safer would we be debating it, i think the answer is no. Helmets (thanks to motorcycles) are not cool (sorry bout the word from the 80's). BUT if they are not cool why do skaters, rollerbladers and skiers bicycle riders etc etc. all wear helmets. Lets be real...........there is NO reseach out there to say what a pole vault helmet should or SHOULDNT look like.........if the astm says the only adequate helmet for a vaulter is a motorcycle helmet count me in as against them BUT 2 of the deaths that occured this year were from falls from the height of the mat (below 6' in height) and if we could prevent one more death (do everthing REASONABLY within our power) isnt it worth it. Our sport is dwindling due to insurance and administrations deeming it too expensive and risky. If helmets would have been a reality would the new pit rule have even been written (in my opinion the answer is still yes, but it would have been a 3 - 5 year compliacne not 3-5 months). Yes........I am preaching.......but for all you out there preaching against helmets 1. you have never given one an honest chance 2. you cant see the big picture. Athletics at the high school level is not a right......it is a privlidge and that privlidge can be taken away pretty easily. Once the schools are no longer responsible for your medical bills and lawyers you can do whatever you want. If you dont want helmets dont vault for your school......vault as a proud card carrying member of the USATF and keep your fingers crossed.

New is not bad.......in fact if all of the extreme sports are any indication of COOL then helmets are the way to go.........I think we could all agree that Matt Hoffman and Tony Hawk are not helmet wearing neards........If anything is a direct comparison to vaulting the extreme sports are (not scuba diving).

Sorry if this came off as taking a shot at the pinkpolevaulter.......but too many young vaulters out there only want to hear what they want to hear, and nothing is worse than bad information.

later, B

[jmayesvaultmom]

As they said in the 70's "Right on brotha!!!" "Hooah" Some people won't do things that are right until they are forced to.....I wore a seat belt before it was required by law.... but you know people die wearing seat belts...is that a reason not to wear them? You know there are all kinds of "PROTECTION" that fail.......are you going to stop doing THAT That would fall into the taking a shower with a raincoat on theory... Again I say....put one on (a helmet) and try it.....you can't even make an educated comment until you have vaulted with one on and without one on. After you try it with one on and realize that it doesn't affect you, then if you don't wear one you are a victim of the "what will people think of me" syndrome. And people probably do more damage to their brains with weekend (or all week long) drinking and partying than you could ever possibly do in an entire career of pole vaulting with a helmet on! For those of you that say you vault drunk...........it would probably keep your head from pounding all the way down the runway

[ttuvaulter]

Do you think that hockey had these exact same discussion when helmets were beginning to be used in their sport?

Of course they were. First off these changes are not going to happen over night. Helmet wearers get out there and stand tall. I would hope that non helmet wearers would have enough common courtesy not to degrade helmet wearers for wearing them.

It is almot like a vaulter that vaults in sprint spikes instead of jump spikes. It is their choice. It suits their particular style of vault. Just the same as a carbon versus a spirit will suit one vaulter and not another. Does this make them any less of a vaulter...heck no. Imagine being ridiculed because you don't have a protective tip on the top of your pole.

I really see all of this talk against helmets and it makes me go to the defensive because I do wear one and I would probable never vault a pole longer than 15' without one. We are all vaulters here and a persons merit as a vaulter should not be measured by whats on their head, but what they can do with a pole.

I know that the generation in college and elite right now was not raised a helmet generation. I would never expect Hartwig, Manson, or Hysong to wear helmets.

Usually I am able to tolerate people who do not want to wear helmets. HEy irs your decision and your life. But when somebody tells me that I shouldn't pole vault because I wear a helmet that offends me because no matter what you tell me I am a vaulter at heart.

I'm sorry for my previous response on this topic. We always talk about how vaulters are the greatest athletes in the world, and how we are all so close and good friends. But at the first sight of difference we attack each other. I just really want to move on from here and respect each others decisions. We are all vaulters. We are not helmet vaulters and non helmet vaulters. We are members of the greatest feat of atheletic ability known to man. In no other sport do you have to have the strength of a body builder, the speed of a sprinter, the body awareness of a gymnast, and the guts of a skydiver. As long as we remember that I think we will all be able to get along.