It's not the right way!

A forum for coaches to discuss coaching technique and advice with each other. Only registered coaches can post in this forum.

Moderator: AVC Coach

User avatar
Mcleodjw
PV Fan
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:49 pm
Expertise: Former High School Vaulter, Current High School Coach, M50-55 Master Vaulter
Lifetime Best: 13'3"
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Location: Michigan

It's not the right way!

Unread postby Mcleodjw » Mon Apr 18, 2016 8:52 pm

Everyone,
I'm a coach that likes a challenge. Unlike others that don't.
Soon I'll be coaching a young middle school girl that wants to learn to pole vault.
The reason why?
Because her high school coach says vaulting left-handed is not the right way. He yelled at her and then turned and focused on the high school athletes.
When I heard that, I jumped at the chance!
Mid-Michigan is not a pole vault meca.
You would think the coach would see a potential future vaulter.

I'm looking forward to coaching this young person to the best of her ability.

So, I challenge all Mid-Michigan coaches to coach a young person, not a high school athlete, a middle schooler.
These young athletes are the future.

Coach John
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me.

User avatar
KirkB
PV Rock Star
Posts: 3550
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:05 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter; Former Elite Vaulter; Former Coach; Fan
Lifetime Best: 5.34
Favorite Vaulter: Thiago da Silva
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby KirkB » Mon Apr 18, 2016 10:15 pm

Good for you for contributing to our beloved sport.

Left-handed vaulters aren't doing it right? Yikes! :confused:

My PV buddy Dave Roberts held a couple world records in the mid 1970s vaulting left-handed. I'm sure there's others.

Oh yes, I was a left handed vaulter too! :D

IMHO, it depends less on whether your write left or right-handed (fine motor skills), and more on which leg is strongest for takeoff. I did everything else right-handed, but I vaulted left-handed because my right leg gave me a stronger takeoff (it was also my takeoff leg for highjump).

And BTW, you don't even need to buy a left-handed pole! The pole bends properly for any vaulter regardless of which hand is on top of the pole! Ha ha! :D

Kirk
Last edited by KirkB on Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!

User avatar
vaultmd
PV Enthusiast
Posts: 1697
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 6:18 pm
Expertise: Masters Vaulter, Coach, Doctor
Lifetime Best: 475
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Laura Huarte
Location: Roseville, CA
Contact:

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby vaultmd » Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:03 pm

Don Baird didn't suck, either.

charlie
PV Pro
Posts: 240
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:36 am
Location: fitzgerald,georgia

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby charlie » Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:33 pm

Don Baird had as good a plant as ANYONE that has EVER vaulted, even BUBKA!!!!!

User avatar
Mcleodjw
PV Fan
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:49 pm
Expertise: Former High School Vaulter, Current High School Coach, M50-55 Master Vaulter
Lifetime Best: 13'3"
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Location: Michigan

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby Mcleodjw » Sun May 01, 2016 5:37 pm

Thanks for the support.
Here's an update.

After an hour private practice session, she's on her way. All she needed was some one-on-one time with a coach that knows pole vault.
Since the high school coach doesn't coach her, I told her to be strong and polite when he yells at her that she's not doing it right.
Just smile and say "thanks, I'll try."
At the end of our session, I explain to her a typical practice session at her school. This included warm up exercises, off-runway pole drills and then runway pole drills.
Since our session, she's had a track meet and cleared 5'6". Not a bad start for a 13 year old. Needless to say, she's excited and already asking mom for another practice session.

I just want to stress patience to all coaches of young track athletes.
Telling them they are doing the technique wrong isn't the way to inspire an athlete.

John
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me.

User avatar
PV-ATL
PV Whiz
Posts: 199
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:19 pm
Expertise: PV Coach, Club Owner (Pole Vault Atlanta, PV-ATL)
Lifetime Best: 14-6
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Bob Seagren
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Contact:

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby PV-ATL » Wed May 04, 2016 1:22 pm

John,

First guy over 18: Lefty!

My best jumper: Lefty!

Keep up the work!

Cheers,

PV-ATL

User avatar
KirkB
PV Rock Star
Posts: 3550
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:05 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter; Former Elite Vaulter; Former Coach; Fan
Lifetime Best: 5.34
Favorite Vaulter: Thiago da Silva
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby KirkB » Wed May 04, 2016 1:56 pm

PV-ATL wrote: First guy over 18: Lefty!

Geez, I forgot about him! It's all Greek to me! :)

Kirk
Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!

charlie
PV Pro
Posts: 240
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:36 am
Location: fitzgerald,georgia

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby charlie » Wed May 04, 2016 2:11 pm

HE ALSO HAD A BENT ARM PRESS SUPPORT plant like DON BAIRD!

User avatar
KirkB
PV Rock Star
Posts: 3550
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:05 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter; Former Elite Vaulter; Former Coach; Fan
Lifetime Best: 5.34
Favorite Vaulter: Thiago da Silva
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Re: It's not the right way!

Unread postby KirkB » Wed May 04, 2016 4:02 pm

charlie wrote:HE ALSO HAD A BENT ARM PRESS SUPPORT plant like DON BAIRD!

Maybe he did (I concede), but I know another lefty from his era that didn't! :D

Kirk
Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!


Return to “Pole Vault - Coaches Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests