Drake Relays: Central College athletes explain the science behind pole vaulting
Central College assistant track and field coach and athletes break down the technical and physical aspects of pole vaulting, highlighting the importance of speed, strength, and confidence.
OH, SO VERY COOL. COLIN. THANK YOU FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE. NOW THERE IS AN ART TO THIS THING CALLED POLE VAULTING. AND IT’S NOT EASY. SCOTT. OH, NO. SHE HAD WANTED TO FIND OUT FIRSTHAND. SHE HAD A CENTRAL COLLEGE IN PELLA. SHANNON, DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB. IT’S A LITTLE BIT SCARY SOMETIMES, SO YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND TRUST YOUR COACH AND JUST KIND OF GO FOR IT. OKAY, SO WE’RE GONNA DO A LITTLE SCIENCE BEHIND THE POLE VAULT. TELL ME HOW IT WORKS AND WHAT’S GOING ON. I KNOW YOU GUYS WERE INTERRUPTING PRACTICE, SO I APOLOGIZE. BUT WHAT’S THE FIRST THING THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW HERE? THE BIGGEST THING TO POLE VAULTING IS, IS THE APPROACH DOWN THE RUNWAY HERE. AND SO WHEN WE’RE GOING DOWN, WE’RE TRYING TO CREATE MOMENTUM AND PUT AS MUCH ENERGY INTO THE POLE SO THAT WHEN IT BENDS, IT CAN GIVE US ENERGY BACK AND PUSH US OVER THE BAR. MOST OF OUR VAULTERS RUN 14 STEPS, AND DEPENDING ON HOW BIG THEIR STRIDE LENGTH IS, KIND OF JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY START SPRINTING WISE, HOW FAST DO YOU HAVE TO BE? HOW MUCH SPEED FACTOR INTO SPEED IS A BIG PART OF IT. THE FASTER YOU ARE, THE EASIER IT IS TO HOLD ON LONGER POLES AND AND POTENTIALLY GET HIGHER. CAN WE TRY IT OUT? NOPE. OTHER WAY ON TOP. THERE YOU GO. YEP. OKAY. AND NOW BRING IT. SO YOU’RE LIKE THIS. SO. OH, OH, AND YOU RUN LIKE RUN LIKE THAT. OKAY. THIS IS A VERY AWKWARD POSITION. YEP. DO YOU GUYS HAVE STRONG WRISTS OR WHAT? LIKE YOUR FOREARMS. WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE MORE UPPER BODY WEIGHT LIFTING. CAN WE TAKE A WALK? YEAH. MOST OF OUR BOYS ARE GONNA JUMP KIND OF RIGHT IN THIS AREA. AND OUR GIRLS ARE GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER. GOT IT. SO WHY IS THAT? JUST HOW TALL THEY ARE. SO WHAT HAPPENED THERE THAT SHE WASN’T ABLE TO GET UP? IT’S KIND OF A CONFIDENCE THING. IF THEY DON’T THINK THEY’RE GOING TO JUMP FROM THE RIGHT SPOT, THEY THEY KNOW IT’S NOT SAFE. THEY’LL BAIL OUT. HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS IF YOU’RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT, IT’S VERY. SO THIS IS CALLED THE BOX. SO IT’S METAL AND IT DOESN’T COME OUT OF THE GROUND. IT’S IN THERE PERMANENTLY. SO TRY TO HAVE YOUR TOP HAND ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN USE YOUR LEFT HAND TO PUSH THROUGH IT, YOUR WHOLE BODY A LITTLE BIT. AND OUR GOAL IS REALLY TO TAKE THE POLE FROM HERE AND MOVING IT TO WHERE IT’S STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN. THAT’S OUR BIGGEST GOAL. WHEN WE SWING OUR OUR LEGS THROUGH, THAT REALLY HELPS THE POLE KEEP MOVING THAT WAY TOO. AND SO IT KIND OF IS TWOFOLD. IT HELPS THE POLE MOVE, BUT IT ALSO HELPS US GET UPSIDE DOWN. OUR KIDS WILL TRY TO PUSH THEIR FEET UP TO LIKE THE CURTAINS UP HERE. YEAH. AND THEN TURN OVER THE TOP OF THE BAR. I’M GONNA TRY. YOU CONVINCED ME. STAND ABOUT HERE. OH, YEAH. KEEP MY ARMS. YEAH, YOU CAN RUN LIKE THAT. YEAH. OKAY. ONE, TWO. PULLED A RIB. THAT WAS SCARY. LOW KEY. I’M NOT GONNA DO IT AGAIN
Drake Relays: Central College athletes explain the science behind pole vaulting
Central College assistant track and field coach and athletes break down the technical and physical aspects of pole vaulting, highlighting the importance of speed, strength, and confidence.
Pole vaulting requires a combination of speed, strength, and precision, as Central College athletes demonstrated during a recent practice. “It’s a little bit scary sometimes. So you have to be willing to be uncomfortable and entrust your coach and just kind of go for it,” Central College Assistant Track and Field Coach Aaron Fuller said.The process begins with the approach down the runway, where athletes aim to create momentum and transfer energy into the pole. Most vaulters use 14 steps, with stride length and speed playing a significant role. “The faster you are, the easier it is to hold on longer poles and potentially get higher,” Fuller said. Upper body strength is also essential, as pole vaulters rely on strong wrists and forearms. So the athletes do a little more upper-body weight lifting to train.Jump placement varies between male and female athletes, with men typically jumping farther back and women jumping closer to the bar, depending on their height.Confidence is another critical factor in pole vaulting. The ultimate goal is to move the pole from a horizontal position to straight up and down while swinging the legs through to help the pole continue its motion and assist the athlete in getting upside down. After trying the sport herself, KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt said, “That was scary. I’m not going to do it again.”
Pole vaulting requires a combination of speed, strength, and precision, as Central College athletes demonstrated during a recent practice.
“It’s a little bit scary sometimes. So you have to be willing to be uncomfortable and entrust your coach and just kind of go for it,” Central College Assistant Track and Field Coach Aaron Fuller said.
The process begins with the approach down the runway, where athletes aim to create momentum and transfer energy into the pole. Most vaulters use 14 steps, with stride length and speed playing a significant role.
“The faster you are, the easier it is to hold on longer poles and potentially get higher,” Fuller said.
Upper body strength is also essential, as pole vaulters rely on strong wrists and forearms. So the athletes do a little more upper-body weight lifting to train.
Jump placement varies between male and female athletes, with men typically jumping farther back and women jumping closer to the bar, depending on their height.
Confidence is another critical factor in pole vaulting. The ultimate goal is to move the pole from a horizontal position to straight up and down while swinging the legs through to help the pole continue its motion and assist the athlete in getting upside down.
After trying the sport herself, KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt said, “That was scary. I’m not going to do it again.”