The pole vault is a highly skilled event. Detailed instruction on the fundamentals is necessary for safety and success. In the the videos below Tom Hays, University of Kansas head coach and vertical jumps coach and 2011 National Collegiate Pole Vault Coach of the Year, shows you drills that are part of his teaching progression. In the first clip, you’ll see two drills for that will help teach pole vaulters to maneuver the pole and rotate/stretch their arm as they walk past it. The drills also help the find their grip height and feel what pole speed is. In the second clip he continues the progression adding speed to the exercise eventually pole vaulting in the sand. Coach does a good job demonstrates key mechanics and common mistakes providing helpful coaching points.

To learn for from Coach Hays click the link Progressions for Teaching and Coaching the Pole Vault

This YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site (Many schools block access to YouTube)

If you are looking for a great and safe way to help your pole vaulter learn the proper technique of how to get away from the pole and over the bar, check out the video below. Beginning with a series of pool drills to develop effective form, Minnesota assistant coach Carolina White, also a 2x All American vaulter, teaches you how to clear the bar and fly-away. You will see essential body positioning in each stage of the take-off and flight with clear, step-by-step instruction.

This clip is from a DVD that contains many other teaching points and drills. For more information about the DVD that these drills came from click the link Becoming a Champion: Pole Vault for Girls’ Track & Field

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site ( some schools block access to YouTube)

Stabilizing is very important for jumpers and in particular long jumpers and triple jumpers. Athletes need to land correctly and be stabilized as the come into to their jump in order to be more explosive.

In the video clip below Coach Tim Cawley, University of Idaho Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, demonstrates a progression of drills to help train your jumpers to stabilize by teaching them to land flat footed with the the knees sightly bent and the arms back. These drills also give you the opportunity to work or your jumpers “triple extension” (ankle, knee and hip) which is key to explosiveness.

This progression of drills is just a sample from a complete DVD for training jumpers. For more information on the DVD that these drills came from click the link Curriculum Guide for the Long Jump and Triple Jump

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure your sound is turned on.

Speed is important for the long jump; however, if an athlete does not have the proper mechanics and a consistent approach their speed will can not be fully utilized. In the clip below Wichita State University Coach Heidi Yost show three drill that three easy-to-use drills you can use to create repetitive and consistent approaches and create correct positioning and mechanics for the penultimate step and take-off

Coach Yost demonstrates her Continuous Take-Off Drill, Fourth Step Box Drill (6 step approach) and finally a Fourth and Sixth Step Box Drill (8 step approach using 2 boxes). For more drill to improve your long jumpers click the link to Coach Yost’s DVD Becoming a Champion: Long Jump for Girls’ Track & Field

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is on and that you have access to the site

In the clip below Carrie Lane, University of Nebraska Throws Coach; assistant coach in 2009 and 2011 World Track and Field Championships, demonstrates a method to teach your discus throwers how to main posture, balance and alignment, while allowing them to improve their kinetic linkage and ability to maintain separation. Coach Lane also does a great job of taking you through some of the common mistakes that throwers make.

The drill is from a complete DVD on throwing the discus. For more information click the link Becoming a Champion: Discus for Girls’ Track & Field

The YouTube video has sound so, please make sure that your sound is on and that you have access to the site (some schools block access to YouTube)