Pole Vault Technique and Coaching Tips
by: Tim Werner

       Pole Vault by Advantage Athletics can increase your ability to coach or train for the pole vault. The sequence photos of pole vaulting and pole vault drills with an explanation of proper technique will enhance your pole vault knowledge and form.  The exercises for weightlifting, running, sprinting, throwing and jumping will help develop form, balance, technique, flexibility, speed, strength and power.

     Sequence pictures of some of the leading pole vaulters in the world today.  Comparison of their technique and the best coaching tips for each phase of the pole vault.  Specific tips for the Plant, Take-off, Drive, Swing, Rockback and Bar Clearance.  Links to pages that have specific drills for each phase.  I horizontally flipped the picture on the right to make all the pictures go in the same direction.  The vaulters are in this order Hartwig, Hysong, Johnson and Bubka.

The Plant	We teach our vaulters to:  Keep the left hand away from the body as it rises. Get their bottom hand above their horizontal eye line.  Keep their head, shoulders and hips in a vertical line.  Keep their shoulders square to the box. Read  and see more in Pole Vault Plant Drills.
The Take-off	We teach our vaulters to:  Keep their head, shoulders and hips in a vertical line during the take-off and drive. Do NOT let the hips get ahead of the shoulders too early. Read and see more in Take-off Drills.
The Swing	We teach our vaulters to:  Start the swing by driving their trail foot down without dropping the lead leg. Keep the pole away from the shoulders. Read and see more in Rockback Drills and Gymnast and Pole Vaulter Trail Leg Comparison.
The Tap	We teach our vaulters to:  When your trail foot lines up with your top hand, head, shoulders and hips, your body should be completely extended, straight and pointed at the box at a 45` angle.  Then lift the hips and legs while, at the same time, driving the shoulders down and back. Read and see more in Rockback Drills.
The Rockback	We teach our vaulters to:  Cover the top of the pole with straight legs. Drive your shoulders down  and back, and keep them in front of the vertical line of your top hand while lifting your feet and hips.  Do the "Bubka Drill" smoothly and in timing with the pole to get out of this position.  Do NOT shoot out of this position.  Notice all of the above vaulters have there hips higher than their shoulders when their ankles or shins get to their top hand. Read and see more in Rockback Drills
The Inverted Extension	We teach our vaulters to:  Drive your shoulders down and back while your straight extended body rocks over the top of the pole.  The body should finish the rockback with a slight turn. Read and see more in Rockback Drills
The Pull and Turn	We teach our vaulters to:  Rise up the pole.  It's like cleaning a vertical barbell up side down. Keep your back to the crossbar but with a slight turn.  Read and see more in Pull, Turn & Push Drills. See The Topper Drill.
The Turn and Push	We teach our vaulters to:  Make a quick turn on top of the pole. Turn your right shoulder onto your top hand. Balance. Read and see more in Pull, Turn & Push Drills.

Bar Clearance

We teach our vaulters: 
If you don't touch the bar, it won't fall.
Read and see more in Pull, Turn & Push Drills.