Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE POLE VAULT results. In considering these factors we again come up against disagreement between various schools of coaching. It is obvious that the swing- and pull-up must be influenced very largely by the speed of the approach run, as well as by the strength of the athlete's arms and shoulder girdle. Some coaches favour the fastest possible approach run, such as Bill Miller, U.S.A., used when he won the Olympic title in 1932 with a new world's record of 14ft. ri ins. In support of this theory it may be said, theoretically, since the height attained in swing is proportionate to the square of the velocity attained in running, that an increase of speed equivalent to a decrease oft sec. of the time in which a man can run 100 yds., or at the rate thereof, provides an addition of over 4 ins. to the height reached in the swmg-up. Against the extreme speed theory it may be argued that excessive speed destroys smooth co-ordination at the take-off, and brings the vaulter's body too quickly to bar-level for him to execute a well-timed pull-up and balanced push-up . On the other hand, a fast approach does ensure that the pole will reach a vertical position, but the pull-up must be instituted almost immediately after the take-off. This puts the vaulter in position for clearance when the pole reaches the perpendicular. It may be argued against instituting the pull early in the swing that such a manceuvre tends to check the forward and upward movement of the pole, but I regard this argument as specious. Other coaches advocate moderate, controlled speed and a pendulum swing in which the body and legs swing forward, before the pull is started, to aid the forward and upward progress of the pole. I am opposed to this theory on the ground that the pole should be made to do the work. With the styles under discussion it is the accepted principle not to start the arm-pull until the hips are higher in the air than the shoulders. When the pull is made it must be done with a quick, strong flexion of the arms to the full extent of their pulling range. The body must be flexed at the hips and knees. The legs are straightened just as the body glides over the bar, and in this connection the leg (higher leg at the moment) must hold a high position. The most difficult part of the whole vault is shown in Plate XXXVI, Fig. 105. In this picture F. R. Webster, a left– handed and a right-take-off-foot vaulter, shows how the athlete turns from the pulling to the push-up position in effecting bar 329