Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE POLE VAULT should introduce a couple of 100 yds. sprints at seven-eighths to nine-tenths effort. I say this now to avoid including these items in the following suggestion for a week's training in the early season: Monday. Sprint 30 yds. at half effort twice and 75 yds. at full effort twice. 5 mins. of form exercises. Four vaults at half effort and four at five-eighths effort for correction of faults. Tuesday. Sprint 27 yds. at half effort twice and 27 yds. at full effort twice. Practise pole-planting at half-effort run four times. Practise approach run at nine-tenths effort with even striding twice. Wednesday. Five vaults at half effort, concentrating twice on even striding, synchronized take-off, and swing, and three times on waiting to pull until hips are higher than shoulders. Three vaults at five-eighths effort for foot elevation, body-turn, and push-up. Massage. Thursday. Easy high-jumping or light discus- or javelin-throwing. Friday. Rest. Massage. Saturday. Competition or vaulting trial under competition conditions. Mm-SEASON TRAINING The athlete will be in competition during this month, yet must still do the daily work set out in the introduction to early-season training, limber up before training and competition, and work also to stabilize his style. Otherwise a week's schedule is suggested as follows: Monday. Sprint 75 yds. at half effort once and 50 yds. at nine– tenths effort once. Take eight vaults in all, making two at quarter effort for even striding and synchronized take-off, two at half effort for correct swing and pull, two at half effort for body-turn and push-up, and two at five-eighths effort for foot elevation and pull when hips are higher than shoulders. Tuesday. Light work with javelin, discus, or high jump. Wednesday. Practise approach run at nine-tenths effort three times, and pole-planting at half-effort run, striding evenly, three times. Take ten vaults in all, two at half effort for correct pull-up, two at quarter effort for body-turn, two at five-eighths effort for correct pull-up and turning movement, two at five-eighths effort, merging turning movement into push-up, and two at half effort for general co-ordination. Massage. Thursday. I to '2 hours' work in the gymnasium. Friday. Rest. Massage. Saturday. Competition or vaulting trial. 339