Glossary

APPROACH: The sprint to the vaulting box. Usually eighteen to twenty strides for an elite competitor.

AQ: Automatic Qualifying mark.

FLEX RATING: The pole manufacturer determines this rating by placing a standardized amount of stress (usually a fifty-pound weight) on the pole and measuring how much the weight displaces the center of the pole. Two poles may be of the same length, but one can be considerably stiffer than the other.

GRIP: How close to the end of the pole a pole-vaulter takes hold with his top hand. A higher grip means a higher parabola and potential for a higher clearance. A lower grip provides easier penetration into the pit.

HYPERFLEXION: Excessive bending, technically forcing the bones closer together at a joint. In pole vaulting, it is also used to mean cervical strain, which is caused by stretching the spinal cord when a pole-vaulter rolls on his neck or head.

INVERTING: The point in a pole-vaulter’s jump where his or her body is completely upside down, legs overhead. As the pole begins to straighten, the pole-vaulter extends his body in an “l” position as close to the pole as possible. The hips are as high as possible, while the shoulders and head rotate under with the body in line vertically.

MARKS: Visual indicators on the runway that enable the pole-vaulter to plot the course of his approach. Marks can be tape or even spare shoes strategically placed. The marks are at the start, the midpoint, and the desired takeoff point.

OUT/UNDER (OR OVER/UNDER): If a pole-vaulter runs too fast and overshoots his takeoff point, he is said to be “under,” or too close. This means he is taking off, for example, 12 feet from the box instead of 13. The reverse is true for being “out,” or too far away from the desired takeoff spot directly beneath the pole-vaulter’s extended top hand.

PARABOLA: The arc of the vault. In a sense, the parabola is like an upside-down “u.”

PB/PR: A pole-vaulter’s personal best or personal record.

PERIODIZATION: A training theory based on building strength by frequently adjusting the volume and intensity of workouts. Studies have shown that periodization prevents performance plateaus associated with over-repetitive training. The athletes in the studies didn’t gain additional muscle mass over the control group, so the increased strength is thought to be related to the way the nervous system controls sinews.

PIT: The landing pads. Formally made of sand in the formative days and then sawdust, the pit is now composed of foam rubber.

PLANT: The transfer of the pole into the slanted box. It is the most difficult aspect of the vault, running at full speed while using the hands to position the pole in an extended position overhead and preparing to take off.

PLYOMETRICS: Exercises stimulating the reactive properties of muscles, specifically, their ability to respond to different degrees of flexing or contracting. Plyometric training strengthens the leg and arm muscles necessary for the jumps and allows them to respond faster and more powerfully at the moment of takeoff.

POLE DROP: This is the term used to describe the process where the pole-vaulter lowers the pole gradually throughout the approach run while preparing for the plant. The pole-vaulter lowers the tip of the pole during the approach after starting out holding the pole in an almost vertical position at the beginning of the approach.

POLES: Originally solid hickory and ash, then the more pliable bamboo, steel, and now made of fiberglass and carbon/glass composites, these are the implements pole-vaulters use to touch the sky. Even a nick from a spike mark can create a fatal flaw in a pole. For world-class pole-vaulters, they cost about $500 each. Poles are also known as “sticks” in the pole vault community.

PULL-UP: When the pole is almost straight, the pole-vaulter pulls with both hands as his hips and center of gravity reach the height of the crossbar.

RELEASE: After doing what amounts to a handstand on the pole, the pole-vaulter’s right hand releases the pole.

SOFTNESS: Usually a pole-vaulter uses the softest (easiest to flex) pole in qualifying because heights are lower.

STANDARDS: The uprights that hold the crossbar on pegs. They can be adjusted within the rules either closer to or farther from the box, depending on the depth of the pole-vaulter’s jump and the conditions. Originally, they could be set from 30 to 80 centimeters (12 inches to about 32 inches) from the pit. Now, the NCAA forbids settings closer than 45 cm to avoid falls into the box.

STIFFNESS: A stiffer pole requires more speed and better technique to bend it, but can deliver more “kick” as it straightens. Pole-vaulters use stiffer poles when facing a higher bar.

SWING UP/ROCK BACK: After the execution of an aggressive takeoff, the pole-vaulter’s takeoff leg (the “trail leg”) will be fully extended. The vaulter then executes a violent whipping action that is similar to a gymnast performing a giant swing on the high bar. After this swing up, the athlete slightly tucks his or her knees as the trail leg catches the lead leg, increasing the speed of the rotation.

TAKEOFF: Pole-vaulters leap into the jump. In the optimal takeoff, the athlete’s extended top hand should be over his takeoff foot. It has been described as “riding in a speeding convertible and jumping up to grab the bridge overpass above.”

TAPPING: This is a warm-up and practice technique where a coach or fellow competitor gives a boost to a pole-vaulter. Usually, it consists of a slight push on the back at takeoff to increase confidence and momentum. Now, tapping is outlawed everywhere because of unreasonable overuse leading to false confidence with pole-vaulters clearing heights only because of taps.

TURN/ROTATE: Almost simultaneously with the release, the pole-vaulter makes a half-turn counter-clockwise into the straightening pole. This move presents the pole-vaulter’s chest to the crossbar.

VAULT BOX: The steel box that is embedded in the runway for the pole-vaulter to thrust the pole down into just prior to takeoff. Ideally padded on the collar and sides for safety, the vault box is slanted on the sides and back to allow the pole to bend and roll.

VOLZING: A now illegal practice named for pole-vaulter Dave Volz, who steadied the crossbar on its pegs with his hand as he went over. The pegs have been shortened from 3 inches to 2¼ inches, so any attempt at Volzing is just as liable to knock the bar off as keep it on.

WIND: A tailwind is the pole-vaulter’s best friend, generating more speed in his approach. A crosswind requires varying tactical adjustments. A headwind (in his face) is the worst-case scenario. In essence, the vaulter/pole system constitutes a human sail. Dead calm is second-best.

WORKING THE ARMS: A violent, sweeping shoulder rotation, crucial to the pole-vaulter’s ability to continue swinging on the straightening pole. Some analysts say it accounts for over one-third of the transition of energy to the pole from the run.