Arms up and jumping but can't swing

A forum to discuss pole vault technique as it relates to beginning vaulters. If you have been jumping less than a year, this is the forum for you.

Moderator: achtungpv

pv170
PV Wannabe
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:22 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter / Current High School Coach
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Bubka

Arms up and jumping but can't swing

Unread postby pv170 » Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:40 pm

So I have been working on my one girls takeoff, and getting hands up tall as possible because she has never been that good at it. Today she started to hit it well from 4 lefts but can't swing now. She is a former gymnast, so swinging with hips. Any suggestions on how to get her swing from shoulders.

Also, is she blocking her shoulders? Seems like her right arm is not going behind her head, not allowing a true natural C to happen.

I'd send more videos but before today never had arms that tall and got hit with rain shortly after this and had to end practice early.

Here is the video.

https://www.coachseye.com/v/a024bb15c64 ... 40fd063f18

GasPasser
PV Whiz
Posts: 206
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:24 pm
Expertise: Former HS vaulter - now 55-59YO Masters vaulter, and part-time coach
Lifetime Best: 13'6"
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Bubka
Location: New Jersey

Re: Arms up and jumping but can't swing

Unread postby GasPasser » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:48 pm

Wow, really nice take-off! You've done a good job getting her to that point. It does look a little "blocky". It appears that her elbow of her bottom arm is out - which is good. If the elbow is not out (outside of the left shoulder), it is hard/impossible to drive the chest through. Which is what I think you need to work on next - driving the chest through.

As a gymnast, she's likely done Giants on a bar or rings. Remind her that in order to swing, she needs to start from a position where the chest is ahead and the shoulders are back. If you have access to a high bar or rings, have her do some swings to remind her of the how it should feel. Then try to replicate it with the pole.

Also, she's giving up on it too soon. Once the hands reach the shins, she needs to straighten out while keeping contact with her top hand to her right leg, with the heels up to the sky and toes towards her head.

On this jump, she moved the pole really well, and didn't bend it much. If this is consistent, I'd have her go up a grip to give her a bit more time to get inverted.

She's got potential, keep it up!

pv170
PV Wannabe
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:22 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter / Current High School Coach
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Bubka

Re: Arms up and jumping but can't swing

Unread postby pv170 » Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:41 pm

Gas,

Thanks for the advice. Have been working on getting her chest to come forward more. I think it has improved but still needs work. I think she is letting her hips come forward now with the shoulders. Also, is it possible she is starting the swing too late?

Here are some updated videos. Sorry if they are alittle to far back. I can zoom in on my tablet but not when I post on the website.

https://www.coachseye.com/v/1c7ab710e1b ... fea450777b
https://www.coachseye.com/v/1c7ab710e1b ... fea450777b
https://www.coachseye.com/v/3750290cb22 ... 8132f56069

GasPasser
PV Whiz
Posts: 206
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:24 pm
Expertise: Former HS vaulter - now 55-59YO Masters vaulter, and part-time coach
Lifetime Best: 13'6"
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Bubka
Location: New Jersey

Re: Arms up and jumping but can't swing

Unread postby GasPasser » Mon Aug 06, 2018 10:08 pm

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. Busy summer.

I still stand by earlier comments:
1. She's giving up on it too soon - she gets the shins to the hands, then shoots out to the bungies. She need to try to keep her legs and body close to the pole as she inverts and extends her body.
2. She could use more grip (and maybe more pole if she starts to over bend it). The pole is moving very fast and well beyond vertical, which may be why she is coming out to soon. That is, she's getting to the bungee before she has a chance to invert beyond the pike position, so she comes out.

In the interest of time, take a look at these two videos,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKvHJpaQj0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8J4ytXaVu0

This is a channel is pretty good resource as well: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKH-wl ... swLR1IhnWA


Return to “Pole Vault - Beginning Technique”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests