Scott Wenholz Coaching Tips

Name:

Are you an Athlete(Avid Pole Vaulter), Coach, or Both?

What is your Personal Best or Your Athletes Best (Basic Background)

1) What is the single most important thing in the Pole Vault?

2) What makes a great approach?

3) What makes a great plant?

Jumping up off the ground when the pole hits the back of the box, a full extention at take off and leading with the chest, not letting the hips get in front of you.

4) What makes a great swing up?

5) What makes a great top?

getting fully inverted on your shoulders, staying tight with the pole and coming straoght off the top, not falling off the pole.

6) What advice do you have for the off/pre season?

power lifting: power cleans, snach, LOTS of ab work, incline press, gereral allaround body strength.
Running: speed work-200's, 150, 100, etc.
pole carries, rope vault(if avaliable), vault
circut: vault and run every other day, lift days in between with one day off a week.

7) What are your favorite drills for the Pole Vault?

rope vault, close grip pop ups, pop ups, one handed competitions, slide box, pole runs, sand vault, in general EVERYTHING!

8) What advice do you have on a Vaulters grip width?

about shoulder width. Dont check grip width with top elbow. encourages bads plant mechanics.

9) What advice do have on a height of a Vaulters hand-hold?

dont grip too high too fast. be patcient, grip hight will come with experience and proper technique. try to jump over your hand hold before you move up. it is easier to learn good habits that break bad ones (personal experience).

10) What advice do you have on how to keep the Pole Vault Safe?

always know what ytou are doing and be with a coach that know what they are doing. always hve good facilities and good equipment. if any pole or pad is questionable, replace it. donot force anything you are not ready for.

Send Comments or Questions to Scott Wenholz at sfw10@csufresno.edu