Andy Duncan Coaching Tips
Name:
Are you an Athlete(Avid Pole Vaulter), Coach, or Both?
What is your Personal Best or Your Athletes Best (Basic Background)
- My best is 15 feet. I work everyday with
1997 outdoor NCAA Division 2 pole vault champion, Andrei Skvortsov (18'9")
I am also a student of Roman Botcharnikov,
current coach of American record holder, Lawrence Johnson.
1) What is the single most important thing in the Pole Vault? - 1.Attack the Box
2.Quickness off of the pole (Especially for shorter athletes like myself
3.Vertical Takeoff (Not into the pole but
above the pole) *jump to the sky*
4.Early Plant!
5.Shoulders square to the box!
2) What makes a great approach?
3) What makes a great plant? - 1.Early Plant*
2.Shoulders square to the box
3.Last but not least--VERTICAL TAKEOFF!!
4) What makes a great swing up? - 1.Early Plant
3.Quickness
2.Gymnastics
5) What makes a great top?
6) What advice do you have for the off/pre season?
7) What are your favorite drills for the Pole Vault? - Rope Drills
Gymnastics
Actual Vaulting
8) What advice do you have on a Vaulters grip width? - Whatever's comfortable
Hopefully not farther than shoulder width
9) What advice do have on a height of a Vaulters hand-hold?- See how high the athlete can hold while stiff-poling. As the athlete feels comfortable he/she may move it up.
This will be different for everybody.
10) What advice do you have on how to keep the Pole Vault Safe?
Send Comments or Questions to Andy Duncan at TKenslow@i-land.net
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