Jeff (CAVEMAN) Culligan 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?

Your attitude towards the vault in general. More specifically, your attitude towards the vault you're about to complete.

2) What makes a great approach?

Alot of things combine to create this all-important phase. The ones on top of my list are the pole carry and sprint mechanics.

3) What makes a great plant?

After a great approach, a great plant comes from really reaching as high as possible directly overhead just as the pole hits the box and you hit maximum velocity.

4) What makes a great swing up?

The swing up will be much easier if the approach and plant/takeoff are done correctly. BUT, keeping the arms and legs long throughout the swing will put you in a great position to maximize energy when the pole begins its recoil. Really use your armstrength to get upsidedown here.

5) What makes a great top?

Once the pole begins to recoil, continue to use the same armstrength to stay as close to the pole as possible while violently straightening out your body. Do not pull on the pole until it is done recoiling. Now pull HARD while turning. Pike over the bar with your thumbs turned in and watch the bar disappear into the sky.

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

Do alot of plant drills. Early in the season do just about any activity involving running and aerobic activity to mix things up. Get your ground work done in preseason - that's where it all counts.

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

I like to do a 4 or 6-step vault just concentrating on getting my plant up as high as possible and keeping my trail leg back as far as it will go. I use a 11'6" grip on a 14' pole 20 lbs. light for my 6-step. On occasion, I do full vaults with these situations.
Also, pole runs from a full appraoch length into a sliding plant box have tremendously improved my approach. I have modified the box to add more weight. The box I'm using weighs about 15 lbs and I add as much as 20 lbs to it.

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

I don't pay too much attention to this. I let my vaulters grip it so they are comfortable with it. If I see they have an excessive or too narrow of a grip, I will have them try a more conventional grip width (18"-24").

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

Don't be afraid to grip higher. I try to grip as high as possible without losing control. Obviously, you may jump higher with a higher grip, but you need to stay in control of the pole and yourself.

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

NEVER vault alone! I'm sure we've all done it, but we all know just how unpredictable vaulting is, and the one time you're on your own is the time you may get that surprise.