Pole Vault Drills
- Paul Williamson
- Oct 15, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 1
Pole vault drills are essential for athletes at every level, from beginners to elite competitors. They focus on building the fundamental skills required for a smooth, powerful vault.
Pole Runs
Pole running drills, like high-knee runs while holding the pole, help athletes develop speed and rhythm. This technique is critical for generating the momentum needed for an efficient takeoff.
Plant Drills
Planting into a movable box is a key drill to practice the pole plant's accuracy and timing. It trains athletes to coordinate their foot strike with the pole's movement, which is crucial for a smooth takeoff. Planting against a wall teaches vaulters to perfect their hand positioning and avoid late pole plants.
Take off Drills & Pop ups
Takeoff drills, like short-run pop-ups, focus on mastering the explosive push-off. Transitioning to various inversion drills helps athletes develop body control. Athletes like Sergei Bubka and his coach Vitali Petrov emphasise these techniques, aiming for optimal positions during each phase from take off to full inversion. Gymnastic training is a great way to further develop swing and inversion off the pole. Techniques from legendary coaches like Tierry Vigneron and modern-day athletes like Duplantis also stress the importance of mastering inversion drills and moving smoothly into a full-body extension.
Here are a collection of drills we use to refine technique.
Track & Plant Drill Videos
Pop Up Drill Videos
