Glossary
101. Penetration
Refers to the general movement of the pole and the vaulter toward the pit after they have planted the pole and the vaulter has left the ground. The proper amount of penetration will allow the vaulter to swing up easily, clear the bar without coming down on it, or moving through it. The proper penetration will allow the vaulter to land safely in the middle of the pit. If the pole and the vaulter over penetrate (also called over rotation), the vaulter and the pole will rotate quickly through the bar and will land in the back of the pit. If the pole and vaulter under penetrate, the vaulter may land on top of the bar and land in the very front of the pit. This is referred to as “stalling out.”
102. Penultimate Step
The step before the last step which is usually longer, slightly lowering the centre of mass.
103. Petrov Model
The pole vault technique developed by Vitaly Petrov, the coach of the world record holders Bubka and Isinbayeva. The intention is for a free takeoff followed by an ample whip and swing to inversion. Also called Russian Model.
104. Phase
A specific part of the vault where the movements, objectives, and body positions are similar. There are eight phases in the vault: 1) grip and carry, 2) approach, 3) plant, 4) takeoff, 5) follow through, 6) swing-up, 7) invert through release, and 8) clearance.
105. Pike Position
The position of the vaulter at the top of his flight curve when he pikes at the hips while the body keeps its upwards orientation the legs flip downwards on the far side of the bar.
106. Pit
The landing area (usually a foam landing mat).
107. Plant
To put the pole in the box, the corresponding action.
108. Plant Phase
The last 2 or 3 steps of the run up when the pole is planted in the box.
109. Pole Carry
The way the pole is held during the approach.
110. Pole Drop
A gradual drop of the pole tip, during the approach.
111. Pole Flip
The pushing upwards of the end of the pole during the plant phase.
112. Pole Impact
The moment when the pole hits the back of the box.
113. Pole Release
Letting go the pole for the flyaway.
114. Pole Strike
The moment when the pole strikes the box.
115. Pole Support Phase
The phase of the jump when the vaulter is supported by the pole between takeoff and flyaway.
116. Pole Tip
The far end of the carried pole going into the box.
117. Post-Impact
What happens after the pole impacts the box.
118. Power Vault
A vault model where the intention at takeoff is to bend the pole (bottom arm blocked) rather then jumping off aggressively. See also French Model and Drive vault.
119. Pre-Jump
A sort of free takeoff where the athlete is jumping out and early in a springy way before the pole hits the back of the box. The term has been introduced by A. Launder, Australian coach and one of the authors of the popular book Beginner to Bubka.
120. Pull, Push, and Turn
The motion when leaving the I-position the vaulter pulls himself upwards and than pushes himself away from the pole, at the same time he turns so that his chest ends up parallel to the bar.
121. Push
The phase of the vault when the fully inverted vaulter pushes off from the top of the pole to increase the vertical clearance.
122. Push and Turn
The 2nd and 3rd part of pull, push and turn - there may be not much time for a pull if the pole unloads with enough energy.
123. Recoil
To unload
124. Return from the Pole
The pushing force of the unloading pole, the timing of this force depends on the pole design, it may be constant, slow or jolting.
125. Rock Back
The movement to the inverted position.
126. Rope Drill
A pole vault exercise using a hanging rope.
127. Roundhouse Plant
Bringing the pole up in a sideways arcing motion.
128. Row
Usually describes the movement of the arms closing up to the body like moving the oars of a rowing-boat, the term may be misleading as many athletes rarely row a boat, also there exist several types of oars and paddles that are not moved in the same way. It can obviously be observed that the hands of the stretched arms of the vaulter move from above his head to somewhere near his hips, it is however not obvious where he applies force and where this movement is a consequence of the swing.
129. Run Through
To run over the pit without planting.
130. Run Up
The approach run.
131. Runway
The track on which the vaulter runs up.
132. Sail Piece
A stiffer reinforced section of the pole with an extra piece of Fiberglas fabric isrolled in.
133. Set of the Pole
Every pole has a certain area along the length of the pole where it bends the easiest. It will always tend to bend toward that area. If the set of the pole is positioned in the wrong direction, the pole may twist. It is important to position the bend properly when carrying and planting the pole. Also Natural Bend.
134. Short Pendulum
During the long pendulum the vaulter can bring his legs and his body closer to the pole and shorten the pendulum (pivot at his shoulders, hips or knees) and accelerate the swing, earlier technical models described the upswing as a sequence: long pendulum, short pendulum, shooting up the feet.
135. Shoulder Drop
The downward motion of the shoulders during rock back. The shoulders are agressively pushing downward in order for the feet to go vertically upwards.
136. Sliding Box
A device of similar size as the box that is put on the track for training the plant which can be pushed by the pole.
137. Soft Pole
A pole of high flexibility relative to one's normal pole. Also Warm Up Pole.
138. Square the Hips
To bring the hips in a solid position perpendicular to the run up direction.
139. Square the Shoulders
To bring the shoulders in a solid position perpendicular to the run up direction.
140. Stall Out
To come up short without enough penetration into the landing pit. This may happen if the pole is too stiff and the vaulter can not make enough forward distance for clearing the bar. In the worst case, the vaulter falls back onto the runway.
141. Standard Setting
The setting of the standards will determine how far the crossbar will be positioned from the back of the box. The standard setting is measured in inches or centimeters. May also be referred to as simply "standards".
142. Standards
The upright posts that support the horizontal bar.
143. Start, Curl, Press
Cues for planting action during the last three strides of the run up.
144. Starting Mark
The mark where the vaulter starts from before each vault. It is measured from that point to the back of the box.
145. Steering
Is the subconscious effort made, by the vaulter, to adjust the stride to takeoff from a specific point on the runway.
146. Step
The last step of the run up or takeoff step. Also Takeoff Step.
147. Stiff Pole
A pole of low flexibility relative to one's normal pole. Also Big Pole.
148. Straight Pole
A pole that is not bent. May also mean the act of pole vaulting with an unbent pole.
149. Stretch Reflex
Something stretched can move quicker when the tension is released, for instance the shoulders and the hips after the C-Position.
150. Stride
A single stride starts when foot A contacts the ground and ends when foot B contacts the ground. A single stride is characterized by one drive phase of foot A or B and on swing phase of foot B or A.
151. Stride Frequency
The frequency of the strides during the run up.
152. Stride Length
The distance between steps during the run up.
153. Stride Number
The exact number of single strides taken during the approach. We advocate the use of an even number of strides.
154. Stride Out
To lengthen the last strides of the run up.
155. Stride Pattern
The general combination of the stride rhythm and the stride spacing during the approach.
156. Stride Rhythm
The rhythm created by the feet on the runway while the vaulter sprints down the runway. Also Rhythm.
157. Sweeping Arc
The curve of the toe of the trail leg during the whip.
158. Swing
The whip of the trail leg or the upswing. May also indicate the swinging phase of the pole vault.
159. Swing Through
The action of swinging all the way from bottom to top.
160. Swinging Leg
The non-takeoff-leg or free leg that swings forward at takeoff may cause misunderstandings, as in pole vault the takeoff leg also swings after takeoff.
161. Switch Point
In support of the pole, the changeover between travel and swing. Also, the point between the vaulter pushing against the pole and the pole pulling the vaulter.
162. Tailwind
A wind from behind pushing the athlete for a faster run up.
163. Take Off
To leave the ground.
164. Take-Off Point
The exact spot where the vaulter takes off.
165. Takeoff Foot
The jumping foot that leaves the ground last.
166. Takeoff Mark
The mark where the vaulter should takeoff from when vaulting. A vaulterâ??s optimal point of takeoff may be 12 feet back from the back of the box. All the check marks should be set up so the vaulter can sprint and takeoff efficiently from that mark.
167. Taking Off Out
To take off further away from the box than the ideal takeoff point.
168. Taking Off Under
To take off closer to the box than the ideal take-off spot, the vaulter is running under the pole.
169. Tape
Grip tape, wrapped around the pole for a better grip.
170. Top Hand
The hand that grips the end of the pole, the right hand of the right handed vaulter.
171. Touch Down
Every time the foot touches the ground during running. Coaches often use the touch down of the takeoff leg at 6 step out as a checkmark.
172. Trail Leg
The leg that stays behind, the takeoff leg after the takeoff.
173. Transition Phase
An intermediate phase of the run up, after acceleration, before plant.
174. Travel
The follow through. The moment after take-off when the vaulter seems to stay in a "frozen" position till he reaches the switch-point where he starts the swing.
175. Triangle Position
At takeoff the two arms and the pole form a triangle.
176. Trick Step
The penultimate step.
177. Tuck
To bring the knees close to the chest during the swing to inversion. The vaulter may have to tuck to direct too much energy quickly upwards (French model). This motion may also be necessary if he has not enough energy to swing long with a straight trail leg (Petrov model).
178. Tuck and Shoot
The vaulting style when the vaulter tucks and then from the tucked position rapidly pushes his legs upwards, characteristic of the French model for accelerating the upward motion. The intention of the Petrov model is to keep enough energy from the run up to avoid this phase, thus creating a more ample swing.
179. Turn
The spin, the phase when the vaulter turns after the I-position to bring his chest parallel to the bar. The turning part of pull, push and turn.
180. Unbend
A bent pole returning to its original form.
181. Upstep
The second to last step with another two steps to go.
182. Upswing
The upwards swinging action after takeoff.
183. Volzing
A method of putting the bar back onto the pegs while clearing the bar. This method, named after American pole vaulter Dave Volz, is now forbidden by the rules.
184. Whip
The fast swinging action of the trail leg.
185. Wide Grip
A big distance between the two hands holding the pole usually more than shoulder width. The French model uses this type of grip.
186. Withdrawal of Upper Body
After clearance the vaulter tries to move his upper body away from the bar.
187. Yank Off the Ground
As a result of insufficient jumping the pole yanks the vaulter off the ground. Also Ripped Off the Ground, Pulled Off the Ground.