Re: t-and-f: HS PV endangered
Some people will be glad to eliminate the vault for any reason. The pits are allready expensive and having enough poles for everyone to jump on (within the wieght rules) also costs too much but I think the event will survive in most states. Right now the pole vault has to be one of the most popular events in USA track and field. This year over a 1000 coaches and vaulters came to Reno for the summit. There on beach vaults and street vaults all over the country. Stacy Dragila has gotten more news coverage than most track athletes. The vault is a fun and exciting event that will endure all rule changes. John
Re: t-and-f: HS PV endangered
Ed Grant wrote: Netters:Is the PV on the HS level an endangered species? CUT If the worst comes, it will be up to USATF to establish programs wherever the event is banned so that hopeful vaulters, male and female, can have the advantage of the best coaching available. Such camps, at least here in NJ would simply replicate when we had on an informal basis for about a dozen years in the l970s and 80s when Paul Richards ran his Flying Circus, producing most of the top marks in state history. In fact, such collections of athletes under expert coach is probably the best way to develop talent anyway in the most difficult of track and field events. This couild wind up being a case of what seems bad becoming good, but only if the proper steps are taken to make it so. This would make the situation in the pole vault similar to that which obtains in race walking. Do you want to see the pole vault sink to the level that race walking, especially among men, is at in this country? Better fight tooth and nail to keep the vault a part of the high school program. -- Wayne T. Armbrust, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Computomarxô 3604 Grant Ct. Columbia MO 65203-5800 USA (573) 445-6675 (voice FAX) http://www.Computomarx.com Know the difference between right and wrong... Always give your best effort... Treat others the way you'd like to be treated... - Coach Bill Sudeck (1926-2000)
t-and-f: HS PV endangered
Netters: Is the PV on the HS level an endangered species? In 2003, new regulations are coming into the HS rule book for pole vault mats. The word is that this might seriously endanger the future of an eventalready on shaky groun in many states, including NJ. The event is already banned in several areas because of deaths and injuiries in the past. New Jersey has not experienced any of these, thanks heaverns,the problem here is the cost factor. The full layout of the new regs would, I am told, cost about $20,000. That may be starting from scratch, which few schools would have to do, or again it may be just the new parts (which seems unlikely. At any rate, more money will have to be spent on an event which is already an endangered species. At a county coaches meeting today, we were told by our acting head official in the state that the future of the event has been regularly debated for several years at state meetings of athletic directors (the men who guard the pursestrings) The vote against the PV gets larger each time. Last night, at our AG meet, I was informed that, facing a lawsuit to make thr girls' PV a full-fledged scoring event on the state level, the decision may be to make both girls and boys'; events optional, nut I could not get a firm answer of just what this would mean to the boys' event which is now a full-fledged scoring event. If the worst comes, it will be up to USATF to establish programs wherever the event is banned so that hopeful vaulters, male and female, can have the advantage of the best coaching available. Such camps, at least here in NJ would simply replicate when we had on an informal basis for about a dozen years in the l970s and 80s when Paul Richards ran his Flying Circus, producing most of the top marks in state history. In fact, such collections of athletes under expert coach is probably the best way to develop talent anyway in the most difficult of track and field events. This couild wind up being a case of what seems bad becoming good, but only if the proper steps are taken to make it so. If it happens, the present PV runways at many schools could be converted into second horizontal jump facilities, which would be a big boon in a state like ours which hasn't the time in most areas, it seems, to add another international event, the triple jump, to our championship program. Ed Grant
Re: t-and-f: HS PV endangered
How many of these rules are really enforced, though? Most if not all the meets I have been at this season, there was no pad around the collar of the vault box, no padding around the standard bases, sometimes no top pad, etc. And as for the weight certification, that is a joke too. Most of the dual meets the coach/meet director is so busy trying to find people to work the major officiating positions they can't be bothered w/ minutae like that - often the vaulters are left to run the event by themselves. Speaking of the vaulter weight certification rule, at one of the CT class meets a team showed up w/ certificates from the school nurse for all its vaulters, one of whom was told he couldn't jump because he was one pound over his pole rating. Meanwhile, ANY vaulter who DIDN'T bring a certificate was allowed to compete on their own say-so that they were within the limits. Like arresting a guy because his driver's license expired a day ago, but letting everyone who's not even carrying one keep on driving. Jim Gerweck Running Times
Re: t-and-f: HS PV endangered
Last year, I was able to buy a new pit. I was told by the salesman to buy a 21'x24' pit because in a couple of years it would be the size reccommended. I bought one for around $10,000 by the time everything was done. I'm very pleased with it. Last week I talked with him about Ed's previous post about the pole vault. He pretty much confirms Ed's comments about the rules recommendation in 2003. It was going to be next year but is being put off for a year in deciding whether the width should be 20' or 21', probably because a 21' pit will spill over to the track in some places. I pushed pretty hard to get the pit this year because our district is going to be in deep financial problems in the near future. After having to spend $1500 to $3000 to replace javelins for next year, I'm afraid Ed is correct about how schools might react to having to spend big bucks on new pole vault pits. phil weishaar chapman kansas
