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Certification | Continuing Education | Up-to-Date Rules
Hands-On Workshops
About The Test
The rules and concepts expressed in this course of instruction are intended to preserve
and promote the sound traditions of the sport of pole vaulting and the safety of its
participants. Every coach, parent and official is responsible for prudent judgment with
respect to each practice, contest, athlete and facility.
The rules and information within this program should be interpreted and applied to the
sport of pole vaulting so as to make prudent and reasonable decisions for safe and
efficient participation.
This course of pole vault education is designed and formatted so the beginning coach,
parent and vaulter can efficiently and economically learn the process of pole vaulting
with a minimum of time investment.
The course is divided into four sections. Each section is followed by a battery of test
questions that pertain specifically to that section. To pass a section, the student must
achieve a minimum score of 80% correct. All testing portions are designed
to be taken open book.
Section 1: National HS Federation PV Rules
- New rules
- Definitions
- General rules
- Penalties
- Facilities & Equipment
- Scoring
- PV contest administration
- Points of Emphasis
- 10-question open-book test
Section 2: Pole Vault Safety
- Creating a low-risk pole vault environment
- Standards (uprights)
- Planting box
- Helmets
- Weather considerations
- Hard surfaces
- Facilities care and upkeep
- Basic skills and progressions
- Basic adjustments for consistency
- Basic concepts of pole vaulting
- 10-question open-book test
Section 3: Energy Equation & PLZ
- The Energy Equation in pole vaulting
- Setting up the Preferred Landing Zone (PLZ)
- The PLZ as a coaching tool
- Adjustments: blowing through, landing short, side landings
- Basics of the PV energy equation
- Potential energy and resistance
- Comparative stiffness chart
- Pole speed, pole bend, and grip height
- Vertical pole and take-off angle
- 10-question open-book test
Section 4: Beginning Pole Vaulting Progressions
- Grass vaulting
- Selecting the beginning grip
- Short run non-bending progressions
- Stay-downs, swing to L, swing and shoot turn
- Selecting the correct beginning pole and grip for bending
- Increasing run length and grip heights
- 10-question open-book test
To pass the testing portion of the curriculum, the applicant must pass each individual
section with a minimum grade of 80%. Each section can be taken as many
times as necessary. Sections are scored independently, so once a section is passed the
applicant may proceed to the next. Tests are graded automatically and a passing or failing
grade is given immediately.
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