PoleVaultPower.com

I got bored on the airplane and typed up some of the stuff that Petrov gave out at his clinic in Atlanta.

http://www.polevaultpower.com/6mclub.php

http://www.polevaultpower.com/petrovcharts.php

Thats really interesting stuff. Note the age when training began for the European guys. I think thats one of the reasons we've only had two 6m jumpers.

Yes I agree. They started training so young, I believe if the U.S. did similar training, we would produce better vaulters. Although not guarenteed.

It's not when you start, it's how you start.

i dont understand the 2nd one..

wow... talk about close numbers... i suppose that if you fit in most of those categories you should/could jump very high!

Petrov talked for awhile about the advantages to starting at an early age.

The biggest thing he talked about it with regards to starting at an early age, is that it is going to take anybody a certain amount of time to jump 6 meters. Starting at an earlier age gives someone a shot of reaching a higher height earlier. What is the advantage to this? It allows them to have a longer elite career (assuming a lot of other things go well like staying healthy). The older you get, the more likely your body is going to break down.

achtungpv wrote:It's not when you start, it's how you start.

I would know first hand I started at 10 and jumped 7'6, at 11 i jumped 9'6, and at 12 I jumped 11ft. But about sophmore year in hs (ijumped 14'6) the progress stopped because of all the bad habbits I had developed. And when you do em that long its tough to break em. #1 bad habbit taking off 2ft under. Man if I had learned the keys to the vault such as sprint mechanics, posture and takeoff. I think I would have been ok.

Starting at age 10 + great coach like Petrov= Bubka

Yeah I am sure there is not an advantage to starting early if you don't have solid coaching. Bubka worked with Petrov from Day 1.

One thing I have noticed in Texas this summer, is how popular the vault is at the junior high level. Texas also has a lot of great coaches. I am sure the combination of these 2 factors is a big reason why Texas produces great vaulters year after year.

it also helps that they never have snow.

VTechVaulter wrote:it also helps that they never have snow.

Thats not true we get at least one snow or ice storm every winter, sometimes it lasts two or three days even.