It's not the right way!

[Mcleodjw]

Everyone,
I'm a coach that likes a challenge. Unlike others that don't.
Soon I'll be coaching a young middle school girl that wants to learn to pole vault.
The reason why?
Because her high school coach says vaulting left-handed is not the right way. He yelled at her and then turned and focused on the high school athletes.
When I heard that, I jumped at the chance!
Mid-Michigan is not a pole vault meca.
You would think the coach would see a potential future vaulter.

I'm looking forward to coaching this young person to the best of her ability.

So, I challenge all Mid-Michigan coaches to coach a young person, not a high school athlete, a middle schooler.
These young athletes are the future.

Coach John

[KirkB]

Good for you for contributing to our beloved sport.

Left-handed vaulters aren't doing it right? Yikes!

My PV buddy Dave Roberts held a couple world records in the mid 1970s vaulting left-handed. I'm sure there's others.

Oh yes, I was a left handed vaulter too!

IMHO, it depends less on whether your write left or right-handed (fine motor skills), and more on which leg is strongest for takeoff. I did everything else right-handed, but I vaulted left-handed because my right leg gave me a stronger takeoff (it was also my takeoff leg for highjump).

And BTW, you don't even need to buy a left-handed pole! The pole bends properly for any vaulter regardless of which hand is on top of the pole! Ha ha!

Kirk

[vaultmd]

Don Baird didn't suck, either.

[charlie]

Don Baird had as good a plant as ANYONE that has EVER vaulted, even BUBKA!!!!!

[Mcleodjw]

Thanks for the support.
Here's an update.

After an hour private practice session, she's on her way. All she needed was some one-on-one time with a coach that knows pole vault.
Since the high school coach doesn't coach her, I told her to be strong and polite when he yells at her that she's not doing it right.
Just smile and say "thanks, I'll try."
At the end of our session, I explain to her a typical practice session at her school. This included warm up exercises, off-runway pole drills and then runway pole drills.
Since our session, she's had a track meet and cleared 5'6". Not a bad start for a 13 year old. Needless to say, she's excited and already asking mom for another practice session.

I just want to stress patience to all coaches of young track athletes.
Telling them they are doing the technique wrong isn't the way to inspire an athlete.

John

[PV-ATL]

John,

First guy over 18: Lefty!

My best jumper: Lefty!

Keep up the work!

Cheers,

PV-ATL

[KirkB]

First guy over 18: Lefty!

Geez, I forgot about him! It's all Greek to me!

Kirk

[charlie]

HE ALSO HAD A BENT ARM PRESS SUPPORT plant like DON BAIRD!

[KirkB]

HE ALSO HAD A BENT ARM PRESS SUPPORT plant like DON BAIRD!

Maybe he did (I concede), but I know another lefty from his era that didn't!

Kirk