A Helpful Addition to the Crossbar During Practice

[advath]

This past week I had my vaulters vaulting over a regular fiberglass crossbar with an addition to it. I added a lightweight thick piece of 1 inch pipe insulation (it's about 3" round with a 1" hole running down the middle of it) to the center of the crossbar making the crossbar more than 3 inches round in the middle. The insulation is about 6 feet long. I added bands of white tape to make it more visible. I got the pipe insulation at my local hardware store for less than $3. It looks like a big tube with a slit all the way down making it easy to take on and off.

The things I found out doing this:

The vaulters said they could see the crossbar more easily. Hopefully this will help them know where the bar is and be able to take their eyes off it quicker.

When the vaulter brushed the bar on top or coming down the bar tended to stay on making practice move more efficiently. The insulation simply rotated around the crossbar like a wheel.

It didn't hurt if you landed on the crossbar.

Biggest point: the vaulters learned to clear the bar better in the front, top and back.

I liked it better than using the bungee crossbar.

There were a lot of PR's over the real crossbar at the meet yesterday!

[mikepv1]

That's very clever. I'm going to have to try that. Thanks advath!

[izzystikchik]

Wow, i never thought of that?? I can see why its so sufficient though, it does make it easier to see the cross bar, i know i find myself losing the cross bar at the wrong time.. but maybe i can talk to my coach into trying this nifty feat.

I can see its benefits for PR, due to that the slight thickness makes you have to push your hips higher