Our 8 day training camp is organized around the essential elements of successful vaulting:

Speed:
The vault is simply the conversion of runway speed into vertical energy. The faster you run, the higher you’ll jump. 

Technique:
The vault technique is simply the most effective way to transfer energy from the run into the pole, and then to be in a position to receive that energy back. The more effective the technique, the more energy returned. 

How to become a better pole vaulter:

Become faster
Improve fitness
Increase coordination
Enhance spatial-awareness

Speed:
Running speed is a function of stride length and stride frequency; with three contributing factors:
Flexibility, Strength, and Technique. 

            Flexibility: increases your range of motion. 

            Strength: improves force application to the running surface. 

            Technique: optimizes running form.

Fitness:
‘Fitness’ refers to three aspects of muscle training: Endurance, Power, and Explosion.

             Endurance: The muscle fiber’s ratio of work done to fatigue. As endurance improves, the amount
                                of work accomplished per a set amount of fatigue will increase.

             Power: The muscle fiber’s ratio between force and mass. The more force the muscle 
                         can exert per kilogram of mass, the more powerful the muscle fiber.  

            Explosion: The muscle fiber’s reaction rate. As reaction time decreases, explosive
                              ability increases.

Coordination:
‘Coordination’ is a measure of motor-ability and/or dexterity; basically, the communication between the brain and the muscles along nerve pathways. The growth and stimulation of these nerve pathways will improve communication. Growth can be stimulated through novel and complex motor tasks such as juggling surfing, gymnastics and pole vaulting. Cross-hemispheric communication in the brain is essential for improving coordination.

Spatial-awareness:
Spatial-awareness is composed of both balance and coordination. Balance is determined by communication between the inner ear and the brain, as well as visual information. These communication pathways can be improved utilizing balancing tasks.

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