Concentration Drills (graphics coming)

1. One thing we do in our Pole Vault Camp is what we call a "Hassel" meet. Short run (55' or less), stick-vault only, and people can get in your way, yell, holler, swat-at, lay down in front of you, -- do anything but touch you -- as you attempt your height. Now obviously we must all be careful to keep such a free-for-all safe, so nobody is allowed in the box area (from the front pits on-in), or on the pits. If someone touches you, you automatically get the height for free, and they have to run a lap (400M) with the pole (and since pole vaulters are notoriously lazy, they won't touch you). We usually open around 6' and 11' usually wins. The height is not what matters -- the focus, concentration, and aggressiveness IS. The one who usually wins is the one who tries to ram the other folks that are in the way, and therefore is sufficiently aggresive to generate enough speed to make the height. Those that flinch, duck, slow down, or are otherwise easily distracted, don't make it over the height. These are usually the same people who have a tendency to "back-down" on the runway (slow down slightly as they approach the box -- the last 3 steps). Remember -- the last 3 steps must be your fastest.