Championship Speed & Power Drills: Pole Vault

with Reid Ehrisman,
University of Sioux Falls Head Cross Country & Track Coach/Pole Vault Coach;
Coach of 2017 Men's and Women's DII Indoor National Pole Vault Champions - the first program in NCAA DII history to win the men's and women's national championship at the same meet;
Coach of four USA National Champions, seven USA National Runner-ups and 35 NCAA All Americans in the Pole Vault. In 2016, Ehrisman and the University of Sioux Falls qualified seven pole vaulters (four men and three women) to the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships.

Reid Ehrisman lays out a methodical blueprint for you to build fast, powerful and technically sound pole vaulters. His vaulters' development program is simple, featuring in-depth drills and techniques, with unlimited science to back it up. Coach Ehrisman's approach is driven to maximize speed on the runway to improve takeoff and swing mechanics. He teaches drills from slow to fast, simple to complex to maximize key teaching moments and neuromuscular adaptation.

Coach Ehrisman brings the pole vault success of the USF track and field program to you with more than 25 drills that walk you through the entire pole vault process - starting by maximizing sprint mechanics, moving through detailed steps to apply that to the runway and approach, and providing methods for accelerating through takeoff and having a powerful swing through the end of the vault.

Perfecting Running Mechanics

Sprint mechanics are the foundation of a strong vault approach. Coach Ehrisman expertly walks you through seven drills specific to pole vault approach on the runway. Beginning with Lining the Heel Walking Drill, Ehrisman details all of the coaching points of proper sprint alignment and some common flaws that impede performance, such as casting and grabbing. The drills in this series progress from walking and skipping, to running, before advancing to pole carry drills. Learn how to maintain sprint form by adding the technique drills while carrying the pole through a progression to keep the pole weightless in approach.

Setting up the Takeoff

Cadence and rhythm are essential components for consistency and success with the pole vault. Coach Ehrisman discusses techniques that have worked best for his athletes and talks you through his slow-to-fast approach. By accelerating through the pole drop, pole vaulters will gain the momentum needed to create a powerful takeoff and a successful vault. Coach Ehrisman start with simple drills and increase cadence and acceleration to more complex methods. He focuses on these runway items:

• Counting steps in sets
• Increasing cadence throughout the entire approach
• Having rhythm to your run
• When and how to drop your pole
• Accelerating through takeoff

Ropes and High Bars for Swing Mechanics

If you're indoors in the winter with limited opportunities to practice proper vault technique, or need a way to teach swing mechanics away from the runway, ropes, high bars, and rings can be important tools. Vault takeoff and swing drills using ropes, high bar and rings show the numerous ways to teach pole vault technique without a long approach. Coach Ehrisman gives tips and insights as athletes demonstrate drills to get inverted, turn and engage their hip flexors and core to get swing into the vault. You'll see athletes use 2-3 step approaches on drills to work on trail leg skills, hip drive, to teach swing from the top hand and much more. He also demonstrates the use of double and single rope progressions, which provide coaches with flexible options depending on their facilities.

Coach Ehrisman uses his experience as a vaulter and coach to emphasize the most important elements of pole vault training. These drills take you through a detailed progression for neuromuscular adaptation and mastery of skills for pole vault technique. Use Coach Ehrisman's method to teach sprint mechanics and set the foundation to develop speed and rhythm on the runway for a more powerful vaulter.

46 minutes. 2017.