Advice for Pole Vault Coaches
You can have all the best drills, equipment, and poles in the world, but none of it matters without good coaching.
It’s not just about correcting technique—it’s about creating an environment where athletes want to show up, work hard, and stay longer than they have to.
Over the years, especially coaching both boys and girls, I’ve learned that one size doesn’t fit all. With boys, I can be more direct—give critical feedback, challenge them, and push their competitive edge. With girls, I’ve found I need to be more of a cheerleader—encouraging, celebrating progress, and keeping the energy positive and personal. Same standards. Different delivery.
But regardless of personality or gender, one thing is universal: it has to be fun. If your athletes aren’t enjoying themselves, they won’t stick with the sport long enough to get good at it.
Great vaulting happens in an atmosphere of trust, routine, and connection. Athletes perform best when they feel like they belong—when practice is predictable, teammates are friends, and everyone is working toward the same goal. Camaraderie, laughter, team chants, inside jokes, and post-practice milkshakes do more for athlete retention than any lecture on technique ever could.
A great coach isn’t always the most technical person in the room—but they are the one athletes want to come back to tomorrow.
Yes, good coaches know their sport. They’re ethical, adaptable, and prepared. But the best ones? They care deeply—and show it every day. Athletes remember how you made them feel—especially after a bad meet, a missed bar, or a quiet ride home.
They’ll remember if you celebrated their first clearance like a gold medal.
They’ll remember if you stood by them after three ugly misses.
They’ll remember if you made practice feel like a place they belonged—even when they were struggling.
I’ve had athletes come back years later—not to talk about their PRs, but to thank me for believing in them when they didn’t believe in themselves.
The best coaches aren’t defined by wins. They’re defined by trust. They show up with steady energy, consistent expectations, and a deep belief in their athletes—especially when things get hard. And they don’t just coach the sport—they coach the human behind it.
So be that coach.
Coaching Checklist
Know your athletes—what motivates them, how they learn, how they respond to feedback.
Adjust your style—some need a push, others need a lift.
Make it fun—create traditions, games, and team goals that give athletes a reason to show up.
Be consistent—athletes thrive on routine, predictability, and fairness.
Praise effort, not just results—focus on progress and process.
Stay humble—you don’t need all the answers, just the willingness to learn and adapt.
Model what you want—positivity, discipline, enthusiasm, and respect.
In the end, coaching is never really about drills or data. It’s about people.
And remember this: It’s not about you. It’s about the kids.
Believe in your athletes—especially when they don’t believe in themselves. That’s what they’ll carry with them long after they hang up their spikes.