Advice for Pole Vaulters
You won’t always realize it while you’re in the middle of it—but this is one of the most special times of your life.
Right now, you’re young. You’re strong. You’re surrounded by teammates who share your goals and understand your struggles. You get to challenge each other, push each other, and celebrate each other. That combination—youth, friendship, competition—is a gift. Don’t take it for granted.
Pole vaulting can be brutally hard. It asks more of you than most sports do. You don’t just need speed, strength, and flexibility—you need focus, consistency, trust, and patience. The learning curve is steep. The setbacks are humbling. But the payoff is worth it.
Here’s the thing: no one becomes great in this sport by accident. It takes serious commitment. You have to train when you’re tired, stay focused when you’re frustrated, and keep showing up when it would be easier not to. You have to love the process—not just the results.
That said, don’t miss the good stuff along the way. The post-practice laughs. The breakthroughs you fought for. The friendships built over shared victories and shared heartbreak. The team bus rides, the inside jokes, the vaults that come out of nowhere.
This sport will shape you—but only if you let it. So take ownership of your growth. Be coachable. Ask questions. Learn from your failures. Compete with fire, but don’t let it consume you. Be a great teammate. Stay humble. Lift others when they’re down. Win with grace. Lose with perspective.
And when the season ends, or your time in this sport is over, I hope you look back and realize it wasn’t just about the bar. It was about becoming someone stronger—on and off the runway.
What Makes a Great Athlete?
They show up—not just to practice, but fully present and ready to work.
They ask for feedback—and apply it.
They take ownership—of their mistakes, their effort, and their mindset.
They’re resilient—they fall (a lot) and keep getting up.
They’re students of the sport—always curious, always growing.
They make it fun—for themselves and everyone around them.
They remember why they started—even when it’s hard.
10 Things that Require Zero Talent
If you want to know where to start—start here. These are things every athlete can do, no matter your ability, background, or starting point:
Being on time
Work ethic
Effort
Body language
Energy
Attitude
Passion
Being coachable
Doing extra
Being prepared
Final Thoughts
There will be a last time you run down the runway. A last jump. A last cheer from your teammates. You may not know when it is—but it will come.
So be present. Be grateful. Be all in.
Because what you do now isn’t just building an athlete—it’s shaping the kind of person you’ll be for the rest of your life.