Mental Blocks
A mental block is the sudden inability to perform a skill or routine that an athlete has previously mastered—usually triggered by fear, anxiety, or psychological stress. It feels like being stuck, frozen, or mentally fogged. This isn’t a physical limitation—it’s a mental one. The brain perceives danger, and in response, it disrupts the automatic flow of movement and decision-making.
In pole vaulting, mental blocks often show up as dreaded run-throughs. Sometimes, athletes flat-out refuse to move up to longer or stiffer poles, even when they’re physically ready. Others collapse under pressure—performing flawlessly in practice, only to no-height in competition.
Whatever the cause, one thing is clear: almost every athlete experiences a mental block at some point. They’re more common than most people admit. So let’s talk about why they happen—and what coaches, parents, and athletes can do to work through them.
Understanding Mental Blocks
Mental blocks can look like hesitation, stutter steps, refusal to plant, a sudden fear of longer poles, or repeated run-throughs—even when the athlete has cleared higher bars before. These aren’t signs of laziness or attitude. They’re signs the brain is on high alert.
Mental blocks are the brain’s way of protecting you from perceived danger. They can stem from past experiences—a fall, a close call, or a bad meet—or even from imagined consequences that spiral into fear. Unlike laziness or lack of effort, mental blocks are real. They activate the same fight-or-flight pathways that help us survive real danger—even when the threat isn’t life-threatening.
That’s the hard part: convincing the brain that it’s safe while your body is sprinting down the runway holding a 14-foot pole.
Why Mental Blocks Happen
At the center of it all is a small, almond-shaped part of the brain called the amygdala. Its job is to keep you alive. When it senses danger—real or imagined—it hits the panic button. Your heart races, your muscles tense, and your thinking brain gets overridden by survival instincts.
This is great if you’re being chased by a bear. Not so great when you’re just trying to clear a bar you’ve already made a dozen times.
In pole vaulting, the amygdala sometimes does its job too well. It perceives risk where there is none, hijacks your nervous system, and shuts down the automatic skills you’ve trained. Suddenly, you can’t plant. You can’t swing. You can’t take off.
And here’s the kicker: logic doesn’t work. You know you’re safe. You know you’ve done this before. But the amygdala isn’t convinced. That’s what makes mental blocks feel so irrational—and so frustrating.
Common Triggers
Most of the time, it’s not the pole vault itself that triggers the block. It’s everything else.
Stress outside of practice—like a romantic breakup, finals week, family conflict, poor sleep, social pressure, or even just general burnout—raises your baseline anxiety. This primes the amygdala to overreact. When you’re already on edge, something that normally feels routine (like vaulting) can suddenly feel dangerous, unstable, or overwhelming.
Athletes often don’t realize they’re bringing that stress onto the runway. They just know something feels “off.”
This is why mental blocks can seem to come out of nowhere. The amygdala doesn’t separate “track problems” from “life problems.” It just sees threat.
That’s also why the fix isn’t always more reps or louder coaching. Sometimes what an athlete needs most is a sense of safety, routine, and trust—on and off the track.
When the Amygdala Calms Down…
Your body remembers what it already knows how to do.
What Coaches Can Do
Normalize mental blocks as part of the sport—not a sign of weakness.
Create a safe, nonjudgmental space to talk about fear.
Use shorter approaches and softer poles to rebuild trust.
Avoid saying “just tough it out”—slow is fast.
Praise process, not just results.
Stay calm—your energy affects theirs.
What Parents Can Do
Be a steady, supportive presence—especially after a bad day.
Avoid giving technical advice unless asked.
Praise effort over outcome—especially after a tough day.
Support recovery: healthy food, rest, and mental breaks.
Encourage rest, good nutrition, and healthy routines.
Let them open up on their own terms.
Remind them: growth is never linear.
What Athletes Can Do
Tell someone what you’re feeling—don’t hide it.
Go back to basics. Take easy jumps. Rebuild trust.
Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.
Practice visualization. See and feel a good jump before it happens.
Create a calming pre-jump routine.
Track what works for you—music, warmups, pole selection, cues.
Be patient. Fear isn’t weakness—it’s your brain trying to protect you.
When Nothing Seems to Help
At some point, it might be worth seeking professional help—and there’s no shame in that. Many top athletes work with sports psychologists or use anxiety medication when necessary.
In our case, this hit close to home. My daughter suddenly began running through—exhibiting all the classic signs of a mental block. We tried everything. Nothing worked. Eventually, a medical diagnosis revealed underlying anxiety, and with the right treatment—including medication—she was able to break through.
The result? Four personal records in one month, and a new state record.
But here’s the truth: it wasn’t a magic bullet. Meds don’t fix everything. New stressors pop up—breakups, school, pressure—and sometimes we’re back to square one. And that’s okay. We start again. Short run. Small pole. Small wins. And we build from there.
Over time, as life becomes more routine, the vault starts to feel safe again. For her, when she’s happy, she performs. As a parent and coach, I’ve learned that a single disappointed look or careless comment can do real damage.
And remember this basic rule: Pole vault has to be fun for an athlete to perform well.