The pole vault is a variation on the high jump that allows competitors to get more height through the use of a fiberglass or carbon fiber pole. This flexible pole replaced the earlier solid poles as it allows for greater heights. Pole Vaulting was part of ancient Greek, Cretan and Celt competitions and has been a staple in Men’s Olympic track events since 1896, but did not enter the Women’s competition until 2000. As with almost all Ancient events, the reasons for the challenge were military. Poles were used to clear natural obstacles throughout Europe. In those days, the vaults were measured for distance, not height. Areas around the North Sea, where poles were used to get across marshy areas by laymen and soldiers alike, still hold distance jumping competitions.
Modern pole vaulting was first seen in the 1840′s in Italy and Germany, but was honed towards the end of the 19th century in the United States. The competition for pole vaulting is similar to the high jump, as both are large vertical jumps. Participants don’t need to begin at the first (lowest) height; all vaulters can choose the height at which they enter competition. Each vaulter has three attempts to clear the bar. At the end of each round the bar is raised, and competitors repeat the process. After an athlete fails to clear the bar in three attempts he resigns competition, with the last cleared height being his official score.
One confusing rule about pole vaulting: Athletes can choose to pass onto the next height without clearing the bar, but they must pass the second height taking on the failures from the previous round (if an athlete has two failures at the previous height, he must clear the bar on his first attempt to avoid elimination.) The competitor who clears the highest bar is the victor. If there is a tie for clearance and number of misses, there is a sudden death jump-off.
Pole Vaulting is a tough sport and even a harder one to coach, as you can only coach after they screw up and it takes a lot of energy for each fault. The athlete’s form in pole vaulting is paramount; as if you screw it up you end up 15 feet in air against a stanchion and no where but down to go. Unfortunately there usually is not very good mat protection there to break you fall to prevent breaking your leg, arm or collarbone.
With today’s high tech materials the poles are getting stronger and do not break as often as the pole-vaulter goes for maximum flex to insure the desired height. It takes countless hours to train to be a proficient pole-vaulter and a coach to stand around and critique your form and give you pointers is not always available. Although for safety reasons pole vaulting is not something you want to do alone, as you need someone to call the paramedics if you screw up real bad; it stands to reason that you will always need someone to explain to you what you are doing wrong or what you are doing right.
It is for this reason that I propose using high-tech Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality. I propose that as the athlete runs down the runway, that the second he passes a certain predetermined place that he triggers a laser sensor which starts the holographic image ahead of him, with the perfect form needed to get over the bar. As the athlete jams the pole into the box the holographic image begins its full motion 3D video. The pole-vaulter will of course match his form to the image as he travels up and over the bar.