Pole Vault - Terms and Scoring
- Pole - This one is simple and is the long pipe that you run down the runway with and put into the box.
- Cross Bar - This is the bar that goes across the pit and you have to get over without knocking off.
- Standards - How far the cross bar is over the pit.
- Pit - The mats that you land on after vaulting.
- Bungee - A soft, rubber version of the cross bar.
- Plant - Placing your pole into the box
- Take Off - The moment when you lift up off the ground
- Swing Leg - The leg you keep straight and swing as hard as you can to swing up into the air after take off.
- Number Of Steps - The number of steps you take down the run way, counted on the side that is your swing leg.
- Move Your Handhold - Adjust where you place your hands on the pole based on your step and the spot you take off.
- Flex - The way that the pole bends once you start bending the pole and always has to face upwards when you are standing on the run way.
- PR - PR stands for Personal Record and your PR is the highest height that you have successfully cleared.
- Too Far In - When you take off closer to the pole than you step says you should.
- Starting height - The height that the cross bar starts at.
Scoring
In pole vaulting you compete in a strange way. The cross bar is set at a starting height. Most likely 5'6ft or 6ft. Each pole vaulter tells the person in charge of the event what height they would like to come in at. Most people choose starting height, but if the pole vaulter is more experienced and they know they can clear a higher height for sure they will choose to start at a higher height. You will also tell the person in charge where you would like your standards - most go from 18 inches to 30 inches. Then the competition starts. Every vaulter gets 3 attempts to clear the height. If they knock the bar off all three times then they are out of the competition. If the vaulter clears the height they are done for the round and will move up to the next height. At most meets the bar is moved up by six inches every time, most likely at 0 and 6 inches, or sometimes 3 and 9 inches. Your ranking at the meet is determined by the highest height you make and how it compares to the other vaulters. If two vaulters both made the same height then they will look at which of the three tries you made it on. If one vaulter made it on their 2nd try and the other made it on their 3rd, then the vaulter that made it on their 2nd will rank higher than the other. Finally, if you come in at 7ft, but don't make 7ft and someone starts at 6ft and clears only 6ft then the person who cleared 6ft gets the higher rank.
