Interschool Pole Vault

Pole Vault
Relative Risk: High

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Supervision

  • Constant visual supervision is recommended.

 

Instructional Considerations

  • Poles should be safely transported to and from interschool athletic activity area.
  • Safe vaulting procedures should be established prior to practice and enforced.
  • Safety instruction should be given prior to practice.
  • Student athletes should not be allowed to play, lounge, or jump on landing mats.

 

Equipment/Facilities

  • Poles and landing mats should meet International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) specifications available at: www.iaaf.org/competitions/technical/regulations/index.html
  • Poles should be appropriate to weight of student athlete.
  • Poles should be regularly inspected for damage, e.g., cracks.
  • Standards should be secure and vertical.
  • Alternative crossbars should be used during practice, i.e., elastic.
  • Vaulting chute should be solid and free from cracks or splinters and should have an angled back and sides to meet IAAF specifications.
  • Run up area should be sectioned off to prevent interference.
  • Run up area should be clear of obstacles.
  • Landing area should be well marked and void of people during the activity.

Need more information?

Athletics Alberta
www.athleticsalberta.com
780-427-8792

Last revised on 21 February, 2020.

Magnitude of Risk

Interschool athletic activities have been divided into three categories based on guidelines determined by the Sport Medicine Council of Alberta. These include higher magnitude of risk sports, medium magnitude of risk sports and lower magnitude of risk sports. Guidelines for determining risk level include assessing the nature of the sport in consideration of:

  • Potential for injuries with severe consequences;
  • Contact: person to person and person to equipment;
  • Uniqueness of equipment used;
  • Speed of action;
  • Type of supervision required.

Although the magnitude of risk of injury is lower in some interschool athletic activities than in others, it is always in the best interest for teachers/coaches to document attendance and practice plans, and be prepared to handle injuries should they occur.

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