Review: Approach Run Acceleration Patterns

             Dave Nielsen conducts a compelling study at the National Pole Vault Summit involving intermediate and elite high school vaulters.  Using a Bower timing system he measured the athlete’s speeds in 5 meter increments down the runway (athletes did not plant in a box).  Seemingly, his purpose was to determine whether or not these athletes were running too great a distance before take-off. 

                Nielsen discovered that the more elite vaulters had a more gradual and controlled acceleration, while the intermediate jumpers acceleration curve flattened out early (they stopped accelerating within 18 – 23 meters of the run).   The elite jumper took longer to reach peak velocity. 

                The article concludes that jump coaches should spend significant time training athletes at 6 to 10 steps because the athlete will likely be near top speed, be able to take more jumps, and focus on jump technique.   Finally, he states that “the process of achieving top speed in a controlled and smooth or regular manner also appears to be a skill and therefore needs to be practiced.” 

                I purpose an additional conclusion to Nielsen’s study.  He shows that the average vaulter reaches 90% of their max velocity within 13 – 18 meters.  It takes the athlete a much greater distance to gain the remaining 10% of peak velocity.  I believe this shows the importance of pushing hard out of the back of the runway to overcome inertia in any horizontal jump.  The athlete needs to set him or herself up to reach max velocity.  If an athlete fails to accelerate early there will not be enough distance remaining to reach peak velocity.  This is of great importance because peak velocity equals peak performances.  


-John Egan 

Techniques: Volume 5, Number 1 August 2011

Approach Run Acceleration Patterns

By Dave Nielsen