What does a bending pole do?

Stores energy and releases it upward

What happens near the top of the vault?

The vaulter extends and turns to face the bar

How does the vaulter clear the bar?

Pushing off the pole and arching over

Pole Vault Technique Quiz: Plant, Swing and Clearing the Bar

This pole vault technique quiz breaks a vault into its parts. Play 10 interactive questions on the run-up, carrying and planting the pole in the box, take-off, how a bending pole stores energy, the swing and rock-back, extension and turn, clearing the bar, bamboo, fiberglass and carbon poles and the three-attempt rule.

Start Pole Vault Technique Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Run
Why is the run-up so important?
Box
Where is the pole planted?
Bend
What does a bending pole do?
Swing
What does the vaulter do after take-off?
Turn
What happens near the top of the vault?
Clear
How does the vaulter clear the bar?
Old
What were early vaulting poles made of?
Modern
What are modern poles made of?
Tries
How many attempts does a vaulter get at each height?
Pass
What can a vaulter do with a height?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Why is the run-up so important?
Answer: Speed becomes height
Faster vaulters can use stiffer poles.
Q2: Where is the pole planted?
Answer: In the box
A sunken slot at the end of the runway.
Q3: What does a bending pole do?
Answer: Stores energy and releases it upward
Like a spring.
Q4: What does the vaulter do after take-off?
Answer: Swings the legs up and rocks back
Getting upside down.
Q5: What happens near the top of the vault?
Answer: The vaulter extends and turns to face the bar
Then pushes off.
Q6: How does the vaulter clear the bar?
Answer: Pushing off the pole and arching over
Arms away from the bar.
Q7: What were early vaulting poles made of?
Answer: Bamboo or wood
Then metal.
Q8: What are modern poles made of?
Answer: Fiberglass and carbon fiber
Light and flexible.
Q9: How many attempts does a vaulter get at each height?
Answer: Three
Three misses in a row and you are out.
Q10: What can a vaulter do with a height?
Answer: Pass and wait for a higher one
A tactical choice.

Plant, Swing and Clear

The pole vault turns sprint speed into height. Vaulters sprint down the runway carrying the pole, then plant it in the box, a sunken slot at the end of the runway. A faster run-up lets them use stiffer poles that can launch them higher.

After take-off, the bending pole stores energy like a spring. The vaulter swings the legs up and rocks back to get upside down, then extends and turns to face the bar as the pole straightens. Finally they push off the pole and arch over the bar, pulling the arms away.

Early poles were bamboo or wood; modern poles are made of fiberglass and carbon fiber, light and flexible. Vaulters get three attempts at each height, and three misses in a row end their competition, though they may pass heights as a tactical choice.

What This Quiz Teaches

Athletics fans will enjoy these questions.

Why speed matters
Where the pole is planted
How the pole helps
How the bar is cleared
Which rules apply

Did You Know?

Poles are chosen by stiffness and length.
Landing mats are very thick.
Grip height affects the vault.
Wind can help or hurt.
Women's pole vault joined the Olympics in 2000.