New standards on the way for pole vaulting
ASTM (the American Society for Testing and Materials) International has announced a project for developing two new standards surrounding best practice in pole vaulting.
The first of these standards, WK84098, will address safety concerns “beyond the rule books regarding pole vaulting”.
Explaining what this means, ASTM International’s Andrew Amsden said: “When most people think about pole vault safety, they picture big, fluffy mats. This proposed standard looks outward from there.”
He said it would address what the minimum distance should be between the landing system and a fence or light pole, and what materials should be used underneath if the landing system is elevated.
The second standard, WK84099, will set a manufacturing standard for pole vault plant-boxes. Rule-books for pole vaulting give some details of how these boxes should be made, but ASTM has said this led to inconsistencies.
Mr Amsden said the organisation looked at some of the boxes in use at high schools and colleges. “There was more variance in the measurements than we previously thought,” he explained. “Our goal is to determine acceptable tolerances and determine how future boxes can change to lessen pole damage and improve athlete safety.”
Image shows pole vault world-record holder Armand Duplantis.
Credit: Puma.
