TRACK COACH Spring 2017 I 219 The official technical IN DEFENSE OF THE FREE TAKEOFF . 6971 publication of USA Track & Field RIO RELAY REDUX . 6975 PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF BURNOUT IN FORMER/RETIRED ELITE-LEVEL RACE WALKERS IN THE UNITED STATES . 6981 A FRESH APPROACH TO SPRINT TRAINING . 6991 USATF COACHING education SCHOOLS . 6996 TRACK FROM THE EDITOR COACH RUSS EBBETS FORMERLY TRACK TECHNIQUE 219 I SPRING 2017 THE WALK The official technical publication of USA Track & Field E D FOX......................................PUBLISHER In my professional career I have probably given 1000 lectures, maybe RUSS EBBETS...................................EDITOR more. During that time I have had three instances where someone from TERESA TAM.........PRODUCTION & DESIGN the audience purposely disrupted what I had to say. It’s one of those FRED WILT.......................FOUNDING EdITOR things one can laugh at later, but while it is happening, not so much. You quickly cycle through several thoughts—what is happening? Is there a health crisis? Why is this happening? And once you figure it out you must decide what to do about it. PUBLICATION In two of the instances the interrupter quickly exhausted what he had to Track Coach is published quarterly by say and I got to continue. In the third instance the disruptor had to be Track & Field News, physically removed from the room. He was grabbed by both arms and 2570 W. El Camino Real, #220, escorted towards the door. The audience got quite a show. The topic I Mountain View, CA 94040 USA. was speaking on was the race walk! The Summer 2017 issue (No. 220) The walk has a long and storied history in track & field. If you do some of Track Coach will be e-mailed research you’ll find some interesting and unique facts about this discipline. to subscribers about July 1, 2017. Did you know that the walk was started by “footmen” back in the horse and buggy days? A footman was a servant who walked alongside a horse SUBSCRIPTIONS carriage back in the 1800’s. Footmen fast walked as the carriage went along. $20.00 per year, U.S. or foreign. To jog or run would be uncouth. Track Coach became a digital-only publication in 2015. And did you know that back in the days before video games and reality TV walking endurance contests were held where competitors tried to walk 100 miles in a 24-hour period, averaging a little over four miles per hour? Those BACK ISSUES OF successfully completing this task earned the right to call themselves Centurions. TRACK COACH Even more astounding was the group that would walk one mile every hour for Many back issues of Track Technique/ 1000 straight hours (41 days). The first Ironmen? Track Coach, #92-208, are available singly at $5.50 (U.S. delivery)/ The walk has been part of the Olympics since 1904. In that Olympics the walk $9.50 (foreign delivery) each post- was part of a decathlon-like event where they walked 800m. In 1908 the walk paid. No issues previous became a stand alone event and has been contested ever since. Women got the to #111 are available. chance to walk in the Olympics in 1992. The United States has had participants in all these Olympics but has had little to show for it. Since 1972 the US has not To order, send your check to medaled in the Olympics or World Championships. Fifty-five years is a long time. Track Coach As a high school and college coach in New York State I had success coaching the 2570 W El Camino Real, walk. My high school program produced two guys back to back who won a NY Suite 220, State championship, Empire State Games gold medals, IC4A, Penn Relays and even Mountain View, CA 94040 a Junior National Championship. One of the guys once held the U.S. junior record for 3000m. There were other men and women who won league titles and had nice careers. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6995 TRACK COACH — 6970 IN DEFENSE OF THE FREE TAKEOFF Another defense of Vitaly Petrov’s pole vault technique model by long-time Tennessee coach Jim Bemiller. BY JAMES H. BEMILLER, J.D. I read with some consternation Mr. vertical. At the same time the vaulter The Straw Man fallacy is commit- David Bussabarger’s recent article, should avoid bending the pole until ted when a person simply ignores “The Pole Vault Takeoff”, in a recent he/she is airborne (this and taking another person’s actual position and edition of USATF’s professional off “out” are the most common ideas substitutes a distorted, exaggerated journal Track Coach (#216, Summer associated with the free takeoff).” or misrepresented version of that 2016). Bussabarger introduces the Bussabarger has spent several position. main topic of his article to promote years attempting to deconstruct his upcoming book, “to question the what he describes as fundamentals Bussabarger points to no primary so-called free takeoff or the model of the Petrov model. He has stated reference sources from Petrov developed by Ukrainian coach Vitaly previously, “The writer (Bussabarg- to substantiate his interpretation Petrov. The Petrov model, particu- er) has recently been engaged in a of Petrov’s technical model. Bus- larly his free takeoff concept, was long online debate with advocates of sabarger describes Petrov’s model, simply a hypothesis with no basis the Petrov/ Bubka technical model.” “That is, the fiberglass vaulter should in the real world…” (Bussabarger, (Bussabarger, 2013). take off ‘out’ and emphasize jump- 2016). ing directly upward at the instant Unfortunately, Mr. Bussabarger’s of takeoff …” (Bussabarger, 2016). Bussabarger further characterizes underlying stated core principles To use Bussabarger’s own words, his interpretation of Petrov’s beliefs: regarding coach Petrov’s concepts this statement is a concept with no “…that the fiberglass vaulter should of vaulting are so critically and basis in the real world. take off “out” and emphasize jump- fatally flawed that whatever value ing directly upward at the instant of contained in his following arguments Serious review and critique of a takeoff in order to produce overhand become pointless. Bussabarger sets coach’s technical beliefs should rotation in the pole to move it to up a classic Straw Man argument. dictate the examination of coach TRACK COACH — 6971 Petrov’s professional explanation us believe that the vaulter should In the IAAF Journal he writes of of his views. Relying on secondary attempt to contact the back of the the takeoff: sources, such as others’ interpreta- box with an incomplete extension tions, ‘online debate’, and relayed of the body? “The efficiency of this phase de- second hand conversation is not pends on the vaulter’s skill in the serious inquiry, lacks rigor and is In his article, “Reviewing the Revo- drop/takeoff junction, on whether a disservice to the subject, in this lutionary Form of Wladyslaw Koza- he/she is able to begin the push case coach Petrov. kiewicz” (Track Coach #202, 2013) before the pole is set against the Bussabarger touts the technique box. The pole must be smoothly Rather than relying on popular of the 1980 Olympic Champion transferred to the plant position misconceptions, as Bussabarger and former World Record Holder. when the vertical takeoff plane is does, let’s instead look to original “Kozakiewicz maintained excellent crossed.” (Petrov, 2004). source material with regard to Mr. erect posture in the final strides of Bussabargers’ two stated underlying the run and into the beginning of the In summary, Petrov states that the assumptions. takeoff… Kozakiewicz’s takeoff point proper position of the takeoff foot is was located directly under his top directly below the top hand and the First Incorrect Postulate—Bus- hand.” Bussabarger’s own analysis takeoff should be executed with full sabarger incorrectly states that mirrors Petrov’s criteria regarding extension prior to the pole ground- Petrov advocates that “the fiberglass proper step and takeoff referenced ing against the back of the box. No vaulter should take off ‘out’” (Bus- above. In this writer’s opinion, per- referenced primary source material sabarger, 2016). haps Bussabarger misconstrues states Petrov advocates taking off Petrov’s following statement: “out” as Mr. Bussabarger proclaims Petrov stated over 30 years ago in in many of his writings. Therefore, his 1985 address to the European “We do not share the view of those his continued criticism is based on Coaches Congress, “...the position who say that the takeoff in vaulting a false premise, which he seems of takeoff must be strictly beneath is distinct in that there is no free determined to perpetuate. the grip of the upper hand. (Petrov, takeoff. Straightening the drive leg, 1985). To emphasize the point, in pressing the pole perpendicularly, Second Incorrect Postulate— Bus- the next paragraph he stated, “The and that this helps in this initial bend- sabarger incorrectly states that question of where one should take ing. We approach this differently. Petrov advocates that vaulters off—before or after the vertical— should “emphasize jumping directly should not be a matter for discus- “The vaulter’s task is to drive the upward at the instant of takeoff” sion, in so far as the vaulter can raise pole at takeoff as much as possible (Bussabarger, 2016). He follows the pole to the maximum above the and to give himself a free takeoff by stating, “If the vaulter attempts track only standing on the vertical with transfer at the end into a smooth to execute a free takeoff as Petrov beneath the grip.” (Petrov, 1985). takeoff, but the vaulter should not recommends, he/she will be working feel for a smooth support, only a directly against the development of In later writings Petrov does not smooth plant.” (Petrov, 1985).