Chris M.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION

USA Track & Field Level I and II Certified Jumps Coach with Pole Vault Specialty

QUALIFICATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

♦ 9 Years experience as Pole Vault Coach for Milton High School, Milton VT
♦ 5 years experience as Sprints, Hurdles and Jumps Coach for Milton High School, Milton, VT
♦ 5 Years experience owning and operating a USATF certified Pole
Vault Club - 2009-Present
♦ Staff coach for Jan Johnson’s Sky Jumpers Pole Vault Camp, Kutztown, PA
♦ Directed and organized the “Vermont Vault Classic”, a USATF sanctioned meet in Burlington, VT
♦ Directed and coordinated track resurfacing and equipment installs for Vermont High Schools
♦ Coach for Penn State Track & Field Club
♦ Authorized dealer for UCS and Gill Athletics
♦ Developed Vermont Pole Vault Coaches Safety Certification Program, certified by the Vermont Principles
Association, required by all Vermont high school pole vault coaches
♦ Established pole vault event for Vermont Indoor Track Association
♦ Coached Vermont’s first ever high school boys and girls national qualifiers in the pole vault, 4 national
appearances total
♦ Coached Vermont high school pole vaulters to 12 State records, including current boys and girls records
♦ Coached Vermont high school pole vaulters to 19 State Championships
♦ Coached Milton HS Sprinters, Hurdlers, Long Jumpers and Triple Jumpers to 6 State Championships
♦ Coaches Milton HS Sprinters, Hurdlers, Long Jumpers and Triple Jumpers to 18 Top 3 State Championship
finishes

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, Milton, VT 2004-2013
Pole Vault, Jumps and Sprints Coach
♦ Recruited, introduced and coached student athletes in the pole vault, jumps and sprinting events
♦ Designed individualized training plans for student athletes based on training age and school schedule
♦ Coached Milton boys and girls pole vaulters to 10 State Championships and 9 Vermont State records
♦ Coached Milton boys and girls Sprinters, Hurdlers, Long Jumpers and Triple Jumpers to 6 State
Championships
♦ Coaches Milton boys and girls Sprinters, Hurdlers, Long Jumpers and Triple Jumpers to 18 Top 3 State
Championship finishes

EDUCATION

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, University Park, PA 1994-1999
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Minor in Product Realization

COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE

♦ USATF Masters Division – Pole Vault
♦ Penn State Varsity Track, University Park, PA
– Pole Vault

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Pole Vault Coach’s Clinic, Slippery Rock University, PA June 2008
♦ Attended clinic run by Alan Launder and Roman Botcharnikov
♦ Gained extensive knowledge in Petrov/Bubka technical model
and training theory

Sky Jumpers Pole Vault Camp, Kutztown University, PA
♦ Staff Coach
♦ Attended camp owned and operated by Jan Johnson
♦ Gained extensive knowledge on teaching progressions
♦ Tested new ASTM box collar required by NCAA and NFHS

USA Track & Field Certified Official

MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES

USA Track & Field, Vermont Outdoor Track & Field Committee, Vermont Indoor Track & Field Committee, Vermont Track & Field Officials Association

COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE

♦ USATF Masters Division – Pole Vault
♦ Penn State Varsity Track, University Park, PA
– Pole Vault
♦ Suburban I Pole Vault Champion at Methacton High School, Eagleville, PA

My philosophy is that we must learn the basic skills before attempting to combine them into more complicated skills. With that in mind most of our vaulting is done on shorter poles, shorter grips and shorter runs to decrease the margin of error for learning the skill and to increase the number of successful attempts per workout. Only after the basic skills are learned through numerous repetitions do we progress to the more advanced skills.

All training sessions generally start with a dynamic warm-up that consists of unique exercises that prepare the body for movement. Essential plyometric drills (walking on toes and heels, high knees, high knee butt kicks, high knee skipping and karaoke) lead into some striders to close out the warm-up. Short run (3 lefts/rights or less) drills on the runway start the vaulting portion. Depending on the athlete and their goals, vaulters may progress to longer runs (5-lefts/rights to 8-lefts/rights) or continue working from a shorter 3-left/right or 4-left/right approach. Other off-runway work (pole runs, sand vaulting, speed work or gymnastic work) may also be suggested. A warm down of some light stretching will close out a training session.

Our practices include but are definitely NOT limited to just pole vaulting. Workouts include many of the following:
♦ Working on the approach run (proper first step, sprint mechanics, acceleration, pole drop timing and more)
♦ Strength training, speed training and plyometrics (this will enable you to run faster and jump higher)
♦ Gymnastics including "Bubkas" and swinging "Bubkas"
♦ Tons of drills that mimic every aspect of the vault
♦ Video taped vaults for visual analysis