POLE VAULT LANDING PADS

The NFHS rules committee has adopted the following requirements relative to the pole vault landing pad on the advice of the American Society for Testing and Measurements (ASTM).  They include:

  1. Minimum width of the pad shall be 19'8".

  2. Minimum length of the pad shall be 20'5" from the front edge of the vaulting box to the back of the pad.  There must be 16'5" of landing pad behind the vault box.

  3. The height (or thickness) of the landing pad shall be a minimum of 26".

  4. A collar shall be placed around the vault box to help minimize injuries by vaulters falling into the box.

  5. A coaching box shall be painted on the cover of the landing pad that is 8' deep and 10' wide.  The box shall start 3'6" back from the back of the back edge of the vault box.  (The purpose of the coaching box is to serve as a guide to help coaches and athletes make good decisions and performance adjustments).

Posted 9-14-02