The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Most pole vault safety problems do not begin with one dramatic failure.

They begin with a small tear that gets ignored. A vault box collar that is never inspected. A concern that is noticed but never documented—or corrected.

In this episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down seven inspection mistakes that can create unnecessary risk for coaches, schools, and athletes.

🏃 Why a casual “it looks okay” is not a real inspection
🔍 What coaches may miss when they only look at the vinyl
📝 Why inspection logs matter
🛠️ What should happen after a safety concern is discovered
📅 A simple before-season, in-season, and post-season inspection rhythm

The goal of an inspection is not to find problems. It is to prevent injuries and make sure athletes have a safer place to train and compete.

Press play before your next pole vault inspection.