Ethan Senecal, coordinator of Cross Country and Track and Field at Susquehanna University, joins the podcast! Ethan has a wealth of experience from being a decathlete, and coaching at many programs and shares his knowledge with us. Ethan discusses training, recruiting, and even shares his knowledge in hosting successful event. An amazing episode! It may have taken a while to have him on the podcast, but he definitely will be on again.

Episode 102: Ethan Senecal

Calvin Hatman joins the podcast again, and he never disappoints. We discuss how you can grow your club and provide service that will attract more athletes. We discuss short term and long term goals you should have with your club/business. What actually works when trying to grow? How important is social media? What can you do make your athletes happy? 

Do you have athletes that struggle with pull ups and upper body strength? Calvin also goes over his bullet proof plan to get athletes from zero to 10 pull ups! Do not miss it. We have the video on our YouTube channel. 

If you enjoy the podcast please subscribe and share our episodes with friends!

Episode 103 Calvin Hartman How to provide better service for your athletes

Brad Lawrence, owner and operator, of Apex Long Island joins the podcast to discuss the Twitter debate Branko got into with Scott Simpson about specializing in the pole vault. Should people specialize in the pole vault at a young age? Will it cause injury? Should you do multiple sports instead?

Episode 104: Should you specialize in the pole vault

Branko discusses his recent article, How do you program drills into your practices. Branko breaks down three different types of practice, small, medium, and big days. How to structure the practice and how many drills should be done on each type of practice. He also discusses how to choose drills for your athletes depending on deficiencies in their jumps. 

Finally Branko discusses that often the majority of the pole vault community has the wrong perspective. Their advice is often coming from the perspective of trying to get someone to jump olympic heights and not realizing that most of the community is trying to develop into pole vaulters. They need drills and progressions that will help them develop a complete jump, instead of what it takes to jump 19'. 

As always if you enjoy the podcast please share it with a friend and subscribe! And if you have any questions or comments please email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 107: How to Program Drills for Practice

Vaulting for Life! Why would adults pole vault? Calvin Gould one of the adults that train at Apex goes over his reasons why he trains. Calvin has jumped at Apex for over 10 years, through high school, college, and now as an adult, and he goes over his shift in mindset as a vaulter how that has made all the difference for him. His mindset of skill mastery instead of change pr's has made vaulting way more fruitful and satisfying. 

 If you vaulted when you were in high school or college, or always wanted to try, find a pole vault club and see what pole vaulting can do for you!

As always email us with all your comments and questions at apexvaulting@gmail.com, and please share this podcast with your friends and subscribe!

Episode 109 Vaulting for Life Part 2 Calvin Gould

Noah Kaminsky joins the podcast again! Noah discusses his experience coaching large groups at pole vault clinics for the Public School Athletic League in NYC. At times Noah would coach up to 40 plus athletes at a time. How do approach large group training differently? What should the goals be for coaching clinics and camps? Find out in this episode!

As always if you enjoy this episode share with a friend and subscribe! If you have any comments or questions please email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com.

Episode 112: Noah Kaminsky Coaching Clinics and Camps

Have you ever had issues with run throughs? How do you fix the run through problem? In Episode 113 with Robert Plumb we discuss some strategies on how to fix run throughs and how long it will take to fix the issue. 

As always if you enjoy the podcast please subscribe and share! Also if you have any comments or questions please email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 113: How to fix Run Throughs!

Chris Chappell of UCS joins the podcast to discuss the recent World Championships and Mondo's new World Record! I ask Chris How it feels to be the company that provides the poles for so many record breaking performances.

As always if you enjoy the podcast please subscribe and share! Also if you have any comments or questions please email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 114: Chris Chappell of UCS

You can't wait for indoor track and want to have a big year! So what should you be doing right now to give yourself the best shot at having a great season? And what happens if you wait until December to start training? You might be surprised to find out it may be too late to make some of those technical and physical improvements you were hoping to make for this year. Don't wait, start training now!

And if you need any help setting up your training reach out, we can help!

Contact us at apexvaulting@gmail.com.

Episode 115: If you want to have a good indoor season, what should you be doing now?

Have you ever plateaued three quarters of the way through a season? Are you sick of the same practice routine season after season? Maybe what you need is drill variation! In this episode Branko discusses how you can use drill variation to avoid practices getting stale and keep improving your technique and keep pr'ing!

As always if you enjoyed this podcast episode please subscribe and share this episode with a friend! If you have any comments or questions or would like us to help you with your pole vault training email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 116: How drill variation can help you jump higher!

Did you just have an awesome practice? Did you finally get the grip up, master one of the skills of the vault and it felt like everything just clicked? What should you expect for your next practice? What comes next may be suprising.  Often athletes and even young coaches expect a never ending string of excellent practices and meets,  but that's just not reality. In fact we must learn and expect that often those excellent practices and performances at meets are a product of many average, some may even call them boring practices. If you expect this it will be easier to get through the grind!

As always if you value the podcast please subscribe, review, leave a comment and share with a friend! If you have any comments, questions, or you need help with your pole vault training email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com.

Episode 117: What is your expectation for practice?

Strength and Conditioning coach at Defranco’s Gym Calvin Hartman, former Apex Vauliting athlete and coach, joins the podcast to share an amazing new service we are providing at Apex Vaulting. As a former athlete and coach at the club he has experienced first hand what a  strength and conditioning program can do for a pole vaulter. In college he went from being a 14’ HS jumper to hitting 15’9” in college! At Defranco’s Calvin has expanded his knowledge and experience by working with NFL athletes, adult clients, and high school athletes of all sports. He is now bringing this knowdge and experience to Apex by offering Virtual Training options through the Bridge App. And the best part, even if you aren’t an Apex member you can now virtually do our strength and conditioning programs. Hope you enjoy this episode! Please subscribe and share it with a friend! And if you want to take you pole vaulting to the next level you need to sign up for our Programming. Get all your workouts, an exercise library of videos and cues and even virtual feedback from a coach all on your phone!

Email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com for more information.

Episode 118: Strength and Conditioning options for Pole Vault

I  think if you're anything like me you want to know that you are doing your absolute best. And maybe that's what draws us to the vault. With all the technique there is to master, physical improvements we can make through training, there really are so many different variables we can continually work on to improve. The journey never really ends.  On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 you're only scratching the surface, 10 you are squeezing every inch out of your jump, how do you rate your jump? Are you really trying your best?

What are the metrics you use to rate yourself. Check out this episode for more context and perspective on this question, and discover what you should be considering when you try and rate your jump!

If you enjoy the podcast please subscribe and share it with a friend that you think will find it helpful! Thanks for listening!

Episode 119: How do you rate your jump?

If you have never pole vaulted before going to your first practice session might seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! In today's podcast episode we go over what beginners should expect at their first practice. And if you are a coach or club owner and don't have a pole vault structured warm up, make sure to take notes and email us if you need help designing your warm up structure to not only help onboard new athletes but help current ones continue to refine the foundational skills of the vault at every practice session!

If you enjoyed the episode please share with a friend and subscribe! If you have any comments or questions please feel free to email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 120 What to expect at your first pole vault practice

In this episode Branko covers recent videos posted on the invert and getting "stuck in the bucket." As explained in those videos working on developing the needed strength and speed for each skill in the vault is needed, and doing the drills required to work on aspects of the vault has to be done to master skill. Doing full jumps from longer approaches and trying hard will get you no where fast. 

On that note Branko also discusses what really causes run throughs and what to expect if you want to solve your run through issues.

If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to us if you subscribed and shared this episode on your own social media! Thanks for listening and email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com with any of your comments or questions.

Episode 121 Skill and Physical development are the answer to your Pole Vault Problems

In this episode Branko is joined by Lilly Brown and Calvin Gould. They discuss what it is like to jump as adults. Lilly is currently in law school and Calvin is an Engineer. They discuss the shift in perspective from being highly driven and competitive athletes at the high school and collegiate level to now using the vault as an outlet and way of staying in shape. They share their insights and of course the importance of community and culture of positivity and growth being one of the major reasons for continuing to vault. 

As always if you enjoy the podcast please subscribe and leave a comment!
And if you have any questions please feel free to email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 122 Can you Vault as an Adult?

In this episode two high school athletes at the club, Bella and Alex, join the podcast and discuss how the strength app helped add the speed and strength they needed to get higher grips, bigger poles, further out mids, and new personal records! Can the strength app help you?

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend! And your comments also help promote the podcast and email us with any comments or questions! apexvaulting@gmail.com

Ep. 123 Can Strength&Conditioning help you run faster, get on bigger poles, and jump higher?

We have the great honor of hosting Scott Kendricks, coach and father, of Olympic Silver medalist Sam Kedricks on the podcast today! I made a recent post about Sam's exceptional push off, how high above your grip you jump, and Scott joined us to discuss their philosophy of jumping and how Sam continues to produce 19' plus jumps on only a 16' pole. Technique and tracking date are definitely important, and this is definitely a must listen! Thanks for joining us Scott! 

Please share, subscribe, and comment!

Episode 124 Scott Kendricks: It's all about technique!

In this episode Head Coach Jessi Juarez joins the podcast to discuss the realities of coaching Track and Field. Often in Track a Field coaches get thrust into the role of coaching events they didn't compete in. This is just the reality of what happens in the real world of high school and college track. What are the resources and what approach should you take? Jessi and I go over the perspective you need and advice on how to approach what seems like an impossible task. If you don't come from a vault background it can seem very intimidating to work with vaulters, but if you search out for people willing to help and learn to sift through all the minutia you too can help the vaulters on your team! 

Please share this podcast with someone who can find it helpful and subscribe, review, and comment! And as always if you need help or would like to comment or ask a questions directly, email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 125: Resources and Approach for Coaching the Vault

Apex Vaulting coach Branko Miric sits down for a highly technical discussion with Roman Botcharnikov. Roman coached Olympic Silver Medalist Lawrence Johnson to a Silver Medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He has also developed the M640 pole vault model which he discusses in detail.

The Apex Vaulting Podcast

Episode 1: Roman Botcharnikov

Apex Vaulting coach Branko Miric sits down with former University of Tennessee pole vault coach Jim Bemiller to discuss coaching philosophies and the recent Olympics. Jim coached Lawrence Johnson and Tim Mack as students at the University of Tennessee, the latter of which he coached to a Gold Medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Jim also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in sports law and sports governance at the University of Tennessee.

Episode 2: Jim Bemiller

In this episode Branko Miric sits down with Jason Church, the current pole vault and jumps coach at Southern Regional High School in New Jersey where he has coached a State Champion. He is also a former college coach who has produced a NCAA Division II National Champion and 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier. On the podcast Branko and Jason talk about the current club-high school dynamic as well as the major difference between coaching collegiate athletes and high school athletes.

Episode 4: Jason Church

In this episode Branko sits down with Vertical Assault coach Mike Lawyrk. Vertical Assault is a very successful pole vaulting club in Pennsylvania. Branko and Mike discuss how to develop a coaching system and coaching style for both a club and a college team.

Episode 5: Mike Lawryk

From Division III Indoor Nationals Branko sits down with SUNY Brockport coaches Ed Jaskulski and Andy Fetzner. Ed is the throws coach as well as the strength and conditioning coach, and Andy coaches the pole vault at Brockport.

Episode 8: Andy Fetzner and Ed Jaskulski

From NCAA D3 Nationals Branko sits down with Katerina Stefanidi 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Women's Pole Vault. They discuss the nature of progress as an athlete at difference experience levels, the importance of a technical approach to all aspects of the vault, fostering competitiveness in track and field, and much more!

Episode 13: Katerina Stefanidi

From Birmingham, Alabama, the first part of a two part episode Branko recorded with Samford pole vaulter and USATF Championships 8th place finisher Tray Oates. They talk about how pole vaulting is presented on social media, how Tray got to where he is today, lifting vs. not, and much more.

Episode 16, Part I: Tray Oates

A meeting of the minds straight from Sin City itself. In this guest packed episode Branko talks with Shawn Francis, Michael Cyphers, April Steiner Bennett, and Sandi Morris about the where the pole vault community is and where it should be going.

Episode 18: Las Vegas

Branko and Joe sit down to discuss the concept of an "industry standard" that applies to the pole vault as far as technique, training, and the sport as a whole.

Branko Miric's Album

Episode 20: Joe "JoeBro" Oliveri

Do you use Dj's mid chart? Have you ever looked at all the info on DJ's Mid Chart? Branko explains how you can use more than just mids from the mid chart to help you coach your athletes to be the best vaulters they can be!

Mid Chart Rant

Want to know what its like to win NCAA's? Well Chris Nilsen joins the podcast and fills us in on what it felt like to double pr and win the NCAA championship.

Episode 61: Chris Nilsen

Jeff Coover joins the podcast to discuss The Ultimate Garden Clash, where Renaud Lavillenie, Mondo Duplantis, and Sam Kendricks competed to see who could clear 16'4" the most times. We discuss the tie, what was good, and what could be better. We also go off on many tangents and discuss a slew of topics. Great conversation, enjoy!

Episode 85: Jeff Coover

Matt Barry of Pole Vault Atlanta joins the podcast. We discuss what reopening a pole vault club might look like depending on your region and situation. We also discuss the importance of viewing coaching through an education lens. Awesome episode! Enjoy!

Episode 86: Matt Barry PV Atlanta

The great Shawn Francis and Colin Waitzman join the podcast to discuss the state of Pole Vault today! Are the Olympics or Track and Field holding back our sport? Also we answer some listener questions on this episode! Keep those questions coming and have your questions answered on the podcast! Email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com

Episode 94: Shawn Francis and Colin Waitzman

Alex Curran, head coach and business owner of Next Step Pole Vault Club, joins the podcast to tell us about signing for his first indoor facility! Alex discusses his inspiration and journey from becoming a pole vaulter, coach, and now proud club coach and small business owner! He discusses some of the concerns, struggles, and fears of getting an indoor facility. This is one of my all time favorite episodes and we will certainly have Alex on again! If you have any comments and questions about this or any episode please email us at apexvaulting@gmail.com. We are doing weekly episodes now and will be answering as many listener questions as we can! If you enjoy the podcast please make sure to like, share and subscribe! Thanks!

Episode 96: Alex Curran (Getting an Indoor Facility)

The official podcast of Apex Vaulting. Apex is a pole vaulting club in northern New Jersey. On the podcast we'll sit down for conversations with Apex owner and coach Branko Miric and various figures in the pole vault community as well as others who we feel have knowledge or insight to contribute to the sport pole vaulting.

The Apex Vaulting Podcast

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