Club Information
Who can participate?
The Northern Virginia Pole Vault Club is open to athletes of any skill level (minimum age of 7).
If you are a brand-new vaulter, AWESOME! We welcome and encourage beginners – it means you can learn things correctly from the start :-)
Where and when do you practice?
We practice at George Mason University’s Field House for indoor practices (4501 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030). Outdoor practices are on the track located at 4400 University Drive. Park anywhere in front of the field house) or outside on the grandstand side of the track. Practice locations (indoors or out) is indicated when registering.
How do I start practicing with the Northern Virginia Pole Vault Club?
First you must register to be a USA Track and Field (USATF) member. Then register and pay for the session best aligned with your skill and experience in pole vaulting under the Registration page (effective June 2025).
What is USATF, and why do we need to be a member?
USATF is the national governing body for track and field in the United States, and the membership covers supplementary insurance for each athlete during our practices. USATF membership is also required to jump at most open meets during the winter & summer. This is mandatory due to insurance requirements. Here is a link to USATF’s Insurance Information
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A year’s membership in the USATF costs $30 for those 18 and under and $55 for those 19 and up. It covers you until December 31st of the calendar year in which you sign up. The easiest way to sign up for USATF membership is online at the USATF website. As you register, we ask that you list us as your “USATF-Registered Club.” Our club number is 9204 (full club number 10-9204)
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Eventually USATF will send you a membership card, but for our purposes, you just need the number to register online.
Are coaches and parents allowed to attend and watch?
Most definitely! Coaches, parents, and other interested parties are invited and encouraged to attend and observe free of charge. They need not be members of the club or USATF.
What is the cost?
Cost to vault is indicated in the registration. Prices vary for intro lessons, private lessons or group practice sessions.
What if I have never pole vaulted before?
If you are a brand-new vaulter, AWESOME! We welcome and encourage beginners – it means you can learn things correctly from the start :-). You need to sign up for 1 or 2 introductory sessions to acclimate to the sport of pole vault. This introductory session is an orientation to drills and format used during the group sessions. Among the things that will be covered include: Land drills, grip and hand placement, determining the take off foot, proper plant position and timing at a walking/marching pace, proper positions, pole drop, sprinting form, core exercises and partner plant drill. Once these introductory sessions are completed, when the new vaulter joins the regular practice group, they will have the knowledge and confidence to work out with more experienced vaulters. An introductory session is one hour, costs $50. These session will occur at a local track or at GMU as learning these skills and drills do not typically require the use of a pit. Go to the Registration tab to sign up for intro lessons.
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How do we pay?
You pay online when you register.
What do I need to bring?
You will need running shoes (spikes are optional but highly encouraged and okay to use at our facility), workout clothes, and a great “ready-to-learn” attitude. You are welcome to bring a journal to write down information from your practice sessions, such as drills done, poles & grips used, step marks, and all other workout information. It’s always a good idea to bring water whenever you’re working out. There are water fountains in the facility.
Do I need to bring my own poles?
If you have your own pole or are borrowing one from your school, you are welcome to bring it but it cannot be stored at Mason. We have a full line up of poles for you to use when vaulting with our club.
What is the practice format?
All our practice sessions are run by one or more coaches. Each session is comprised of a warm-up, drills, vaulting on the runway, technique training with PV specific training equipment. We keep the coach-athlete ratio low. Our practices are typically capped at 8 athletes, never to exceed 10.
How do I communicate with the club, and how does the club communicate with me?
You may e-mail us at novapolevaultclub@gmail.com. The club will communicate with you based on the contact info you provide during registration.
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How will I know if a practice has been cancelled or changed? Parents and athletes must download the Heja app using our code: VF-037622. This is where the coach will let you know if a practice is cancelled for any reason or share any important information relevant to everyone in the Club.