When is a pole vault a failure?
B · Beginner · The jump · 2 of 4A vault fails if the bar comes off its pegs because of what the athlete did while vaulting. It also fails if the athlete or the pole touches the ground beyond the back of the box before clearing the bar, if the athlete moves their hands up the pole after take-off, or if they steady the bar with a hand.
How it works
- The bar comes off: an athlete fails if "after the vault, the bar does not remain on both pegs because of the action of an athlete whilst vaulting".
- Past the box without clearing: an athlete fails if "any part of their body, or the pole, touches the ground, including the landing area, beyond the vertical plane through the back end of the box", without first clearing the bar.
- Climbing the pole: an athlete fails if "after leaving the ground, they place their lower hand above the upper one or move the upper hand higher on the pole".
- Holding the bar: an athlete fails if "during the vault, they steady or replace the bar with their hand(s)".
- Not a failure, the runway lines: running outside the white lines of the runway.
- Not a failure, the pole on the mat: the pole touching the landing area during a trial after it has been properly planted in the box.
- Touching the pole afterwards: once the pole is released, nobody, the athlete included, may touch it unless it is falling away from the bar and uprights. If it is touched and the referee thinks the bar would otherwise have been knocked off, the vault is a failure.
- A broken pole: "it shall not be counted as a failure and they shall be awarded a replacement trial".
- Wind or another outside force: if the bar is knocked off by something other than the athlete after a clean clearance, the trial is successful. In any other case a replacement trial is given.
- The flags: white for a valid trial and red for a failure.
Tricky cases
The vaulter clears the bar and the pole then falls forward and knocks it off. Is that a failure?
Yes, as the rule is normally applied. The bar came off through the athlete's vault, and nobody may catch the pole to prevent it.
A vaulter runs up, does not like the plant and runs through without taking off. Have they failed?
It depends on where they went. The commentary says they may return and try again if time remains and nothing touched the ground beyond the back of the box.
The vaulter's hand brushes the bar on the way over and it stays on. Is that steadying it?
No. The commentary says there has to be a direct action to steady or replace the bar, not an incidental touch.
The pole snaps during the vault. Does the trial count?
No. It is not a failure and a replacement trial is awarded.
Why the rule exists
The hand rules keep the event a vault. An athlete who could climb the pole or hold the bar in place would be doing something else. The rule about catching the pole exists because a falling pole can knock the bar off, and nobody should be able to rescue a failed vault by grabbing it.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 28.2; TR 28.4; TR 28.5; TR 26.10 |
| High jump | The line is the bar itself, and there are no hand rules | TR 27.2 |
| Time | Running out of time before starting the trial is also recorded as a failure | TR 25.17 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 25.8, 25.17, 26.10, 28.2, 28.4 and 28.5 with the commentary printed under rule 28. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).