Acceptance of Helmet Use among National Collegiate Athletic Association Pole-Vaulting Coaches

Abstract

In 2002, two high school athletes and one college athlete died as a result of head injuries sustained while pole-vaulting. In order to determine the opinions and practices of collegiate coaches on a variety of issues concerning polevaulters, including the use of helmets, an anonymous, web-based survey concerning pole-vaulting was sent to a stratified random sample of 50% of Division I, II, and III NCAA track and field coaches. Information collected from coaches included demographic data, coaching experience, coaching techniques, pole-vaulting equipment, and injury/safety information. One hundred and thirty-one (56%) completed surveys were returned from the estimated 233 schools with active pole-vaulting programs. None of the respondent coaches required vaulters to wear helmets during practice, although 59% (95% CI = 50% to 69%) would do so if helmets were designed specifically for pole-vaulting. Results from this survey of NCAA coaches suggest a general acceptance of the idea of helmet use, especially if helmets were to be designed specifically for pole-vaulting and if the practice of helmet use was initiated at the pre-college level. The lack of evidence demonstrating an improvement in safety was one of the most common reasons given for opposing the idea of helmet use