Call

Juniors, seniors, athletes & families

College Pole Vault Recruiting Guide

For AZPVA juniors, seniors, athletes and families. 2026–27. Updated September 27, 2026.

Purpose

This guide is designed to help an AZPVA athlete understand where they may fit athletically, how college recruiting actually works, how scholarships and roster limits work, and how to contact programs intelligently.

Updated September 27, 2026. College track recruiting changes frequently. Always verify rules with the governing body and verify staff assignments on the school’s official athletics website before contacting a coach.

1. Start here: how to find your athletic fit

Do not use one universal “walk-on standard” for an entire division. Pole-vault recruiting varies dramatically by school, roster needs, academics, conference level, budget, and whether a program truly invests in the vault.

Use TFRRS first:

  • Go to https://www.tfrrs.org/
  • Search the school or division.
  • Open the current indoor and outdoor performance lists.
  • Look at the school’s current pole vaulters, especially freshmen and sophomores.
  • Look at how many vaulters the program carries, their PRs, conference scoring level, and whether the program consistently develops athletes.
  • Search “School Name Track & Field TFRRS” to get there quickly.

A useful way to think about a school:

  • REACH: Your current PR is below most of the roster, but your trajectory, academics or other qualities may make you recruitable.
  • COMPETITIVE FIT: Your PR is in the range of current rostered vaulters.
  • HIGH-IMPACT FIT: Your PR would already rank near the top of the program or score in the conference.

2026 examples of national-level depth — NOT recruiting standards:

  • NCAA DI men: the 2026 outdoor national qualifying list was led at 5.84 m / 19'2".
  • NCAA DII men: the 2026 outdoor list was led at 5.60 m / 18'4.5".
  • NCAA DIII men: the 2026 outdoor list was led at 5.28 m / 17'3.75".
  • NCAA DI women: the 2026 NCAA champion cleared 4.84 m / 15'10.5" in the final.
  • NCAA DII women: the 2026 NCAA champion cleared 4.25 m / 13'11.25".
  • NCAA DIII women: the top 2026 outdoor qualifying mark was 4.11 m / 13'5.75".
  • NAIA women: the 2026 national champion cleared 4.28 m / 14'0.5".

These marks show the ceiling of each level, not what it takes to join a roster. Use the full TFRRS list and the school’s roster to judge fit.

TFRRS outdoor lists: https://www.tfrrs.org/outdoor_lists.html

2. Scholarships, roster limits, and financial aid

NCAA Division I

The old “12.6 men’s scholarships / 18 women’s scholarships” framework is outdated for Division I schools operating under the House-settlement model.

For Division I schools subject to or opting into the House settlement:

  • NCAA sport-specific scholarship caps were removed.
  • Men’s indoor track, men’s outdoor track, women’s indoor track and women’s outdoor track each have a 45-athlete roster limit.
  • A school may choose to award athletics scholarships to any or all athletes on its declared roster, but the NCAA rule does not mean every track program funds 45 full scholarships.
  • Actual athletics aid depends on the school’s budget, institutional strategy, Title IX obligations, roster construction and other factors.

When talking to a DI coach, ask:

“What does your track program’s scholarship and roster model look like under the current NCAA rules, and how is pole vault funded within that model?”

Official NCAA House-settlement / roster references:

NCAA Division II

Division II remains a partial-scholarship environment in many programs. Scholarship availability differs substantially by school. Do not assume a program is fully funded.

NCAA Division III

Division III schools do not award athletics scholarships. However, many DIII institutions provide substantial academic, merit and need-based aid. For strong students, the net price of a DIII school can sometimes be competitive with scholarship offers elsewhere.

NAIA

NAIA schools may award athletics aid, and scholarship packaging varies by institution. Athletes who plan to compete in the NAIA must work through the NAIA Eligibility Center at PlayNAIA.

NAIA prospective athlete information:

NJCAA / junior college

Junior colleges can be excellent options for development, academics, cost control and transfer opportunities. Scholarship rules vary by NJCAA division and school, so athletes should ask the specific college what tuition, fees, books, housing and meals may be covered.

Important financial advice

  • Full athletic scholarships for a pole vaulter should never be assumed.
  • Ask about academic merit aid, honors scholarships, need-based aid and institutional grants.
  • Compare NET COST, not the headline scholarship amount.
  • Ask whether athletic aid is guaranteed for one year or renewable and what standards apply to renewal.
  • Ask what happens to athletic aid if you are injured, stop competing, transfer, or the coaching staff changes.
  • A smaller athletic scholarship at a school with stronger academic aid can produce a better total package.

3. NCAA recruiting timeline — track & field

For NCAA Division I, the general rule permits recruiting materials and electronic correspondence beginning June 15 at the conclusion of the athlete’s sophomore year. Telephone calls also generally may begin at that point.

Off-campus contact is generally later. NCAA legislation is actively evolving, and a 2026 track-and-field-specific proposal addresses the timing of off-campus contact. Treat the NCAA recruiting calendar and current bylaw database as the final authority rather than relying on an old handout.

Official NCAA recruiting page: https://www.ncaa.org/eligibility-center/recruiting/

Current electronic correspondence rule: https://web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/bylaw?refDate=20250830&ruleId=695

Official visits

For sports such as track and field, an expense-paid official visit generally may not occur before August 1 of the athlete’s junior year. NCAA rules have changed over time regarding visit limits, so verify the current rule before planning travel.

Unofficial visits

Prospects may generally make an unlimited number of unofficial visits at their own expense.

4. NCAA eligibility — important 2026 change

Do not rely on the old simple explanation of “four seasons of competition in five years plus a redshirt.”

NCAA Division I and Division II adopted a new age-based eligibility framework beginning in 2026–27.

General concept:

  • The NCAA uses a continuous five-year eligibility period.
  • The five-year period begins with the earlier of initial full-time college enrollment or the age-based trigger tied to the academic year after the athlete turns 19.
  • The clock does not simply stop because an athlete redshirts, transfers, takes time away or does not compete.
  • Dual enrollment while still in high school generally does not start the eligibility period by itself.
  • Fall 2026 entrants and current athletes are in a transition period.
  • The new model is fully implemented for prospects initially enrolling full-time in fall 2027 or later.

This is a major change. Athletes considering a gap year, delayed enrollment, a mission, military service, injury-related eligibility questions, junior college, or unusual enrollment timing should speak directly with the college compliance office.

Official NCAA eligibility explanation:

5. NCAA Eligibility Center

If you plan to compete at an NCAA Division I or Division II school, create the appropriate NCAA Eligibility Center account.

NCAA now distinguishes between account types. DI and DII recruits generally need an Academic and Athletics Certification account, particularly when being recruited, taking an official visit, signing athletics aid or preparing for initial eligibility certification.

Register here: https://www.ncaa.org/eligibility-center/register/

Do not describe the process to a coach as the “NCAA Clearinghouse” only; the modern name is the NCAA Eligibility Center.

6. The recruiting process — AZPVA recommended workflow

Step 1 — Build your athlete profile

Have this ready:

  • Full name
  • High school and graduation year
  • City and state
  • Current pole vault PR — metric and imperial
  • Indoor PR if different
  • GPA
  • Intended major or academic interests
  • SAT/ACT if relevant to the school
  • NCAA Eligibility Center ID when available
  • Coach contact information
  • One short video link showing recent vaulting
  • TFRRS / Athletic.net / MileSplit profile as applicable
  • A simple one-page athletic résumé is optional but useful

Step 2 — Build a school list

Start with academics and finances, not just track.

Create three groups:

  • Reach schools
  • Competitive-fit schools
  • High-impact schools

For every school, record:

  • Major offered?
  • Estimated net price?
  • Division?
  • Current vault coach?
  • Current men’s/women’s PV roster?
  • Top current vaulters?
  • Conference scoring marks?
  • Recruiting questionnaire completed?
  • Coach emailed?
  • Follow-up date?
  • Visit status?
  • Scholarship / aid notes?

Step 3 — Check the program

Before emailing:

  • Search the school on TFRRS.
  • Check the official track roster.
  • Find the current pole vault / jumps coach on the official athletics staff directory.
  • Confirm the coach is still there.
  • Check whether the program currently carries your gender/event.
  • Fill out the school’s official recruiting questionnaire.

Step 4 — Email the coach

Keep it short and easy to scan.

Sample email

Subject: 2027 Pole Vault Recruit — [Name] — [PR]

Coach [Last Name],

My name is [Name], and I’m a [graduation year] pole vaulter from [high school, city/state]. My current PR is [height], my GPA is [GPA], and I’m interested in studying [major/academic area].

I’ve been researching [School] and your track & field program and would like to learn more about your pole vault group and what you look for in recruits. I included a recent vault video and my results profile below.

PR:
GPA:
Graduation year:
Video:
Results profile:
Phone:
Email:

Thank you for your time,
[Name]

Step 5 — Follow up

If there is no response, follow up politely in roughly 7–14 days. Coaches receive large volumes of recruiting messages. One unanswered email does not automatically mean “not interested.”

Step 6 — Phone / video call

Be ready to discuss:

  • Your athletic history and goals.
  • Academic goals and intended major.
  • Current training situation.
  • Why the school interests you.
  • Your timeline.
  • Financial considerations.
  • Whether the coach sees you as a recruited athlete, roster candidate or developmental prospect.

Questions you should ask:

  • Who directly coaches the pole vaulters?
  • How many men/women vaulters do you expect to carry next year?
  • What marks are you targeting in this recruiting class?
  • What does your current scholarship model look like?
  • How are poles transported, stored and purchased?
  • Does the program provide poles?
  • How often does the vault group practice?
  • What does strength training look like?
  • What is the typical travel roster?
  • What happens if the event coach leaves?
  • What majors are difficult to combine with team travel?
  • What academic support is available?
  • What percentage of the team stays through graduation?
  • Where do your vaulters typically improve from freshman to senior year?

Step 7 — Visit

Official and unofficial visits are not “the same thing.”

  • Official visit = the institution provides permitted expenses under NCAA rules.
  • Unofficial visit = the prospect pays their own expenses, subject to NCAA rules regarding what the school may provide.

During a visit, talk to current athletes without the coach standing beside you if possible. Ask what training, academics, communication and team culture are actually like.

7. What coaches typically need from you

Expect requests for:

  • Unofficial transcript
  • NCAA Eligibility Center information
  • Video
  • Verified results
  • Graduation year
  • Intended major
  • Academic profile
  • Competition schedule
  • Contact information for your club/high-school coach

Be honest. Never inflate a mark, claim a bar that was not cleared, alter video, or hide relevant eligibility information.

8. Verified pole vault program starter list

Staff assignments change. This list was checked against official athletics sources in September 2026 and is intended only as a starting point.

NCAA Division I

University of Washington — Seattle, WA

  • Toby Stevenson — Associate Head Coach, Jumps/Vault/Multis
  • Tim Reilly — Assistant Coach, Pole Vault
  • 2026 NCAA women’s champion Amanda Moll and runner-up Hana Moll were Washington vaulters.

Staff: https://gohuskies.com/sports/track-and-field/coaches

University of Kansas — Lawrence, KS

  • Tom Hays — Associate Head Coach / Vertical Jumps
  • Kansas produced multiple elite vaulters in 2026, including Anthony Meacham and NCAA indoor champion Ashton Barkdull.

Athletics: https://kuathletics.com/

Utah State — Logan, UT

  • Erik Rasmussen — Associate Head Coach; jumps / combined events
  • Coached 2026 NCAA outdoor runner-up Logan Hammer.

Athletics: https://utahstateaggies.com/

Other DI programs worth researching through current TFRRS + official staff pages:

  • Akron
  • Arkansas State
  • Cornell
  • Houston
  • Kent State
  • Kentucky
  • Nebraska
  • New Mexico
  • Penn
  • Princeton
  • South Dakota
  • South Dakota State
  • Stanford
  • Texas State
  • Utah Valley
  • Virginia Tech
  • Washington State

NCAA Division II

Harding — Searcy, AR

  • Strong current men’s vault results; verify the current event-coach assignment directly through staff/recruiting contact.

Athletics: https://hardingsports.com/

Other DII programs worth researching:

  • Pittsburg State
  • Ashland
  • Central Missouri
  • Fort Hays State
  • Fresno Pacific
  • Missouri Southern
  • Cal Poly Humboldt

NCAA Division III

Washington University in St. Louis — St. Louis, MO

  • Lane Lohr — Assistant Coach; long history coaching pole vault
  • 2026 NCAA men’s outdoor champion Peter Lichtenberger competed for WashU.

Athletics: https://washubears.com/

Other DIII programs worth researching:

  • North Central College
  • UW–Oshkosh
  • UW–Stout
  • MIT
  • Ursinus
  • University of Chicago
  • Pacific Lutheran
  • Nazareth
  • Southern Maine

Remember: NCAA Division III does not provide athletics scholarships.

NAIA

Programs worth researching through TFRRS and their current staff directories:

  • Indiana Tech
  • Bethel (Indiana)
  • Carroll College (Montana)
  • Oregon Tech
  • Siena Heights
  • Friends University
  • University of British Columbia

NAIA athlete eligibility: https://www.naia.org/student-athletes/prospective/high-school-students/

Junior college / two-year options

Arizona / Southwest starting points:

  • Mesa Community College
  • Glendale Community College
  • Pima Community College
  • South Plains College
  • Mt. SAC

Additional national programs to investigate:

  • Hutchinson Community College
  • Vincennes University

For junior colleges, verify:

  • NJCAA division
  • Current track sponsorship
  • Current pole vault coach
  • Scholarship limits for that division
  • Housing availability
  • Transfer pathways
  • Whether your intended credits transfer cleanly to likely four-year schools

9. Important pole-vault-specific questions most recruiting guides miss

Ask:

  • Does the school own a complete pole series for my current and projected body weight / grip?
  • Who pays for replacement poles?
  • Can athletes travel with poles on team flights, and how does the program handle pole shipping?
  • Is there an indoor runway/pit?
  • Can I vault year-round?
  • Does the pole vault coach travel to most competitions?
  • Does the program recruit vaulters every year or only when roster spots open?
  • What is the coach-to-vaulter ratio?
  • Does the school support post-collegiate vaulting?
  • If I am a multi-event athlete, will I be developed primarily as a vaulter, multi, or both?

10. Red flags

Be cautious when:

  • Nobody can clearly tell you who will coach the vault.
  • The staff directory and what you are being told do not match.
  • A coach guarantees future scholarship increases verbally but will not explain the written aid process.
  • A school pressures you to commit before you understand admissions or the financial package.
  • The program has no suitable poles and expects you to provide an entire series without discussing cost.
  • You are told not to speak with current athletes.
  • The academic program you want cannot realistically coexist with practice/travel and nobody will address it.
  • The school quotes an old NCAA rule when you ask about current scholarship, roster or eligibility rules.

11. Final AZPVA advice

Recruiting is proactive. Do not wait for coaches to find you.

Your goal is not simply to attend the highest NCAA division possible. Your goal is to find a school where:

  • You can afford to graduate.
  • You can study what you want.
  • You have a coach who understands your event.
  • You have access to the equipment and facilities needed to improve.
  • You will have a realistic opportunity to compete.
  • You like the people and would still want to attend if track disappeared tomorrow.

Cast a wide net. A great fit can exist in DI, DII, DIII, NAIA or junior college.

12. Official / primary reference links

Quarterly maintenance checklist

Every quarter, verify:

  • NCAA recruiting-contact dates and track-specific recruiting calendar changes.
  • NCAA eligibility / gap-year rules.
  • DI House-settlement roster and scholarship rules.
  • NAIA eligibility and financial-aid guidance.
  • NJCAA scholarship / recruiting rules.
  • TFRRS current season competitive depth.
  • Every named pole vault coach and staff assignment.
  • Whether each listed school still sponsors the event and carries vaulters.
  • Broken links.
  • Any new high-quality vault programs that should be added.

This guide is educational and should not replace the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, a university compliance office, admissions office or financial-aid office when a rule affects an athlete’s eligibility or money.