Sky diving and bungee jumping are considered daredevil activities. But pole vaulting?

According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina, from 1983 to 2000 there was one death each year from pole vaulting-related injuries.

In less than two months, three vaulters have lost their lives due to head trauma suffered during practice and competition. The most talked about is Penn State athlete Kevin Dare. The other two were high school students Jesus Quesada of Clewiston, Fla., and Samoa Fili II of Wichita, Kan.

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Ed Dare, Kevin’s father, has been campaigning for the mandatory use of helmets since his son’s tragic accident and legislation is pending in New York. Dare has also been added to the U.S. Track and Field Association safety committee that will meet in May to discuss safety recommendations.

Jill Geer, the director of communications for USA Track and Field, said that if vaulters had to wear helmets there would have to be specific helmets made because any helmet on the market today would not be able to protect the athlete the way it should.

SIU men’s track and field head coach Cameron Wright said a safety helmet would be alright, but the use of them should be left to the athlete.

Wright’s biggest concern is the manufacturing of helmets and their specific compatibility for vaulting.

If there is going to be mandatory helmets then they need to be strong enough to protect and not restrict the head during competition, Wright said.

Other issues that are being discussed by the committee are guidelines for the size of landing areas, the padding box and the 8-inch-deep box where the pole is planted.

Specific recommendations are not available, but currently landing pits are 21 1/2 feet wide and 24 feet long. There is anticipation that this will be widened because an athlete may lose balance and veer too far out in any direction and not be protected by the mats.

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Geer said that not only does the committee need to look into the use of helmets, but also equipment safety and coaches’ education.

Coaches have to go through three levels of certification for safety education, Geer said. They have to pass a test on general safety rules, equipment and know about the immediate vicinity around the vaulting area.

The certification that coaches have to go through is not only for their own education, but also to ensure the athletes that are being trained by these coaches know and understand the proper techniques for the event.

Mandatory helmets for vaulters is an issue that has been discussed many times before, but hasn’t come to the forefront of the sport until now.

It’s a dangerous sport, Wright said. If [a helmet] can save a kid’s life and not restrict the athlete, then why not.

Reporter Samantha Robinson can be reached at [email protected]