Psychological Factors Associated with Pole Vault Performance: Current Understanding, Future Directions, and Applied Implications

Pole vault is one of the most technically complex and psychologically demanding events in track and field athletics, yet the psychological factors associated with performance remain underexamined within the sport science literature. This critical narrative review synthesises pole-vault-specific evidence and conceptually relevant research from sport psychology, motor control, and perceptual–motor performance to evaluate current understanding of psychological constructs associated with pole vault performance. Structured searches of PubMed, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and Scopus were supplemented by backward and forward citation tracking and thematic synthesis. Database searching identified 24 records; 18 unique records remained after deduplication, 13 full-text sources were assessed for eligibility, and 11 pole-vault-specific sources were retained in the core synthesis. A structured literature search was combined with citation tracking and thematic synthesis. The review focuses on preparation routines, self-efficacy and confidence, fear and anxiety, trauma-related disruption, attentional control, reinvestment, automaticity, and personality traits. The available evidence suggests that psychological states and dispositions may interact with perception–action coupling and movement organisation in pole vault, particularly given the event’s technical complexity and inherent physical risk. However, the evidence base remains limited, with many findings derived from small samples, correlational designs, conference proceedings, theses, case reports, or research transferred from related performance domains. Consequently, causal claims should be treated cautiously. The review proposes a preliminary psychological reference framework to organise existing evidence and guide future empirical work. Key priorities include sport-specific measurement development, longitudinal and intervention-based designs, integration of psychological and biomechanical data, and ecologically valid research conducted in training and competition contexts. Applied recommendations are offered as provisional guidance for coaches and practitioners, with particular caution around fear, trauma-related disruption, and return-to-vault interventions.