What is the purpose of the level three vault?

[Geoffrey Taucer]

The primary things a gymnast needs to learn in order to become a good vaulter are:
-Hitting the springboard with the chest up
-Driving the heels
-Extending the shoulders for a good block

The level 3 dive roll vault is, in my opinion, an extremely effective way of teaching kids to:
-Drop the chest forward on the springboard
-Pike and make no attempt to drive the heels
-Break the shoulder angle and avoid blocking

Is there some hidden reasoning behind this vault that I'm not seeing, or is it genuinly a completely idiotic vault?

[CoachL]

alot of the progression in the USAG lvl 1-3 program make no sense. The level 1 and 2 bars stuff makes me scratch my head.

[hammy]

Personally--I believe the level 3 vault is a regression. You're absoultely right GT, and for that reason I really try to work on drills for the level 4 vault with my level 3s then practice the level 3 vault a day or two before a meet (if they're competing) or every once in a while if they're just "passing through the levels." USAG is slowly getting better about creating routines that are progressive--which is a good sign.

[gracefulone]

Yes it is fairly pointless. The other thing I don't get is the floor routine where there's a round-off and then a run back. Isn't a controlled stuck round-off a little more important?

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gracefulone Yes it is fairly pointless. The other thing I don't get is the floor routine where there's a round-off and then a run back. Isn't a controlled stuck round-off a little more important?

This I will disagree with; if you do a roundoff correctly, you should have too much power for a controlled stick.

In fact, I dislike the level 3 bars routine for a similar reason: cast, back hip circle, stop in support. If you do a correct cast followed by a correct back hip circle, there is no way it's going to just stop in support.

[CoachLin]

Just wondering about how the USAG level system works...in Ontario our level 3's vault handspring flatback,and they start this at level 2...when they progress to level 4 it's a regular front handspring vault....how do you start from level 2 up to 4 in USAG? I read about the dive roll vault for level 3....I'm just curious as I have never read/seen requirements before.

[bogwoppit]

The Us system has a

forward roll onto a mat block using a spring board at level 3

fhs onto mat block at level 4

fhs vault for level 5 & 6 & usually 7

I am in quebec we have just begun

fhs onto mat block for P1

FHS on vault for P2

In our school system we have

FHS onto mat block for CR3 (P1)

FHS over vault onto mat stack (20cm's higher) CR3 Avancee - over grade 5 only.

Fhs over vault CR3 Specialiste - High school only


It also appears that in the US that vault table height can be adjusted by the coach. Here in Quebec all girls have to use the same board, no spring changes allowed (even if you weigh 50 pounds or 150 pounds!!!)

I also do not get the value of the USAG level 3 vault, but than I also do not see the point of competitng before level 5, as the level 4 bar routine is horrible top watch even when done well, it just doesn't flow or make sense.

[hammy]

GT--I agree with you on the r/o run out part--it's important that kids learn how to have a powerful r/o. As far as the cast back hip circle--I kind of go both ways. The kids should be able to swing properly and have power out of their back hip circle. However, I also believe that it is important for kids to be able to control their skills, and having them stop on top (in support) is one way to help the kids learn control; instead of learning how to swing around the bar without being able to stop.

[BlairBob]

Yep, I dislike a lot of the level 3 and 4 vaulting in the WAG in the US. Not that all gyms work the level 3 vault before 4, but I see the same errors in both. While the coaches can yell their heads off about not leaning off the board, it happens all the time in 4 and really slows their progress into level 5.

Ever do the forward roll out of a straight jump onto stacked mats drill? Basically stack the mats shoulder height or higher.

We do the jump from a block to mini tramp handstand flatback a lot at lower levels. The difference between a flatback and a roll out isn't much if they hit handstand.

On tumbl-trak I like to drill knee drop, heel drive to handstand; keeping the chest up, arms covering ears. I don't let them cheat by jumping forward to the knee drop. At first they get to do it roll out but eventually I have them flatback it, even if they bounce off the trak towards the ceiling in a candle position.

I can understand the level 1 and 2 vault. Heck, I can even understand the roll out vault as a progression beyond a squat-on. However, both take a lot of drilling and there is a lot of leaning off the board with both these vaults.

[zeng13]

I coach the level 3's and i agree with the r/o run back. I think its a great idea to get the child to learn powerful backwards motion out to help create a longer faster backhandspring.

The vault is ridiculous I just teach a handstand flat back b/c I dont want my gymnasts diving into a mat. I want them to learn to stand up on the bpard. They also find it much easier to to the handstand rather than the dive roll.

Does any other level 3 coachs have any tips about teaching the bar dismount. My gymnasts have the hardest tiem with that!!!!