Back up vault?

[Aussie_coach]

The system is a little confusing in Australia. For level 1, 2 and 3 every level has a set core vault and a set core routine on each apparatus. They have a start value of 5.0 if they are fully completed to requirements (which means the whole routine is out of 15.0, with the 10.0 execution score).

But then there are bonus vaults, routines and skills. They are harder and the kids get a higher start value. So the kids can compete the core skills and/or the bonus skills.

For example

Level 2 C vault - Kick to handstand fall to flat back on 30 cms crash mats (start value 5.0)
Level 2 B vault - Hanspring to flat back (hands on mats) on 60 cm's of crash mats (start value 6.0)
Level 2 A vault - Front tuck saulto onto 60 cm's of crash mats (start value 7.0)

Basically there are higher points of course for higher vaults but they carry more risks, and the deductions are a lot higher.

The little girl in the video is doing the front sault so she is either in Level 2 A which is the elite stream, or she is in level 3 doing the bonus vault (most level 3's do this vault).

The C skills and routines are the easiest and the minimum that kids need to pass and compete each level. These routines and skills are popular with recreational gymnasts or those who train limited hours. The B rountines and skills are bonus skills and slightly harder, they are popular with the kids who go in competitions. The A routines are very difficult and very few kids can master them, they are designed for kids who will eventually become elite gymnasts.

After level 3 there are two streams the national stream and the international stream. The national stream goes from level 4-10 and is quite similar to the USA starndard for each level. The vast majority of gymnasts do this stream and it is taught in the vast majority of gyms. Our compulsary levels are different to the USA in that the kids have core skills in their routine but can replace them with bonus skills to get a higher start value. For example in level 5 the girls are required to do a cartwheel on beam as their core acro skill but they can replace it with a front or back walkover or a tic toc for 0.2 bonus or with a back or front handspring or standing back tuck for a 0.4 bonus.

Then there is the international stream (elite). This is a stream for the very few select gymnasts who have the potential to represent Australia in international competition. There are only around 6 gyms in the whole country which teach these levels and they are fed more talented gymnasts from the regular gyms. These girls have a totally separate levels system which goes International level 6, international level 8, International level 10, junior international, senior international.

[Jojogymgirl]

I don't really believe in a "back-up" vault unless you are attempting a new vault. You should always be able to compete something, and you shouldn't have to call it your back up vault. For example, I just learned my yurchenko layout full twist. I was planning on doing one layout and one full, because it was regionals in the toughest region. However, since warm-ups went good, I competed 2 fulls. I guess my "back-ups" could be tucks or pikes, but i would have a lower start value. You can have back-up skills on other events if you miss bonus or screw up and didn't get credit for the requirement, however, i think that if you need to call it a back-up vault, you shouldn't be doing the vault you are planning to compete. you are doubting yourself.

[Shawn]

Aussie- Thanks for the explanation. I always love to hear how these things work in other countries besides the USA. When do Australian girls start using the vault table? The kick to handstand sounds like our level 1. At level 2, the girls do the handspring to flat back. Level 3 does the same thing only to a higher stack of mats. Level 4 is the same but they use the vault table. They don't to a "real" vault until level 5 when they remove the mats and do the handspring over the vault table and land on their feet on the floor.

[Aussie_coach]

They start using that vault table at level 4, but they do the same vault that the USA girls do, they just do it over the vault table with mats stacked up to the height of the table. The real front handspring is not introduced until level 5, just like the USA.