Arm circle on level 4 vault?

[Imat3]

Is the arm circle required on the level 4 vault?

Why do some teams do the arm circle and some don't?

It seems that the teams who do it, get higher vault scores.

Just wondering...

Imat3

[kristilyn73]

doing an arm circle before a vault helps propell the body upward. Therefore, putting the body in better position for a vault!

Or that is what I have learned - a coach who was a gymnast might have a better answer!

[lannamavity]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Imat3 Is the arm circle required on the level 4 vault? Why do some teams do the arm circle and some don't? It seems that the teams who do it, get higher vault scores. Just wondering... Imat3

An "arm circle" does not make a vault better or worse.

The important thing is that the arms are down when the athlete's feet hit the board (to better compress the springs), and then forward upward to contact the table/stack of mats. Little kids can sometimes differentiate between an "underarm swing" and an "overarm swing" by circling the arms backwards before hitting the board. It's a trick of the trade.

Judges are not to judge the technique of the hurdle in Level 4 or any part of the vault before the gymnast leaves the board Level 5&up.

Some of the best vaulters in the world never circle their arms or have their arms down on the board.

[BlairBob]

If memory serves it is not required in the women's JO program ( it is in the men's ).
It is being made compulsory in the men's because the theory behind it states that it allows for a more aggressive board punch. A gymnast's arms will circle down and behind and try to sync and coordinate with their body pushing more into the board.

More often that not, the girls that hit the board with arms up don't really have an aggressive board punch. A simple arm lift is better than that ( arms down by the hips when hitting the board, lifting when pushing off the board ).

[lannamavity]

Vault #1 has nothing even close to an "arm circle"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72EVaH-hfaw


nice, huh?

[Imat3]

Thanks a lot for your help.

The reason I ask is that we were at a meet this weekend and our girls' vault scores were low. Another coach said the reason was that this particular judge was taking off if the girls did NOT do an arm circle. It is not in the text, but just preference of that judge, I guess.

I will pay more attention to the position of the girls arms at workout tonight. I think that most of them may have their arms up when they hit the board. We are still having issues with them reaching toward the mat stack and closing their shoulder angle, but they are getting better. We have been doing drills where they have to reach up over an obstacle. It seems to be helping.

So, their arms should be down when they hit the board, then after they punch they should reach up off the board and stretch their bodies?

Thanks for the input...I really appreciate it.

Imat3

[KBT]

Judges should not judge anything before the kid leaves the springboard. This includes the run, hurdle and arm circle. Of course, there are always judges who like to judge technique which they shouldn't do. I judge and I don't care what technique is used. My job is to judge execution. Of course, if the lack of arm circle can cause execution issues like shoulder angle, hip angle, and not getting much power from the board which will effect the height and distance of the vault.

The arms should be up as the kid leaves the board. If the arms move upwards while jumping on the board this can improve the "punch" a kid gets from the board. Think about doing a tuck jump with the arms at your sides versus a tuck jump using your arms to "lift". You'll get a lot higher using your arms. There are other ways to get kids to lift the arms up as they hit the board, but I think the arm circle is the most universally easy way to understand and teach it.

[lannamavity]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Imat3 Thanks a lot for your help. So, their arms should be down when they hit the board, then after they punch they should reach up off the board and stretch their bodies? Thanks for the input...I really appreciate it. Imat3

Well...not exactly...part of the reason they may have closed shoulder angles is because they reach "up off the board".

While they are supposed to open their shoulder angle, they really don't go "up" off of the board...they "flip" to a 3/4 handstand. If they go up (and reach up) too much, they will, of course, come down on their hands. Few people on the planet are able to jump up in the air and land on outstreched arms without either breaking their arms or compensating by bending their arms or closing their shoulder angle.

Reaching "out" may be a better way to put it. The goal is to touch the mats or table on the way up...not after going up.

It's a lot more complicated than it looks.

[CoachL]

Quote:
Judges should not judge anything before the kid leaves the springboard. This includes the run, hurdle and arm circle.

Incorrect, level 4 is the only level where the run is actually judged. The run in level 4 is up to 1.0 if memory serves me correct.

[lannamavity]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachL Incorrect, level 4 is the only level where the run is actually judged. The run in level 4 is up to 1.0 if memory serves me correct.

Up to .9 divided in to 3 catagories at .3 each including:

lack of acceleration of run
failure to maintain horizontal speed
excessive lean forward on board

all before they leave the board.