First, we have a somewhat different approach to training and learning
in that we do not emphasize drills except when gymnasts are having a particular
problem. In general, our training systems tend to concentrate on
learning progressions and making daily progress.
Every day our gymnasts practice, the coaches and they set goals to and
have expectations of doing at least one more small step of progress than
they did the day before. These improvements or steps of progress
can include learning a new skill, making one small step of progress, making
improvements in consistency, doing a greater number of skills or skill
attempts and making improvements in the execution of skills. Any
one of these is an acceptable daily improvement. Also included and
counted as progress are equipment progressions.
Gymnasts review all of their major learning progressions in a particular
skill progression daily and are expected to make at least one step of progress
every day in each event skill category they work on. The only time
we stop or slow that process is when a gymnast exhibits a particular problem.
Then we work whatever drills are appropriate to fix the problem but then
are right back to the skill and equipment progressions.
Our training system always works on three levels - Perfecting basic
skills and progressions, working on the gymnast's current competition level
and the and making preparations and working the progressions for future
big skill work.
Vault equipment progressions depend on your particular gym set-up but
we will list the ones any gym might typically use.
We are going to assume that all the typical running and hurdle step
progressions have already been done and mastered.
We also would have already begun training all of the front side vault
approaches, in this case including both the regular front handspring approach
and the round-off entry, ½ turn onto the vault table.
We would also already be planning to twist these vaults so we would
be working on all of the front salto twisting progressions along with the
front salto progressions.
VAULT EQUIPMENT PROGRESSIONS:
TRAMPOLINE
Trampoline into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Trampoline onto Bungee Resi-Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Trampoline onto Resi-Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Trampoline
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Back drop front tuck, Back drop front pike
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
MINI-TRAMPOLINE
Mini-Trampoline into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Mini-Trampoline onto Bungee Resi-Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Mini-Trampoline onto Resi-Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Mini-Trampoline onto 12 Crash Mat
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
SPRINGBOARD
Springboard into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Springboard onto Bungee Resi-Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Springboard onto Resi-Pit
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
Springboard onto 12 Crash Mat
Front Salto Progressions
Tuck, Cowboy Tuck, Pike, Cowboy Pike, Open Tuck, Layout
Front Tuck with ½, Front Pike with ½, Front Layout with
½
Front Tuck open Full, Front Pike open Full, Front Layout with Full
Front Tuck open 1&½, Front Pike open 1&½, Front
Layout 1&½
Double tuck, Double cowboy tuck, Double pike, Double cowboy pike, Double
open.
Double Tuck with ½, Double Pike with ½, Double Layout
with ½
Double Tuck open Full, Double Pike open Full, Double Layout with Full
Double Tuck open 1&½, Double Pike open 1&½, Double
Layout 1&½
Open tuck-tuck Double, Layout-tuck Double, Layout-pike Double, Double
layout.
MINI-TRAMP HANDSPRING VAULT ONTO STACKED MATS
Mini-Tramp Front Handspring to Flatback
Handspring to Flatback onto Crash mats stacked to vault table height
Handspring to Flatback onto Crash mats stacked to one mat above vault
table height
Handspring to Flatback onto Crash mats stacked to two mats above vault
table height
Handspring to Flatback onto Crash mats stacked to three mats above
vault table height
Mini-Tramp Front Handspring to Stand on Crash Mats
Handspring to Stand on Crash mats stacked to vault table height
Handspring to Stand on Crash mats stacked to one mat above vault table
height
Handspring to Stand on Crash mats stacked to two mats above vault table
height
Handspring to Stand on Crash mats stacked to three mats above vault
table height
Mini-Tramp Front Handspring Tuck to Front Drop on Crash Mats
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto mats stacked to vault table
height
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto one mat above vault table
height
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto two mats above vault table
height
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto three mats above vault table
height
Mini-Tramp Front Handspring Pike to Front Drop on Crash Mats
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto mats stacked to vault table
height
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto one mat above vault table
height
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto two mats above vault table
height
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto three mats above vault table
height
Mini-Tramp Front Handspring Layout to Front Drop on Crash Mats
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop on Crash mats stacked to vault
table height
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto one mat above vault table
height
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto two mats above vault table
height
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto three mats above vault table
height
SPRINGBOARD HANDSPRING VAULT ONTO STACKED MATS
Springboard Front Handspring to Flatback
Handspring to Flatback on Crash mats stacked to vault table height
Handspring to Flatback on Crash mats stacked to one mat above vault
table height
Handspring to Flatback on Crash mats stacked to two mats above vault
table height
Handspring to Flatback on Crash mats stacked to three mats above vault
table height
Springboard Front Handspring to Stand on Crash Mats
Handspring to Stand mats stacked to vault table height
Handspring to Stand mats stacked to one mat above vault table height
Handspring to Stand mats stacked to two mats above vault table height
Handspring to Stand mats stacked to three mats above vault table height
Springboard Front Handspring Tuck to Front Drop on Crash Mats
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto mats stacked to vault table
height
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto one mat above vault table
height
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto two mats above vault table
height
Handspring Front Tuck to Front Drop onto three mats above vault table
height
Springboard Front Handspring Pike to Front Drop on Crash Mats
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto mats stacked to vault table
height
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto one mat above vault table
height
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto two mats above vault table
height
Handspring Front Pike to Front Drop onto three mats above vault table
height
Springboard Front Handspring Layout to Front Drop on Crash Mats
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto mats stacked to vault table
height
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto one mat above vault table
height
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto two mats above vault table
height
Handspring Front Layout to Front Drop onto three mats above vault table
height
MINI-TRAMP VAULT
Mini-tramp Vault into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
(Mini tramp at highest setting/vault table at lowered setting)
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Mini-tramp Vault
(Mini tramp at highest setting and vault table at regulation)
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Mini-tramp Vault
(Mini tramp at lowest setting and vault table raised)
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
TRAMP VAULT
Tramp Vault into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Tramp Vault onto Bungee Res-Pit
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Tramp Vault onto 12 Crash Mats
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
TUMBLE TRAMP VAULT OVER FOAM VAULT TABLE
Tumble Tramp Vault into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Tumble Tramp Vault onto Bungee Res-Pit
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Tumble Tramp Vault onto 12 Crash Mats
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
SPRINGBOARD VAULT
Springboard Vault into Loose Foam Bungee Pit
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Springboard Vault onto Bungee Resi-Pit
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Springboard Vault onto 12 Crash Mats
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
Springboard Vault onto Regulation Mats
Handspring Front Tuck
Handspring Front Pike
Handspring Front Tuck with ½
Handspring Front Pike with ½
Handspring Front Layout
Handspring Front Layout with ½
Handspring Front Tuck with Full
Handspring Front Pike with Full
Handspring Front Layout with Full
Handspring Front Tuck with 1&½
Handspring Front Pike with 1&½
Handspring Front Layout with 1&½
Handspring Double Tuck Front
Handspring Double Pike Front
While the listed progressions are fairly comprehensive, not all gymnasts
will be able to accomplish all of them. Less powerful vaulters, for
example, will not be able to vault up onto three stacked mats above a vault
table. Gymnasts who are not great front twisters will not be able
to do full out double fronts.
Obviously, we have never had even one gymnast who did all of these progressions.
And the progressions are grouped rather than listed in strict order of
difficulty progression. For this reason and because gymnasts have
different strength levels and different strengths and abilities, gymnasts
are allowed to progress somewhat through their own personal progression
(closely supervised and directed by the coach).
If you have gymnasts somewhere in the middle of this progression list
or are on a timetable, you will likely make choices about what to review,
where to start in the progressions and what you may skip without interfering
with safety, progress and proper learning progression.
Regardless, gymnasts who can progress through most of these progressions
will most certainly be able to do handspring front tuck and pikes with
at least a ½ twist. And while we may not have done any drills,
we have done enough variety of vaulting progressions over a long enough
period of time to provide a very strong base for safety and consistency.
If we did find a need for drills to come in lower, we might experiment
with pulling the springboard (and/or mini-tramp) out somewhat from the
vault table to force the gymnasts to stretch alter their angle of approach.
The exact ideal angle for each gymnast, of course, will vary individually
according to their run speed, blocking strength, rotational speed, etc.
With our system of making one step per day of progress, you will find
that it usually takes about a year to 15 months to get through the progressions.
If you have already done all (or most of) your front salto progressions
for tumbling, you can probably shorten the learning process by 3 5 months.
This training system also emphasizes making daily improvements in consistency
and daily improvements in the execution of skills. There are numerous
opportunities for coaching and reinforcing safety, power, good form and
perfect execution. With our its all on the wall progression listings,
gymnasts know where they are and where they are going.
.
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