Vault Archives - The Gymnastics Guide

5 Tips for a Great Level 2 Vault

September 22, 2020 | admin

The Level 2 vault – what in the world is it? When the flat back vault was first introduced, it had already been used by coaches in training for a long time. But no one knew how it would be scored in a meet. Judges complained that it was difficult to judge. Coaches complained that […]

Tips and Resources to Boost Your Level 6/7 Vault Score

August 29, 2020 | admin

This post was originally published February 10, 2020, and was updated August 29, 2020, August 29, 2021, August 19, 2022, and July 7, 2023. If you’ve been at a Level 6 or 7 gymnastics meet recently, no doubt you’ve seen the new vault setup. Gymnasts now vault from the table onto a mat stack, performing […]

The Essential Guide to a Great Vault Run

July 22, 2020 | admin

Everyone wants a big, powerful, vault. At first glance, vault seems like the easiest event to master. It’s only one skill – how hard could it be? But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Many gymnasts are missing the key ingredient to a great vault: a powerful vault run. Why is the run important? […]

Xcel Vault: What You Should Know

June 22, 2020 | admin

This article has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-26 Xcel Code of Points. Ah, Xcel. These are the levels that foster the most questions. There are so many questions that our regional Xcel chair even started a Xcel Facebook group. Professionals in our region can write in to the group to get […]

5 Tips For a Stellar Handspring Vault

April 26, 2020 | admin

When I first competed in gymnastics, there was one skill that confused the heck out of me. I just couldn’t understand why I got the scores I did. What skill was it? The handspring vault! The handspring vault is the compulsory vault at Levels 4 and 5. It is the first vault gymnasts perform over […]

Preview of 2021-2029 Compulsory Skills

April 14, 2020 | admin

It’s officially time for the new compulsory routines! As of August 1, 2021, the routines have changed. The old routines from 2013-2021 are no longer allowed in competition. With these changes, the level system will still stay the same. There will continue to be five levels of compulsories and five levels of optionals. Level 4 […]