AAI is now recommending the use of AAI vault boards with fewer springs for Level 4 gymnasts that weigh less than 80 lbs. As few as 3 springs on either the Stratum Vault Board or the TAC/10 LZT Vault Board are now acceptable. However, ensure that the two front corner springs (high side), as well as the center spring in the middle row, stay in their original position as you can see in the following diagram.
Olympic champion, Paul Hamm, is the featured coach in a brand new gymnastics DVD instruction for Floor Exercise and Vault.
From time to time, there are instances when an AAI product can be made even better, or revised so that a gymnast can use it to their best potential and increase their skill level. That being said, a few changes have been made in the last year on some of the AAI products.
As a gymnast gets better with a skill on the vault, it is a good idea to do the same skill to an elevated soft surface. The soft surface minimizes the stress on the gymnast's joints while making it more difficult to land. This encourages gymnasts to apply more power and improve their technique.
