The Club FAQs
CAN I PARTICIPATE EVEN IF I HAVE NEVER VAULTED?
Olympus Vault Academy is an open club, athletes of any skill level are eligible to participate. We welcome brand new vaulters. This means you can learn things correctly from the start. We provide a low-stress environment so athletes can learn the proper technical progressions without having the pressure of performance-based results.
WHAT DO I NEED TO WEAR/BRING?
All athletes should wear athletic apparel that allows for movement without restrictions. Tennis shoes or spikes must be worn. Long hair should be pulled back and no loose or dangling jewelry should be worn. Journals are helpful in order to write down information from your practice sessions such as drills done, poles and grips used, step marks and all other workout information. A water bottle is nice to have too.
CAN PARENTS STAY AND WATCH PRACTICES?
Yes, we have plenty of room for parents stay and watch.
CAN I TRY THE GYM OUT FIRST BEFORE COMMITTING?
A free trial session is available to any athlete who would like to try out our program. If you are under 18, we ask that a parent or guardian be present. After your trial session, you can decide whether or not you want to continue practicing with us and become a member of our program.
DO I NEED TO BRING MY OWN POLES?
You may bring your own poles if you would like. The club does have an extensive collection of poles available for your use. It is your responsibility to treat our poles appropriately and make sure that they are returned to the rack in the same condition. Any athlete that abuses our poles will no longer be allowed to use them.
DO I NEED TO COMMIT FULL TIME TO VAULTING AND STOP DOING OTHER SPORTS?
While we expect a commitment to practicing regularly in order to properly learn the event, we do not demand that athletes commit to training only for the vault year round. Participation in other sports and activities is encouraged.
WHAT IS THE PRACTICE FORMAT?
Our club sessions are overseen by one or more of our qualified staff coaches. Our sessions are 1.5-2 hours and athletes should attempt to show up and be ready at the start of practice but may leave whenever needed. Athletes will do a group warm up and sprint mechanics routine (approximately 15 minutes) before they start vaulting. The practice focus will vary depending on the ability of the athlete as well as the time of year. Beginner vaulters will begin shorter poles, shorter grips and shorter runs to improve skill learning and increase the number of successful attempts per workout. After basic skills are learned through numerous repetitions, the athlete will transition to more advanced skills, longer runs, higher grips and stiffer poles.
In addition to vaulting, there will be drills set up to work on the vaulter’s approach and plant. There will also be gymnastics, rings work, rope drills, high bar work, core workouts, flexibility circuits, and general strength and development training.