New
New
Year 7

Vaulting with control and creativity

I can vault with control and creativity.

New
New
Year 7

Vaulting with control and creativity

I can vault with control and creativity.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: when vaulting, your push off needs to be strong and explosive to drive the body upwards.
  2. Move: when landing keep your arms out to the side or slightly in front to help with balance and control.
  3. Think: a faster run-up generates more power and height, providing extra time to complete more creative vaults.
  4. Feel: running fast at the springboard can be scary, but it leads to success, a sense of achievement and a better vault
  5. Connect: supporting others to build confidence in attempting the vault will also help you develop your own confidence.

Keywords

  • Vault - an activity in gymnastics where you run towards a springboard and jump on to or over a vaulting table performing various movements before landing on a mat

  • Lannding - touching the ground after performing a skill e.g. jump or dismount

  • Box top - a piece of apparatus used for vaulting with a flat or slightly rounded surface to jump over or on to

Common misconception

Pupils fear running at speed to jump on to the springboard or are reluctant to jump on to a vault/box top. Pupils have poor technique on the springboard. Pupils fear straddling the box.

Build confidence by breaking the skill down. Practise without the box top or with a lower box gradually increasing height. Develop good foot positioning on the springboard before adding in the box top. Pupils could straddle on to the box first.


To help you plan your year 7 physical education lesson on: Vaulting with control and creativity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It is a good idea to approach vaulting lessons with 'stations' so you can provide lots of choice for pupils. Provide apparatus at different heights with some stations where there is no run up so you have an inclusive environment where everyone can achieve.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 mat between 2, 4 springboards (or as many as available), 4 tables/box tops, a buck (optional)

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

4 Questions

Q1.
After your run up, which direction do you push off the springboard to gain height?
Correct answer: upwards
forwards
downwards
Q2.
What should you always try to be before jumping off apparatus?
excited
fast
Correct answer: balanced
Q3.
Which part of your body helps to generate more height when jumping?
Correct answer: arms
eyes
neck
Q4.
Which skill helps with excellent timing when performing a pair sequence?
agility
Correct answer: communication
landing

4 Questions

Q1.
What is the stage of the jump called where you touch the ground after performing skill such as a jump or a dismount?
Correct Answer: landing, land
Q2.
What could help you generate more power to stay in the air longer for your vault?
Correct answer: faster run up
support from partner
creativity
Q3.
What could you do to help you make a vault easier if you are finding it too difficult?
run faster
give up
Correct answer: lower the apparatus
Q4.
How can you help others to improve their vaulting performance?
Correct Answer: give feedback, provide feedback