Anybody have an "in" with USAG that can pass along this video to them?
Well I mean, I'm sure they're aware of the possibility (also as an aside, I wouldn't even require the flip out...but I'm not opposed...mostly I just feel like we need something different). This is a common drill. But it's taken some time for things to adjust, which usually happens. The main barriers are equipment concerns (they don't want to add additional equipment burdens, and meet set up, etc. there can be concern these things aren't efficient). But for level 4, we have this resi set up anyway, so I'm not sure about that argument. I'm sure we could come up with some efficient way to use it. Concerns over the skill being too hard at the level, etc
Also there is some resistance because not using the full equipment is not "traditional", I suspect, especially at that level. With level 4 people didn't really care. Although, I can't imagine people don't want a chance to develop the RO entry and have kids learn to warm up and compete it. This, to me, is a huge thing. We have these kids going from doing a handspring in a competitive environment (which they can do with no warm up) to a yurchenko (which they probably don't just get right to the event and throw). I see inconsistent entries and bafflingly high scores for vaults that to me are
dangerous or at least too hard on the body. There is too much incentive to just throw these flipping vaults. This is another issue to me. Scores need to come down on these vaults that shouldn't be competed. A good FHS should not be outscored by a flipping vault that barely misses being voided.
Another interesting point to me is that in my state, it was voted to allow yurchenko vaults in high school gymnastics (separate entity from USAG), but the coach MUST spot the entry. Not touch the gymnast (deduction) but safety spot. Now in high school, this has it's own problems, mostly being the fact most of these are not optional level coaches. But in a USAG program, where all the coaches generally have some level of ability to develop this vault, I would feel much better about watching L8 sessions and having L8s do this right out of 7. I also don't feel this would be very controversial. At least ALLOW it without voiding the vault.
To be clear, I've never seen a kid get seriously hurt on an entry. With the zone and table, we've made yurchenko vaulting much safer. but I've still seen some things that are not good, and injuries on landings (some due to poor entries).