What level do gymnasts learn a Yurchenko Layout?

Gymnasts usually learn a Yurchenko Layout between Levels 8 and 9. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.

How long does it take to learn a Yurchenko Layout?

About 6 weeks once a Yurchenko Tuck is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Front Handspring Vault, the whole progression adds up to about 20 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.

What should my gymnast learn before a Yurchenko Layout?

Yurchenko Tuck comes directly before it. The full progression is Front Handspring Vault, then Yurchenko Tuck, then Yurchenko Layout. Helpful but not required: Back Layout.

What are the most common deductions on a Yurchenko Layout?

The ones to watch for are Pike in Body (up to 0.20), Insufficient Post-flight (usually about 0.1), Step on Landing (usually about 0.1) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.

Is a Yurchenko Layout scary to learn?

It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 4 out of 5 because it involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed and height off the ground. Techniques like Box Breathing and Power Cue Words help gymnasts build confidence.

How to do a Yurchenko Layout

A Yurchenko Layout is a vault that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 8 and 9, once a Yurchenko Tuck is solid.

Also called: yurchenko stretched.

Quick facts

Apparatus	Vault
Typical level (estimate)	Levels 8-9
Difficulty (Stickd rating)	8/10
Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate)	About 6 weeks
Whole progression (estimate)	About 20 weeks from a Front Handspring Vault
Fear factor (Stickd rating)	4/5

Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.

What to learn before a Yurchenko Layout

Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Yurchenko Layout.

Front Handspring Vault (Levels 5-6)
Yurchenko Tuck (Levels 7-8)

Helpful but not required

Back Layout

Step-by-step progression

The path to a Yurchenko Layout has 3 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.

1
Front Handspring Vault
Learn a Front Handspring Vault until it is solid, usually between Levels 5 and 6. About 6 weeks (estimate).
2
Yurchenko Tuck
Learn a Yurchenko Tuck until it is solid, usually between Levels 7 and 8. About 8 weeks (estimate).
3
Yurchenko Layout
Learn a Yurchenko Layout. Allow about 6 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).

Drills that build a Yurchenko Layout

Technique focus areas: Landing, Set angle.

What good form looks like

Round-off entry onto the board, back handspring onto the table, then a stretched (layout) salto backward off.

shoulders: open
hips: extended
knees: straight
spine: neutral

Common deductions on a Yurchenko Layout

Deduction	What it means	Typically
Pike in Body	Hip angle showing pike when straight position required	up to 0.20
Insufficient Post-flight	Not enough height or distance in post-flight phase	0.1
Step on Landing	Taking a step after landing a skill	0.1
Body Alignment	Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean)	0.1

Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.

Fear and confidence

Stickd rates a Yurchenko Layout 4 out of 5 for fear. It involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed, height off the ground. Feeling nervous about it is normal, and confidence usually builds step by step through the progression above.

Mental techniques that help

Box Breathing
A 4-count breathing pattern to calm your nervous system before attempting a scary skill.
Power Cue Words
Choose 1-2 words that trigger your best performance state and say them before each attempt.
Fear Ladder
Break the scary skill into a ladder of progressively challenging steps.

Skills a Yurchenko Layout unlocks

Yurchenko Full (Vault, Levels 9-10)

Watch an example

Watch a Yurchenko Layout tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

Frequently asked questions

What level do gymnasts learn a Yurchenko Layout?: Gymnasts usually learn a Yurchenko Layout between Levels 8 and 9. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
How long does it take to learn a Yurchenko Layout?: About 6 weeks once a Yurchenko Tuck is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Front Handspring Vault, the whole progression adds up to about 20 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
What should my gymnast learn before a Yurchenko Layout?: Yurchenko Tuck comes directly before it. The full progression is Front Handspring Vault, then Yurchenko Tuck, then Yurchenko Layout. Helpful but not required: Back Layout.
What are the most common deductions on a Yurchenko Layout?: The ones to watch for are Pike in Body (up to 0.20), Insufficient Post-flight (usually about 0.1), Step on Landing (usually about 0.1) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.
Is a Yurchenko Layout scary to learn?: It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 4 out of 5 because it involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed and height off the ground. Techniques like Box Breathing and Power Cue Words help gymnasts build confidence.