My
daughter's backhandsprings go crooked and she seems slow too. What should
she do? When she does her round off double back handsprings she goes crooked.
She has been doing them alone for quite some time. They didn't seem crooked
in the beginning of the season. It was just the last couple of meets and
at practice they seemed crooked.
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Most
likely she is beginning the error in her round-off. Because it is a twisting/flipping
and power generating skill, it is extremely complex, yet often not the
focus of much practice because it's at the beginning of more exciting
skills. Regardless, the way to correct her tumbling is to SEPARATE the
skills and correct them individually.
For example: Have your daughter perform her Round-off... with a rebound-jump,
(not a handspring) at the end. Make sure she's using the same steps/power/speed
as normal. And most importantly, make sure she's working it on a straight
line. I recommend having her practice the round-off PRECISELY upon a narrow
strip of tape. Usually the seam or tape on a floor exercise mat is perfect.
Her feet should BOTH step upon the line as she runs, hurdles and steps
into the round-off. Then at the rebound contact both feet should be together
ON the line... AND, finally... at the end of the rebound both feet should
be together ON the line. The rebound should be LONG, LOW and STRAIGHT.
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HOW IS YOUR TUMBLING?
Have ~CoachWayne!
come to YOUR gym!!!
Performance
tumbling for students &
Instructor training for staff
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Coach
Wayne is the Head Coach for the Savannah College of Art and
Design Cheerleading team and Executive Coach of Olympic Gymnast
Zuzana Sekerova. His articles, videos and books have been
used by students and instructors world wide since 1991. Coach
Wayne is available for in-gym instructor training and performance
tumbling clinics throughout the year. For booking information,
coaches/owners should call 912.398.8082. Students and parents
should request coaches/owners to contact Coach Wayne: www.CoachWayne.com,
coach@coachwayne.com or 912-238-1747, 912-398-8082.
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If her round-off is CONSISTENTLY straight, 10 out of 10
repetitions... (with a 1" or less margin of error, right-to-left)
then the problem is in the handspring. BUT start with the round-off. If
it IS crooked, the error is probably in the hand placement... or she is
ARCHING through the handstand position of the round-off... rather than
ROUNDING (hence the name) her back... through the skill. Make sure her
arms are FIRMLY against her EARS throughout the skill... and that the
head NEVER sticks out from between the arms.
If the error is DEFINITELY in the handSPRING... have her practice 10 STANDING
handsprings... no round-off... but, with a rebound... ON a straight line
BEFORE she progresses to multiple handsprings. Working on a straight line
(as if it is a balance beam) is a HUGE corrective influence.
Have fun, be safe push HARD!
~CW
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