March 1, 2011
This is an example of a rarely seen passe full turn, where the skill is initiated moving the body support from a lunge or fourth position toward the back leg. Before the gymnast spends time working odd turn variations, they should master the regular couppe and passe full turns.
February 9, 2011
To perform the round off back tuck dismount the gymnasts must become comfortable with making beam round-offs from two steps and a hurdle. As with many other beam skills or combinations, this dismount is mastered following a beam progression beginning on a floor line. In the round off dismount, one of the progressive steps is performing the combination to loose foam pits and resi mats. The gymnasts must focus on learning to rebound the take off and continue refining their tuck position during the flying phase. Notice how the back tuck take off is performed with one foot in front of the other.
February 9, 2011
This is a fair example of back handspring landing on two feet to a back tuck dismount. Gymnasts must know how to perform the combination on floor, and also how to perform a beam standing back handspring to two feet and rebound. The combination is trained first on a low beam with folded mats on the sides, and the apparatus end pointing to a loose foam pit. Notice how the feet are placed slightly in front of the other for the back tuck off. Placing the feet this way allow gymnasts more room to punch, and is safer too.
February 9, 2011
To perform this combination the athlete must have mastered tumbling double fulls, beam back handspring to two feet landings, and progressively learn to connect the back handsprings to back tucks, and layouts to full twist dismounts. The gymnast must also develop an increased in speed and power while practicing those combinations. Notice how the gymnast punches the back handspring to the double full dismount with one foot slightly in front of the other.
February 9, 2011
Once the gymnast has mastered a good round off back tuck dismount, they can begin learning the round off double back dismount on the beam. All the regular tumbling techniques for creating a rebounding setup apply for the double back dismount. Training the dismount into a pit until it shows great technical consistency is crucial.
February 1, 2011
As the novice gymnasts improve their balance and confidence training different kinds of walks and other basic skills each of these activities can be refined and upgraded from simple back walks. The athlete must be guided to develop more challenging variations. In this case the legs swing backwards to a tight arch on every step and the gymnasts must focus on keeping the knees locked, the stomach in, and the arms and the body as stable as possible minimizing wobbles and hesitations.
January 26, 2011
Back hip circles begin from a regular cast when the gymnast leans the shoulder back off support. When the body is coming back to the bar, but before it makes contact, the gymnast's aim is to complete the skill with a straight or hollow body that moves around in a single unit. After the shrugged-shoulder straight-arms cast, the gymnast moves her shoulders off support to begin the single unit circle around.
January 26, 2011
Gymnasts begin learning back hip circles from a small cast. Right when their bodies start coming back down to the support, the coach standing on the opposite side of the bar, reaches with his arms under the rail and places one hand on the lower back and the other on the hamstring area. The hand that was on the lower back then reaches under the bar to stop the gymnast from "over rotating" the skill. The hand that was previously on the hamstring moves to the abdominal area to help in case the gymnast lacks the momentum to complete the circle.
January 26, 2011
It is very important to understand the dynamic nature of spotting any gymnastics skill. The spotting patterns must be adapted to what happens on each individual attempt. the coach must be ready to move his hands to different areas according to the occurrences of each situation.
January 26, 2011
Gymnasts having problems with leaning the shoulders back out of support and turning over in one body unit for under-shoot dismounts, may benefit from learning how to make a complete back hip circle without having any momentum from a cast.