Category Archives: Back Tumbling

Prebackhandspring jump to mats

Pre Back Handspring Jump to MatsPre Back Handspring Jump to Mats
This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series: Introductory Back Handspring

At the same time that gymnasts are learning limbers, cartwheels, round-offs and other basic skills, they can also begin learning to jump backwards onto a resi-mat.

The arms can stay-up or swing-up with a shoulders-width to the ears side. The knees should be bent slightly to begin the jump. Make sure the gymnast does not squat too deep. The jump must show good flight with a long travel back.

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Backhandspring Setup Drill

Back Handspring Setup DrillBack Handspring Setup Drill
This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series: Introductory Back Handspring

Coaches may spot the gymnasts upper back and shoulder area so they can practice the dynamic coordination betweeen the arms swing and the lean back motion with a quick opening into a tight arch position. Beginning with a hollow chest facilitates a stronger chest opening to the tight arch.

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Beginner backhandspring drills

Beginner Back Handspring DrillsBeginner Back Handspring Drills
This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series: Introductory Back Handspring

Gymnasts starting to learn back handsprings can benefit from feeling the lean back action in a simpler way. Also getting familiar with hollow chest to open chest and shoulders and the legs push to open hips on a single tight arch body unit. This drill helps the athletes to train the lean back action several times in a row with a coach’s assistance.

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Barrell rock drill

barrell rock drillbarrell rock drill
This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series: Introductory Back Handspring

Rocking back and forth lying down on a barrel may help gymnasts to experience the single arch-body unit with open hips and shoulders required for the back handspring flying phase.

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Barrell handsprings

Barrell HandspringsBarrell Handsprings
This entry is part 5 of 6 in the series: Introductory Back Handspring

Gymnasts showing improvement on simpler drills and spotted back handsprings may be introduced to barrel back handsprings. Coaches must make sure that the gymnast does not start so close to the barrel as it forces them to undercut their jumps.

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Backhandspring drill for distance

Back Handspring Drill for DistanceBack Handspring Drill for Distance
This entry is part 6 of 6 in the series: Introductory Back Handspring

Gymnasts may use a panel mat to train for distance during the first flying phase. With their toes at the beginning of a panel they perfom back handsprings trying to reach far into a different panel. Since the gymnasts know the exact place they are begining each turn they can check how much they are flying back from feet to hands.

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Standing Back Handspring

standing-back-handspringstanding-back-handspring
This entry is part 1 of 10 in the series: Back Handspring

To begin the backhandspring the gymnast leans back off balance while slightly bending the legs and moving the trunk forward with a straight or hollow chest. From this position the gymnast can make a powerful jump backwards. Back handsprings have two important flying phases.

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Standing Back Handspring Example

Standing back handspring exampleStanding back handspring example
This entry is part 2 of 10 in the series: Back Handspring

This talented young gymnast is making a nice effort to emphasize a chest hollow position at the beginning of the skill. The objective of this action is to create a feeling about the shape of the body on the second flying phase. Nowadays she still has some troubles to hold a hollow position on the turn over from hands to feet and pikes down instead.

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Standing Back Handspring Spot

Standing back handspring spotStanding back handspring spot
This entry is part 3 of 10 in the series: Back Handspring

Back handsprings can be spotted with one hand on the lower back and the other hand on the closer hamstring. If the spotter stands on the left of the gymnast the right hand goes on the back and the left hand on the nearer hamstring. During the second flying phase the hands switch the left to the abdominal area and the right to the lower back to assist with any problems during the landing.

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Back Handspring Squat and Undercut Mistakes

back-handspring-squat-undercut-mistakesback-handspring-squat-undercut-mistakes
This entry is part 4 of 10 in the series: Back Handspring

A short first flying phase from feet to hands makes it difficult to create an effective second flying phase from hands to feet. Short undercut first flying phases cause the hands to touch the floor with poor body angles to make a quick arms repulsion into a powerful turn over to the feet. Before bad technical habits get too engrained it is wise to spend time reviewing basic drills.

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