Shaping Skills with Drills
A problem skill for many gymnasts is the flyaway (backward somersault) from a bar. This dismount is physically and technically simple — but psychologically challenging due to the risk of hitting the bar with the feet.
Coach Rachael Tart from Funtastics Gymnastics in Couer d’Alene, Idaho showed me this nifty drill. It’s a safe, fun way to introduce the feeling of flyaway with young kids.
Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.com
The girl doing the double layout is 6 years old.
5 comments ↓
This is an awesome drill!
Haha. I’m definitely showing this to my friend-coaches.
Wow. You can actually give some really cool, close-to-the-real-thing, awareness skills for the double lay-out early in their development.
Coach Mack
Great concept!! Any suggestions for if you don’t have a pit?
I would still spot the SINGLE somersault to flat back on to a large soft mat — but not double somersaults.
Awesome drill!!!!! But it kills my back!!! How on earth do you manage to do that more than once? After doing that about 30 times I could barely walk the next days!
Good point!
You need VERY SMALL KIDS.
Or be a SUPER STRONG coach.
An easier alternative is to have 2 coaches, each holding one wrist and ankle.
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