Fly Aways :(

[Jea_bernadette]

okay so here is the deal


i am a level 5 working level 6


i have every skill in the level 6 bar routine but i am TERRIFIED of a flyaway


i have never been afrid of something before

and i dont know why i am soo scared

sometimes i think it is because i think i will hit my feet on the bar but other times i have no idea why i wont just let go of the bar



2 weeks ao i let go of the bar but it was still scary

this week and last i have not been able to let go of the bar


so if anybody has any tips for me i would REALLLLYYYY appreciate it


i need to get this stupid fly away and get rid of my stupid fear



so please help me

[Kayleigh]

Wow. We're gonna get along great!

I had the EXACT same problem (and I still do from time to time). I'm assuming your coach is still spotting, right? That always reassures me. I think part of it is trust, in yourself AND your coach. You have to trust yourself to let go, and you have to trust your coach that he/she's; a, not going to let you hurt yourself, and b, he/she's not going to let you do it if you're not ready.

As far as getting over the fear... visualization helps. If you can picture yourself doing a perfect flyaway, you'll do a perfect flyaway. You just can't visualize anything negative, that's the key.

The other thing that helped me was starting with them on the low bar. Swing with your legs tucked, then on your third swing, let go and have your coach catch you. That way, you're getting used to letting go without flipping, AND you learn correct timing. Once you master that, do the same thing with the flip. After that, move it up to high bar on the lowest setting. As you get comfortable with it, move the bar up. You'll find yourself getting used to it.

Also (jeez my finger hurt from all the typing!), I'm sure as of right now you're scared to swing hard into it, but the bigger the swings, the easier it gets. And the more height you get, the less scary it is.

One more thing; you just have to get yourself to do it. Work up the courage and believe in yourself! You'll get it eventually. It may take time, it did for me, but I have it now. And I know you will too.

PM me if you want to talk at all! I can completely relate to your situation. I actually got to the point where I thought about quitting because of it. Don't let it get that bad. Remember; part of gymnastics is going to be fear, but think of how great it will feel the first time you're that scared but you do it. I've never had a prouder moment than when I did my first flyaway by myself (and that was just a month ago! We started working them in November! Hard work pays off, my friend! ).

Good luck!!!!!

-xoxo
Kayleigh

[hammy]

Drills are always a good way to get over fear. Have you ever tried any dead cows---do these off the low bar: do a tap swing and once your feet get up let go and land on your back. This way you don't have to worry about flipping, just getting yourself to let go.

Also, try not thinking about it too much. Sometimes we let our mind wander off and think about something too much; often leading to a fear of this particular thing. Trust in yourself and trust your coach--they wouldn't have you doing it if they didn't think you were capable and safe of doing it. Good luck!

[I-Heart-Beam]

Dead cows helped me soo much!!!

Also you just need to let go. The first time's the worst! Like everyone else said, your coach wouldn't ask you to do it if you aren't capable.

[gymgymgymnast08]

ha i think dead cows are scarier then flyaways but ive been doin them for a while

[egymnast123]

i am the excact same way only im 6 going 7 hopefully

[hammy]

Are you afraid of going with a spot? If not, try talking to your coach about it and have them spot you less and less each time. This way you know they're right there to help you if you need it. I'll be honest with you--hitting your feet on the bar is likely to happen at one point or another--it's caused by creating shoulder angle before you let go (called 'pulling in'). Try to think about keeping your shoulders open as you let go. Like someone else said--letting go the first time is the hardest thing for most people. Be confident in yourself and just make yourself let go.

[gymgymgymnast08]

Your coach wouldn't tell you to do it if they weren't 110% sure you could do it!!!

[BlairBob]

For any of my kids, they must be able to do a back pullover on tramp before I think of letting them do flyaways. There is something about the sensation of being free out of a back drop on tramp that I like. Also, there is the aerial awareness factor. Having a kid willing to do a HUGE back drop on tramp is a must before I think of letting them do flyaways.

I view the flyaway as a release at roughly 6 or feet high. Thus, if they're willing to do a back drop 3 or 4 feet in the air, I know they have gotten over that fear. Be it back pullover, peanut roll, or whatever you like to call it. We had a girl who was level 7 and never really had a consistent flyaway as she got it, then lost it about a year later, etc. At one point, she refused to do just about anything backwards. Building from the bottom of backdrops, etc, eventually got her over it under me.

[gymcrazy08]

I used to have the same problem as well. Dead cows helped me a lot. My coaches wouldn't spot us on our flyaways tho so i just did a lot of dead cows and working on them into the pit. u just have 2 trust urself. and once u do it and start getting the hang of it... they will be super fun!

best of luck!