Height problem!!

[Aussie_coach]

I am a little concerned that they are expected to be performing flyaways when they only spend twenty minutes on bars each week. That is the sort of skill usually taught to level 5's and 6's who train generally 10-20 hours a week.

[Valentin]

I can understand your concerns Aussie_coach, however in reality the flyaway is probably the easiest skill to do on bars. If you have 1/2 a decent swing, and are not scared and understand that during swing you are not pulling on the bar but rather stretch and kick through the bottom, let go, and then tuck, the anyone can pull of a flyaway. It is really reciculously easy really.
10-20min a week is more then enough to get a safe flyaway (might not develop into double any time in the near or eventual future, but a safe single is really not a problem.
However i do agree with the head coaches decision, as rec kids there is no need to rush, or push of it. It is in cases that is when it can turn scary and dangerous.

I would rather teach a rec kid a flyaway (tucked no layout) then a bail, or cast to layaway

[BlairBob]

Teaching a flyaway in rec would be a lot easier than teaching a bail. For one, it would be a lot easier to spot into a pit or even off a low bar. I could spot a lot of little ones just for kicks if I wanted to.

My basic pre-requisite is they how to do something of a back flip. I really like for them to be able to do a back pullover on tramp before I will realistically let them try for a flyaway. A decent swing would be nice too.

Teaching a giant in rec would be much more challenging, but I've done it before in straps if there swing was ready and they were.

[LasswadeCoach]

I agree, a flyaway is not difficult to learn, if you let go at the right moment and can feel the timing its very easy, and these girls are 11-13 years old, so they are mature enough to understand the timing. Ive not really taught the tucked flyaway before though, i taught my little ones layout flyaways first, it encourages them to fly up and away from the bar, rather than tucking and pulling themselves close to the bar, its much easier! i must say though, its much easiter to lift a seven year old than it is to lift a 13 year old! especially at 4'11!!

[Aussie_coach]

Well, yes I guess you are right, the flyaway is not the most difficult skill to learn and with a strong swing they should be able to do it. I guess my concern was more the type of skills that tend to be learned at the same time as the flyaway. How do you find they cope with skills like kips and cast to handstands with such a short amount of time on bars each week?

[LasswadeCoach]

they can all kip, but none are good enough to cast to handstand, these girls used to train twice a week, 2 hours each time, but i guess that still isn't very much. I am teaching them the skills that are in their next grade bar routine, the routine is :

kip
free hip to below 45degrees
kip
squat on catch high bar
kip
tucked flyaway

the routine is based for recreational gymnasts as it is the basic grading system, and not the elite system, it is grade 3 they are doing, and it only goes up to grade one, so the skills don't get too difficult. Don't worry they are not learning giants or double backs or anything like that!! they are not physically prepared to be attempting any moves like that, and they, and myself know that, so you don't have to worry!