Height problem!!

[LasswadeCoach]

Ok, i have a problem! My 11-13 year old recreational gymnasts need to learn a tucked backaway (flyaway) very shortly in order to be able to enter their next competition. They have all done the 'dead cow' preparation into our pit, but when told do perform the full backaway they forget to let go, pull their knees in and land dangerously close to the bar, i know what the problem is, i just cannot fix it. The girls i coach are nearly the same height as me, and i am not physically strong enough or tall enough to carry them through the move safely, i cannot ask the other coaches, as they would simply not have the time to come over and support the girls. I was wondering if anyone has any drills in which i wouldnt have to handle the girls much, we are kind of stuck at the moment, and they cannot progress further safely without a different preparation, can anyone help?

[bogwoppit]

http://gymnasticscoaching.com/?cat=45&paged=4

The top entry, "wall of death" is a good drill. Though it is for the laid out flyaway not tucked. Though it does help them to release at the right point of the swing, and is not a heavy spotting drill.

I think the problem with most girls and the tucked position is that they pull everything in before releasing. The laid out position does encourage stretching the toes and bosy away from the bar.

Hope it helps a little bit.

[LasswadeCoach]

Thanks for the advice! im going to try that, but the only problem with it is that these girls only train 2 hours each week, and only get a 20 minute session on bars. The only mats in our gym hard enough for this drill would be the biscuit mat underneath the vault, which is at the opposite side of the gym!! we'd have to set it up and clear it away for the next group coming to bars, by the time this is done there will be no time left!!

anyone else got other drills?

thanks!

[hammy]

If you have any spotting blocks or taller mats that you can stand on, you could spot them. Just kind of guide them through it by grabbing their hips and helping them keep their shoulders open. The problem isn't them pulling their knees in (tucking) it's them closing their shoulder angle (pulling in); which is a very common problem with flyaways. Try having them do dead cows in the tuck position (swing up, tuck knees, keep shoulders open, and land on their back).

Another drill:
You could also give them a target to aim for when swinging up--hold a foam block up at bar height where they can swing up and touch it (with shoulders open) before letting go.

[flpflp7]

I read somewhere that as they release have them put their arms out to side middle and that will help them to keep their shoulder angle open so they don't pull back to the bar. I have told a couple of girls to do that & it helped them. I have one that it hasn't helped though. For that girl I am spotting her off the low bar. She swings with her knees bent (not tucked - keep the hip angle open - like she's kicking her tush) and everytime she gets to the point that she would let go I tap her back. On the third swing I catch her with her hands still on the bar (one reason for that is so she can feel her shoulder angle at the time of release & the other reason is for safety since it's a low bar!) then I carry her through the flip part. I've done this with a couple of other girls and it helped them. If I spot on the girls left side (I'm facing sideways to her) I tap her back with my left hand. On the third swing I can grab her right side with my left hand & put my left upper arm and shoulder under her to help me with the weight and my right hand on her left side. Boy, I hope that makes sense! Let me know how it goes! Good luck & Happy New Year!

[hammy]

flpflp7---I do the same thing when I spot.

[Ingymmom]

What about a tumbling belt? We had a coach come into the gym that actually taught flyaways - in 1 day - to our girls without ever actually spotting them using a kind of a rig that belted around the gymnast and was controlled by a rope.

[cccam]

at our gym, we have the level 6's do flyaways on the low bar first. basically they swing with their arms bent and thne when they are supposed to let go you kind of guide them through it. i hope thats helps with the height problem!

[coachamyamerican]

I am only 5'3 and most of the girls I coach are bigger than I am. I always spot on low bar first. straight arms tap swings with their knees bent. Tap one, two, and on three support back and middle and guide them through the release. after a few times on this I see if I can move them to pit bar. I can sit beside ours and spot a few there. I have them reach their toes out toward a noodle (soft stick) to get them extended and releasing at the right point! GOod Luck!

[LasswadeCoach]

Thanks for all the advise, im sure it will help when the time comes, however the head coach at my gym has decided not to put them forwards for grades at this moment, but perhaps later in the year! I guess im just so used to supporting little people!!

thanks anyway!