I would say that not staying tight is the one major problem that 99% of our team girls have. So, I have been trying to hit this pretty hard, especially the last couple of weeks. So, this is what have I have been doing:
1) explaining that tightness has a feeling, while a loose or bent arm/leg does not really have a feeling.
2) Not allowing the girls to move to move on until I am happy with what they are doing.
I do this mainly on beam when we do our warm-up walks. I originally did it where everyone in the group would keep repeating the walk until there were no major wobbles, falls, come down to flat feet, etc... I recently changed it to where the gymnast who had the fault had to repeat the walk whereas the others can move on (as a reward).
3) I have also recently been telling them to get their shoulder to their ears. Again, mainly on beam, but floor as well. For example, when they pivot turn, 1/2 turn or full turn, I tell them to "pull up tall and get your shoulders to your ears". I will also tell them that during certain jumps (Straight jumps, tuck jumps, beat ups) and as well as handstands, cartwheels, back walkover, etc.
So my questions are:
1) Is there anything else that I can do to encourage them to get tight?
2) Am I wrong and I should I stop telling them to get their shoulders to their ears like in turns or in other things?
I told my boss that I recently told them to do this and instantly their turns looked better. But she said they are supposed to have relaxed shoulders. I personally find it confusing to tell them to pull up tall, but have relaxed shoulders.
Any advice and/or tips are greatly appreciated.
1) explaining that tightness has a feeling, while a loose or bent arm/leg does not really have a feeling.
2) Not allowing the girls to move to move on until I am happy with what they are doing.
I do this mainly on beam when we do our warm-up walks. I originally did it where everyone in the group would keep repeating the walk until there were no major wobbles, falls, come down to flat feet, etc... I recently changed it to where the gymnast who had the fault had to repeat the walk whereas the others can move on (as a reward).
3) I have also recently been telling them to get their shoulder to their ears. Again, mainly on beam, but floor as well. For example, when they pivot turn, 1/2 turn or full turn, I tell them to "pull up tall and get your shoulders to your ears". I will also tell them that during certain jumps (Straight jumps, tuck jumps, beat ups) and as well as handstands, cartwheels, back walkover, etc.
So my questions are:
1) Is there anything else that I can do to encourage them to get tight?
2) Am I wrong and I should I stop telling them to get their shoulders to their ears like in turns or in other things?
I told my boss that I recently told them to do this and instantly their turns looked better. But she said they are supposed to have relaxed shoulders. I personally find it confusing to tell them to pull up tall, but have relaxed shoulders.
Any advice and/or tips are greatly appreciated.