Recently I've started working with the cheerleading team at the high school I coach at, sort of in an assistant/tumbling coaching position. About a quarter of the girls are (ex) gymnasts/all-star cheerleaders - they can already tumble. Another the next 1/4 can have a RO-BHS or standing BHS - they're pretty confident with it, and are physically capable of doing it, it's just sloppy. The bottom quarter are working on cartwheels and RO still. I have no problem working with and coaching 3/4 of the group - everything I feel I need to do is well withing my coaching and spotting abilities.
That last quarter is where I'm stumped. They're ready to start working on backhandsprings. They have good roundoffs, backbends, backwalkovers, and can do the wall-sit arm-swing drill (I don't know how else to describe it, but I saw it on here for teaching the "sit back" into the BHS. I have used it previously with success for correcting form). The problem is that I have no idea how to introduce the skill to them - all I have is lots of flat mats (panels, 4", 8" and some 12" "resis") and a trapezoid. No barrel, no tramp. I have a couple soft, small cheese mats (maybe 4 feet?) And with me being 114lb....I simply can't hold them up and flip them around as they do the skill.
It's a poorer, rural community with the nearest gyms being an hour away at least, so that's not really an option.
Thanks in advance for any and all advice. I have nothing.
That last quarter is where I'm stumped. They're ready to start working on backhandsprings. They have good roundoffs, backbends, backwalkovers, and can do the wall-sit arm-swing drill (I don't know how else to describe it, but I saw it on here for teaching the "sit back" into the BHS. I have used it previously with success for correcting form). The problem is that I have no idea how to introduce the skill to them - all I have is lots of flat mats (panels, 4", 8" and some 12" "resis") and a trapezoid. No barrel, no tramp. I have a couple soft, small cheese mats (maybe 4 feet?) And with me being 114lb....I simply can't hold them up and flip them around as they do the skill.
It's a poorer, rural community with the nearest gyms being an hour away at least, so that's not really an option.
Thanks in advance for any and all advice. I have nothing.