nickibinds
Coach
- Nov 24, 2012
- 9
- 16
Hello, coaches!
I have a question about the feet placement during a side aerial (D) + back layout step-out (C) connection on beam. More specifically, if you have a lefty gymnast which foot should be in front at the end of the side aerial/take-off for the layout step-out, and which foot should land first during the landing phase of the layout step-out. After thinking about it, I came up with the following scenarios, each with pros and cons.
Scenario #1: Land aerial with bad foot in front; take-off for layout step-out with bad foot in front; after pushing through legs on layout take-off, switch legs so good foot steps down first.
Pros:
Scenario #2: Land aerial on bad foot, during the lever part of aerial, put trail leg (which is her good foot) down in front; take off into the layout with good foot in front and step out of layout on good foot first.
Pros:
Pros:
I have a question about the feet placement during a side aerial (D) + back layout step-out (C) connection on beam. More specifically, if you have a lefty gymnast which foot should be in front at the end of the side aerial/take-off for the layout step-out, and which foot should land first during the landing phase of the layout step-out. After thinking about it, I came up with the following scenarios, each with pros and cons.
Scenario #1: Land aerial with bad foot in front; take-off for layout step-out with bad foot in front; after pushing through legs on layout take-off, switch legs so good foot steps down first.
Pros:
- Steps down on good foot first out of her layout step-out, which is what she is used to doing.
- Takes off with her bad foot in front on her layout step-out, which she is not used to doing since she has competed and trained taking off with her good foot in front (FF + Layout step-out).
- Switching legs in the middle of the layout step-out might be difficult (and messy).
Scenario #2: Land aerial on bad foot, during the lever part of aerial, put trail leg (which is her good foot) down in front; take off into the layout with good foot in front and step out of layout on good foot first.
Pros:
- Takes off and lands her layout step-out on her good foot, which is what she is comfortable with.
- Bringing her good foot forward after landing the side aerial has her moving in the wrong direction (forward instead of backward), may cause postural problems on the landing (shoulders down), and could slow her down. Although many girls switch feet at the end of their round-offs when they are doing round-off dismounts and still have great height. Although, they usually have a hurdle into their round-off and are flipping off the beam, and not on and into another acro skill, so preciseness isn't as crucial.
Pros:
- Provides less opportunities for complications—no switching feet out of the aerial or during the layout step-out, everything is moving the right direction, and just smoother looking.
- Taking off and landing the layout step-out with her bad foot in front, which she is not comfortable with or used to.