..are easily fixed! I talk a lot about dance and figured it's time to put my camera where my mouth is. Additionally, I have a lot of girls on beam and floor that are currently learning coupé turns. Like most gyms, coupé and passé are on our evaluation sheets. There have been questions from parents over much the same mistakes, so I figured I'd share them here. They are indeed easy to fix if you have a mirror and can lay down! This is more for rec or early compulsory gymnasts, so if you're above that then this will probably be boring for you!
Coupé
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That's what it should look like, I did it laying down and I highly recommend that for people first learning it or having issues with the position. You want to point both feet, pull one foot along the side of the other until the side of your big toe is touching the ankle of the other foot. It's a lot easier to get a feel for it when you aren't bearing your weight or having to balance. There's a bony ankle protrusion on the side of the foot where the toe should be touching; finding that first with your hands makes it a little easier.
Common Coupé mistakes:
Not keeping the heel in with the foot that's at the ankle.
Putting the foot on the shin of the standing leg, or behind resting on the calf.
Not pointing the foot that's going to the ankle, or even flexing it.
This picture illustrates heel out and on the shin incorrect placement.
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Passé:
Link Removed
That's what it should look like, I did it laying down and I highly recommend that for people first learning it or having issues with the position. You want to point both feet, pull one foot along the side of the other until the side of your big toe is touching the side of the knee on the other leg. It's a lot easier to get a feel for it when you aren't bearing your weight or having to balance. There's what I can only describe as a notch at the side of the knee that's an excellent place for a toe to fit. Finding that first with your hands (while your leg is straight) makes it a little easier. When practicing be sure to not displace the kneecap, your passé foot should not be interfereing with movement of that joint.
Common Passé mistakes:
Not keeping the heel in with the foot that's at the knee.
Putting the foot on the shin of the standing leg, or behind resting on the calf.
Not pointing the foot that's going to the knee, or even flexing it.
This picture illustrates heel out and on the shin incorrect placement.
Link Removed
Whats bad about the bad?
Not ponting the foot is not only well, ugly, but also the act of pointing keeps the leg tight. This mistake should be avoided because while you can get away with it simply standing, you won't be able to turn without a tight leg.
Heel out is bad for a different reason, and is generally done in conjunction with having the foot on the shin or behind the leg on the calf. These problems typically come from a desire to 'brace' the coupé/passé foot against the standing leg. Again, you can't turn in that position. It throws off your balance usually by making you lean in on one side of the hips, which throws off your back alignment, and will hinder or totally impede an actual turn.
Easy fixes
Got a mirror? Seeing your placement does a lot in terms of awareness. Once you can see it, practice laying down on the floor where balance and weight bearing aren't issues. In the act of a turn, you have to snap that foot up quickly, so practice doing that on the floor as well.
Coupé
Link Removed
That's what it should look like, I did it laying down and I highly recommend that for people first learning it or having issues with the position. You want to point both feet, pull one foot along the side of the other until the side of your big toe is touching the ankle of the other foot. It's a lot easier to get a feel for it when you aren't bearing your weight or having to balance. There's a bony ankle protrusion on the side of the foot where the toe should be touching; finding that first with your hands makes it a little easier.
Common Coupé mistakes:
Not keeping the heel in with the foot that's at the ankle.
Putting the foot on the shin of the standing leg, or behind resting on the calf.
Not pointing the foot that's going to the ankle, or even flexing it.
This picture illustrates heel out and on the shin incorrect placement.
Link Removed
Passé:
Link Removed
That's what it should look like, I did it laying down and I highly recommend that for people first learning it or having issues with the position. You want to point both feet, pull one foot along the side of the other until the side of your big toe is touching the side of the knee on the other leg. It's a lot easier to get a feel for it when you aren't bearing your weight or having to balance. There's what I can only describe as a notch at the side of the knee that's an excellent place for a toe to fit. Finding that first with your hands (while your leg is straight) makes it a little easier. When practicing be sure to not displace the kneecap, your passé foot should not be interfereing with movement of that joint.
Common Passé mistakes:
Not keeping the heel in with the foot that's at the knee.
Putting the foot on the shin of the standing leg, or behind resting on the calf.
Not pointing the foot that's going to the knee, or even flexing it.
This picture illustrates heel out and on the shin incorrect placement.
Link Removed
Whats bad about the bad?
Not ponting the foot is not only well, ugly, but also the act of pointing keeps the leg tight. This mistake should be avoided because while you can get away with it simply standing, you won't be able to turn without a tight leg.
Heel out is bad for a different reason, and is generally done in conjunction with having the foot on the shin or behind the leg on the calf. These problems typically come from a desire to 'brace' the coupé/passé foot against the standing leg. Again, you can't turn in that position. It throws off your balance usually by making you lean in on one side of the hips, which throws off your back alignment, and will hinder or totally impede an actual turn.
Easy fixes
Got a mirror? Seeing your placement does a lot in terms of awareness. Once you can see it, practice laying down on the floor where balance and weight bearing aren't issues. In the act of a turn, you have to snap that foot up quickly, so practice doing that on the floor as well.