I don't have one set spotting method, but rather that it varies according to which gymnast I am spotting. Anyone else do the same?
Yes, quite often. My spotting techniques seem to vary and adapt according to the needs at the moment and the characteristics of who I am spotting.
I have played around with another method that a coach at my gym taught me which is basically all she used which I will try to explain.
One hand on athletes stomach and one hand on the back, but not crossed. Then to spot (normally from another skill), get hand on stomach as soon as possible, put other hand on the back and help a little with the lift if they need it and turn hands backwards, so you end up crossed. One flip is almost over, as in your arms can't turn anymore switch hands back to original starting position.
I don't know if that was very clear, but have anyone seen or tried this one before, what do you think?
If I understood you correctly, I'll reply with, "Yes I have."
I sometimes do this with certain kids on standing back tucks or on trampoline; but more commonly when spotting a tumbling pass that ends in back tuck or back layout:
If I'm standing on the left side, my right will spot on the back and my left hand will go on the stomach. If the gymnast is small, sometimes I'll spot the set from this position, rather than stand behind.
On the salto itself, my hands never really leave the gymnast (using this technique). I could sorta bump and catch on the way around; but what I like about this particular method is that I can track and maintain constant control of the gymnast all the way to the landing. Essentially, it's like the gymnast is doing a back hip circle around my left arm, because I keep it inserted; only my right hand will move out of the way briefly as the gymnast gets inverted- then back in. When the gymnast is right-side up again upon landing, both hands are right back where they started- on stomach and back.
Wow, thanks for all the responses
Sounds pretty mixed! I got the impression from my mentor that using the back and thigh method was unsafe but sounds like if you do it correctly/with the right gymnasts it can be okay
Spotting is a real art. I love it!
Main thing is the gymnast's safety and your safety. So just really know your physical limitations while going through the process of what feels right to you, in spotting different sized athletes, different levels of progress, and unique quirks of each athlete.
Also, if you're spotting a certain skill for the first time and figuring out how to coordinate the hands, try working it out first with a small athlete that you know you can physically handle; or, as BlairBob mentioned, use a toy doll that's like a small child that can simulate a body.
On that note anyone got any good drills? The ones I know of are the jump back to candlestick/ shoulders onto a stack of mats, practicing the jump back by supporting the gymnast through a backwards tuck jump (holding the shoulders),backward roll off a block, any other ideas
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Here's one I actually stumbled across by accident earlier today that I thought was interesting:
[video=youtube;_owFWwIY5ZA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_owFWwIY5ZA[/video]