Coaches Type of Turn Prep

[gralch1]

I was wondering what type of turn prep you prefer. Is there an advantage to using lunge position vs step to releve into turn? In your experience does one facilitate 2/1 on floor. Do you use same prep on floor as beam?

 

[gymnut1]

Our head coach likes the lunge in. Yes we teach exactly the same for beam. I feel you get a better snap up to releve from a lunge. We also teach a leg swing out and round before the snap up to releve to initiate the spin. I don't know if that is better or not as I have only taught it that way although it isn't how I used to spin when I learned gym and dance. Our head coach also likes them to lower the foot from releve to flat to stop the turn. This does work well on beam.

 

[MissBear]

As gymnut. In addition, we emhpasise the bent arm moving out (straightening) before lifting abouve the head. On beam full turn should be controlled enough to finish with a toe-toe step forwards e.g turn on left foot, step forwards on right toe then step right toe close to it (still behind) to a tight releve.
On floor they finish by lowering the heel. I'm not exactly sure about why we teach the different feet. The arm out-up stops the gymnasts twisting her shoulders and makes her use her hips.

 

[VA Gym Coach]

I teach the prep both ways. When I first introduce girls to turns I teach from a straight leg. I feel when they are able to successfully turn from a straight leg start, it shows they are really understanding the skill. When turns are done correctly from a straight leg I feel it looks nicer/taller/more exact and the gymnast typically needs a tighter body with this style. However if it just isn't working for a particular gymnast, I will do the lunge prep. When girls hit optionals and begin to double turn, I tend to prefer a lunge start.

 

[gymcoach34]

On beam: I always start w a straight leg, high releve start for the youngest kids- and I never let them plie out! Same technique for everyone in level 4. In level 5/6, they can start in a lunge, but I have them do both and see what works best for each kid. I never let them plie out bc they always plie early and I do not like the look of it! I try to have the level 7's and up have their turns that finish on releve and hold, then step.

On floor, straight leg from a plie for level 4-everyone else from a lunge.