What is oversplits

[gymnast gold]

Everyone is saying to get your splits better the best thing is oversplits
but what is that?

 

[coachmolly]

Splits done with one foot on an elevated surface. Usually the front foot on something like a panel mat to start and then gradually adding more height (if desired) when the split is all the way down with the foot up. They can also be done with the back foot elevated or both legs elevated at the same time, but I start with just the front foot.

 

[gymnast gold]

Thanks we do that at our gym just we don't call it that

 

[BlairBob]

Oversplits can be useful but are of no greater value if the gymnast cannot do full splits in the first place.

It's not like you are putting more pressure down than what they should already be placing on their splits if they are doing them correctly and pushing for them.

Sometimes it may force them to go down lower than they would otherwise go. Then we have a problem of a lazy gymnast.

However, with some gymnasts, especially those who are very tight, I don't think they can exert enough force on their bodies to compensate for how tight they are.

As well, there is some evidence that excessive flexibility cuts down power potential.

Sometimes, it's not that they do not have passive flexibility but not enough active flexibility. They may be able to do splits on the ground, but not splits in the air so they need to work on their active/dynamic flexibility.