Expert: Britney - 1/29/2007

Question
I am trying to get back into cheer after a few years so i have been taking tumbling classes for the past ten weeks or so to get my back handspring. I started out very strong and now, all of a sudden, i'm having more problems then ever. Lately i have been jumping back onto my head. My coach says that i am jumping up instead of back and to arch more. Even when i think I'm doing these things it doesn't seem to help. Also, my arms keep caving. I have a front handspring so i know i'm strong enough. I just don't know what the issue is and why they are getting worse. Any advice would help. Thanks.

P.S. Should my eyes be looking at my hands through the entire BHS?

Answer
You wanna know something really weird.  I stopped competitive cheerleading a few years ago.  But I still cheer for high school its just a lot different.  I also started tumbling classes again and I find that everytime I tumble now I get more and more sore or sloppy.  I think its just cause you havent done it in awhile and then later u will get use to it again. But for your backhandspring i dont where your eyes should be I think I close mine but im sure thats not right haha.  I think your coach is right you probably are jumping more up instead of back.  Make sure you strech your elbows, wrists, and shoulders out now before you tumble.  I hurt my elbow not streching it before and now everytime I tumble it hurts.  Not worth not stretching so strech.  In then just keep practicing over and over and you should get most of you stuff back.  Hope this helps.  Tell me if you have any more questions or if i didnt answer all of your first ones.
~ Britney