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About Gerald S. George, Ph.D.
Expertise
Questions specific to gymnastics biomechanics, technique, and training in all events. Questions specific to safety in gymnastics, cheerleading and acrosport.

Experience
I have been involved in gymnastics for over 50 years either as a competitor, coach, clinician or judge. I have conducted gymnastics clinics in the U.S., Canada, China, Australia and Europe. As Director of Education & Safety for the USAG (formerly USGF)from 1985 - 1990,I developed the first USAG National Gymnastics Safety Certification Program including serving as Editor and Project Director for the USGF Gymnastics Safety Manual.I also was a voting member of the F.I.G. General Gymnastics Committee from 1985-1989.

Publications
I am the author of "Biomechanics of Women's Gymnastics" (Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood-Cliffs, NJ) which was the best selling women's gymnastics textbook in the world for 3 consecutive years. I have published over 100 articles specific to gymnastics biomechanics and technique in a variety of publications including "The Gymnast Magazine", "USGF Technique Magazine", and the "JOPHER". I have just completed a new textbook entitled "Concepts of Women's Gymnastics" which will be available to the public in January 2010.

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Louisiana State University with a major in Health & Physical Education. I received a M.S. from Springfield College (Massachusetts) with a major in Biomechanics. I recieved my Ph.D. from Louisiana State University with a major in Biomechanics and a minor in Psychology.

Awards and Honors
USAG Gymnasticss Hall of Fame Inductee; AACCA American Spirit Award for Cheerleading Safety; Patrick Rutherford Endowed Professorship; A.A.H.P.E.R.D. Presidential Citation Safety Award; United States Diving Safety Service Award; F.I.G. Outstanding Lecturer Award; United States Gymnastics Federation Honor Award; University of Louisiana Distinguished Professor Award; American Corrective Therapy Association Service Award; Recognition Award for Research in Sports Biomechanics; National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches Research Award; Hartley Price Honor Research Award; C.H. McCloy Research Award.

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Gymnastics > Gymnastics > Balance Beam Cartwheel

Gymnastics - Balance Beam Cartwheel

Expert: Gerald S. George, Ph.D. - 10/25/2009

Question
Hi. My daughter is a level 5 gymnast. She competed at level 5 last year, too, but she really struggled. This year she is showing a lot of improvement in all of her skills, except her balance beam cartwheel. She goes so slowly, she has trouble getting all the way around, and she usually can’t hold the landing. When she does land it, she gets deductions anyway because it’s really not pretty. She says she isn’t afraid of falling and tries to go faster but can’t. Does going so slowly make it harder to balance? Can you give her any advice on how to go faster? I suggested she try picturing herself in her mind doing it faster. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Kathleen,

Like all gymnastics skills, a cartwheel on BB has an "ideal" tempo range. Going too slowly, or for that matter too quickly, affects both accuracy and balance.

Going too slowly is not the "cause", but rather the "effect" of her problem. I suggest she practice the cartwheel more diligently on a straight line at ground level. Emphasis should be on the "start position" and the "end position". In other words she should show "absolute" control in position immediately prior to initiating the cartwheel and again show "absolute" control in position immediately upon completing the cartwheel.

When the cartwheel is actually initiated, every effort should be made to follow-through completely until arriving at the "end position". The tempo for a cartwheel on the BB is really no different than on the ground.

I suspect that the root cause of her problem centers upon her lack of cartwheel repetitions first at ground level, then on low beam. LET'S START WITH LEVEL FLIGHT!

I hope this helps. Good Luck!

Jerry

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