AboutRik Feeney Expertise I can answer questions regarding all levels of the sport of women's gymnastics, the business of gymnastics, and the marketing of gymnastics programs.
Experience I am the author of "Gymnastics: A Guide for Parents and Athletes" currently being published by McGraw-Hill. I am also a ghostwriter and co-author of the Gymcert series of books "Levels 1-3 Gymnastics Coaches Certifications Manuals" for recreational gymnasts, and the "Levels 4 - 6 Skills and Drills" books as well as Safety Basics for Gymnastics Instructors. I have written several other books on the sport of gymnastics for Richardson Publishing, the latest of which is titled, "Back Handsprings: The Secret Techniques." Oh, and by the way, I was a competitive gymnast through high school and college (Temple University), gymnastics club owner for 10 years, and women's gymnastics coach for 30 years working with gymnasts at all competitive levels
Organizations USA Gymnastics
National Writer's union
Florida Writer's Association
Publications USA Gymnastics magazine
Technique magazine
International Gymnast magazine
several newspaper articles
Education/Credentials Temple University - Health Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
Norwich University - Bachelors of Arts in Writing & Literature
Awards and Honors Several state and national level gymnastics champions in different systems of competition.
Past/Present clients Gymnasts, coaches, and club owners nation-wide.
The first one is about round off backhandsprings. I have a strong round off with a pretty high, tight rebound. Whenever I add a backhandspring to it, I sometimes go to high and my hands end up not hitting the ground or I land with my head extremely low and my arms bent. I've been told that I haven't been opening up my shoulders and I'm sure that it's true because when I land my head is about 6 inches in front of my hands, sorta like a planche. Are there any drills I can do? My coaches are saying that I have enough muscle and power to do back tucks, double backhandsprings, but my timing is really off.
My second questions concerns grips. When I do my kip, I have a nice glide swing and everything, but when I come up to the bar I bend my arms to stay up. I know why I end up bending my arms, but I try correcting it and I just can't. I don't shift my grip from a hanging grip to a front support grip fast enough so I have to bend my arms to stay up. Would wearing grips make the grip shift faster? My hands won't rotate around the bar fast enough to change the grip by the time I get up.
Thanks! :)
Answer Hi Cindy,I don't understand "I haven't been opening up my shoulders" ? Does that mean your arms are not covering your ears during the performance of the skill?
My impression from your description of the round off is you need to work drills to snap your feet in front of you on the round off into the BHS. Your feet should not land in back of you or under you in a round to BHS; they should land in front of your body to develop a powerful ro bhs.
Regarding your kip, my suggestion is you work on grip shifting drills. When you can do three front hip circles in a row without bending your arms you will understand grip shifitng to easily make a glide kip.
Always practice gymnastics drills and skills under the guidance and supervision of a qualified gymnastics coach with USAG Safety Certification.
