How to Teach a Child a Back Handspring

Every gymnast strives to perfect the back handspring. When a back handspring is accomplished, a milestone has been reached. A child is ready to begin learning a back handspring when she has mastered a back walkover. Teaching a back handspring, or flip-flop, is easy if you follow the correct procedures.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Tumbling mats
• Trampoline

1. Tell your child to stand up straight facing backwards. Her arms should be straight out in front of her, and her knees should be slightly bent.
2. Instruct her to swing her arms down, just past her bottom, as she bends her knees and moves into a sitting position. Her chest should remain up, and her knees should not go over her toes.
3. Throw his arms back up into the air and backwards toward the ground. As his arms are going up, he should push with his legs and jump. The jumping and throwing combination will give your child upward and backward momentum.
4. Instruct him to arch his lower back. As his back arches, his head and hands will reach towards the floor. Place one hand on his lower back and the other hand on the back of his thighs to spot him as his upper body lowers to the ground.
5. Help your child flip her legs so that they are straight up in the air. She should be in a handstand position for a brief moment.
6. Whip her legs down, while instructing her to bend at the waist, once her hands have landed on the ground.
7. Tell her to bring her hands straight up from the ground into a salute position.

Tips & Warnings

• If your child becomes frustrated, stop and try again later.
• Teach your child a back handspring on a trampoline before moving to tumbling mats.
• Work on proper technique with your child once she has learned a back handspring. Her legs should be straight and her toes should be pointed.
• Children should tumble on mats to reduce the likelihood of injury.
• Children should always be spotted until the back handspring has been mastered.