Practicing the Backward Roll in the Gymnastics - Term Paper Example

Backward roll from stand to stand Table of Contents Introduction 1 Description of Backward Roll 3 Techniques of Backrolling 4 Cueing 5 Safety and Spotting while backrolling 6 Variations of the Backrolling Technique 8 Error Description Error: Reference source not found Detection of the Mistakes 10 Common Mistakes 11 Error Correction 12 Further Improvements 12 References.................................................................................................................................12 Introduction A roll is the one of the most fundamentals of gymnastics. However, there are many variations to the skill. Rolls are quite similar to flips. Both of them require a complete rotation of the body. However, their major difference is that flips are in mid air while the roll has a standard execution on the ground. The flips involve the hips passing over the head while the rolls do not. In addition, rolls can help a person to recover safely from a fall (Abels and Bridges 2010). There are several types of body rolls. They include: 1. Forward roll 2. Backward roll 3. Sideways roll 4. Tucked sideways roll. 5. Tin soldier roll 6. Dive roll This study shall focus on teaching and practising the backward roll 101. Description of Backward Roll Backward roll is the opposite of the forward roll. The forward roll usually begins with a standing position where a gymnast crouches down. While in this position, they usually place their hands shoulders wide apart from each other and the hands facing forwards. They then tuck their chin to their chest as well as placing their back of their head on the floor. The gymnast then pushes from the floor using their legs and then rotates over their head to their back. The gymnast proceeds by pressing their feet on the floor as well as whipping their arms forward in order to stand up. However, back roll is different from this. It is a rather difficult gymnastic move compared to the former, even though the body undergoes through the same body positions. However, a gymnast can choose to teach cartwheel first before teaching the backward roll. In this skill, the safety of the neck comes first. The students must possess arm strength in order to take the pressure from their necks. The move helps in developing strength in the entire body as well as the kinaesthetic awareness (Shifflett 2009). The students learning to perform this move will develop the following: Flexibility -The neck flexibility is quite necessary for helping avoid injuries to the neck. -Flexibility of the hamstrings as well, as the lower back of the body, while performing the compressed positions. -The wrist works in helping position the hands back in the proper position as well as pushing with them. Strength -The leg power in helping stand up at the end of every roll -The arm strength in helping push the head from the floor - The abdominal strength in helping pull the legs up and over the head Techniques of back rolling In the back-rolling move, students usually, begin with a squat stand (Ortiz 2013). They may use both of their hands in front of them to help them balance until they are just ready to perform the backward roll. Once they are ready to perform the move, they will keep their heads tucked to their chest while maintaining a rounded back. This helps them to bring their hands above their shoulders. Then, the gymnasts perform the move by rolling backwards and dropping their buttocks to the floor as well as bringing their legs over their head. The pushing action then begins with the hands as well as the arms; just before the feet makes contact with the floor. The gymnasts then finish the move with a squatting stand. However, the back rolling technique has multiple entries, as well as exits once the students have mastered the basic backward roll (Thomas et al., 2008). Below are some of the examples. a. Entries -Peking -Straddling -The single-leg sit -Tucking b. Exists -Tucking -Straddling -Knee scaling -Peking -Scaling -Planking Cueing When performing the backward rolling process, students need to look at their bellies while they are rolling backwards. This will help them in keeping their heads tucked in during their backs rounds up in helping diffuse the back or head injuries. While the students are rolling over, they need to have to perceive their legs pass over their faces. This assists them to roll in a straight line (Hamik et al, 2009). Upon landing, the students need to use their hands first as well as looking in the direction that they first initiated the roll. Below are some verbal cues that an instructor needs to say when the students are performing the backward roll. -Roll the legs up and over your heads - Keep your back loose as well as flexible in order to round your roll -Push harder using arms in order to get your heads from the floor to minimise the pressure on the neck. -Use a little momentum to help you roll over. -Use the pizza hands and place them on the floor by your ears. Safety and Spotting while back rolling Back rolling is usually a difficult rolling process because of the neck. This is more so for the young children. This is because a child’s head in comparison to the rest of the body is usually larger than that of an adult person. Therefore, a child requires a greater amount of push from the floor in order to perform the back rolling technique. This happens in order to help them clear their heads from the floor while preventing the unnecessary injuries to the neck. However, as an instructor, there is a need to ensure that the students have enough abdominal strength in helping them lift their hips over their heads. The students also need to have enough arm strength in order to help them push their heads from the mat. This will help them to relieve some stress from their necks. Rick Feeney (1990), explains one of the skills of backrolling which involves the placing of the mats in a V-formation for the back rolling technique. It helps to serve several functions: 1. To protect the head from injuries 2. It teaches the students how to roll in an exact straight line 3. It teaches the students how to push using their hands and arms However, as a rolling instructor, there is need not rush your students to perform the back rolling technique especially on flat mats until when the students are ready to perform it. However, when they perform this skill, there is a need to help them lift their hips up an over their heads. Consciously keep the pressure from their necks. The back rolling skill is a great technique to master because it usually helps the students to develop strength and agility. It also assists the learners to grasp the technique of safe fall. However, spotting a back roll in students takes a little more practising than any other rolling. First, the students need to start in a squatting stand. Next, make sure that their chins tackle forward while their hands are by their shoulders. Their palms need to be facing the ceiling in this area. However, there is a need to stand slightly behind your students, as well as their sides. As the student performs the backward roll, be prepared to reach in and grab their hips in order to help lift their bodies up and over their feet. Ensure that you keep the pressure off from their necks and heads. There is a need to follow through until the completion of the exercise. Spot the students until they have a good understanding of their hand placement as well as how to push harder using their hands in order to avoid neck injuries (Graham 2008). Below are various common errors in need to watch in your students while they perform the back rolling method. -Rolling over one shoulder is a common feature. This might possibly injure their necks. -Lack of enough push from the ground -The uneven push of the students from the ground using the hands - The failure of the students to stay round -The lack of control by the students using their legs -Some landing errors Variations of the Back rolling Technique The Backward Roll to the Handstand It is essentially the same as back rolling. However, when the hands happens to make ground contact, they need to have full straightening as the body continues to straighten upwards to the handstand position. The Backward Roll on Rings It is the same movement as the backward roll. However, it has a performance on rings. The technique can also be of use in combination with the backwards roll to Maltese. Shoulder Roll The technique is quite similar to the backward roll. However, the roll is usually performed over one shoulder rather than pushing using both arms in order to roll over the head. It is a common method especially with Rhythmic Gymnastics. It is a fast technique and protects the hair. Initial Drill “Pizza Rocks” In this back rolling method, the hands usually hold up as well as the palms out to the sides at shoulder height. The fingertips need to point backwards while the elbows point forwards. Then, a person then sits and rolls backwards while keeping eyes on the toes. While pressing hands on the floor by your ears, then roll forward in order to stand. As the students' comfortability increases with the exercise, he can then begin to push and lift himself from the floor a little bit. Tucked Backward Roll A student usually starts this skill while standing with the arms held straight up overhead. This has a purpose in helping them not to drop forward. Then, sit them and lift their feet in order to roll them over to their back. Keep driving the toes of the students over their head in the direction that they are rolling. Help them to push on the floor using their hands as they roll over to stand up. However, there is a need to drive their roll by lifting their toes over their head and by not throwing their head or shoulders back. Keep their knees and feet together during this whole time while the students keep watching their toes during the whole time. Do not allow the knees of students to land on the ground as the students are rolling over. Tucked Backward Rolling with Lift In this backward roll, when the hands touch the floor, a student needs to push aggressively from the floor as they roll over. A student needs to maintain the truck as they continue driving their toes over there rolling. Bent-Arm Back Extension Rolling In this backward roll, when a person is performing the backward rolling over, they usually shoot their feet towards the ceiling and push into a handstand (Lieberman et al. 2013). However, person does not need to throw their hips up or even let their head lift. A person needs to maintain a hollow body position while they keep watching their toes. Ideally, the students need to arrive in the handstand position while still looking at their toes. They can build an initial momentum by helping keep the pressure between their legs while pushing back very aggressively. This needs to be right before a person makes contact with the floor with their butt. Better still; a person needs to keep their torso upright as they sit back while not leaning forward. The Straight-arm Back Extension Rolling In this backward rolling method, the positions are usually critical for a successful backward rolling. In this method, a person starts the skill by standing up with their arms held by their ears. Each of the palms turns away from the body and the thumbs made to face forward. A person must sit back and roll while trying to actualise enough momentum. In this technique, maintaining a straight line while keeping the hips turned is very crucial in helping maximize the momentum. The Backward Picking Roll on the Floor It is a natural progression from the “Backward Straddle Roll." This technique demands that the gymnast to use the momentum from the backward roll into the standing tall position. Below are the steps to a complete Backward Pickings. Stage 1 -Stand tall with your arms straight above your head -Look straight ahead Stage 2 Bend Forward (Hand Position) -Bend forward -Lower your arms behind your legs -Look at the floor below you - The arms should be a little above your knees Stage 3 -Start your roll on our hands -Keep the pike position while not opening up Stage 4 -Roll -Roll onto your shoulders -Bend your arm. -Then bring your hands close to your ears. Stage 5 -Push off from the ground using your hands -Do not roll on your head Stage 6 -Stand up -Straighten your arms -Keep pushing away from the floor Stage 7 -It is the finishing round -You stand tall with your arms straight above your head -Look straight ahead then Error Description Detection of the Mistakes The errors that are common is the girls committing is that they were trying to perform a back roll with their legs bent. They thought this would help them to gain more momentum. Another mistake that amongst the girls is that at first they thought the back roll method is rather difficult to perform. Common Mistakes Gym instructors usually teach their students how to perform the back rolling technique perfectly. However, they need to know that the students only learn to perform the skill perfectly by correcting their mistakes. This is not wrong. Rather, it is how most gymnasts learn the skill. Therefore, gym instructors need to learn how to correct the errors of their students. If the gymnast continues to commit the same mistake repeatedly, the girls will perfect the back roll method. However, they will be performing the role with a mistake in it, as well. Error Correction Mistake Correction The back roll technique needs to have performance with straight legs. Bending of the legs in order to gain momentum is highly discouraged in this technique. Gymnasts must learn how to perform the drill with the proper rotation speed with straight legs. In addition, the girls seemed to believe that the back rolling method was rather difficult to perform. However, after some few practices, they noticed that the technique was not difficult at all. Further Improvements The further improvements that can be done in order for the girls to perform a complete roll are that a gym instructor can supply them with a wedge in order to help increase their momentum of rotation. References Abels, K. W., & Bridges, J. M. (2010). Teaching movement education: Foundations for active lifestyles. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Graham, G. (2008). Teaching children physical education: Becoming a master teacher. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Hamik, R. E., Wilson, C., & MENC, the National Association for Music Education (U.S.). (2009). Singin', sweatin', and storytime: Literature-based movement and music for the young child. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Education. Lieberman, L. J., Ponchillia, P. E., & Ponchillia, S. K. V. (2013). Physical education and sports for people with visual impairments and deafblindness: Foundations of instruction. New York: AFB Press. Mohnsen, B. S. (2008). Teaching middle school physical education: A standards-based approach for grades 5-8. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Kathleen Ortiz, (2013). Tumbling basics. Champaign, Illinois, Human Kinetics Publishers. Shifflett, C .M, (2009). Aikido exercises for teaching and training. Round Earth Publishers. Berkeley, Calif, p.129. Thomas, K. T., Lee, A. M., & Thomas, J. R. (2008). Physical education methods for elementary teachers. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Read More