A flip flop, more often called a back handspring, is a tumbling skill many cheerleaders want to learn. Learn a standing back handspring first. Once mastered, it will become the backbone of your running tumbling passes, giving power to more difficult skills like back tucks and layouts. Proper form is always important in cheerleading, especially so with tumbling skills. Practice hard to learn and perfect a back handspring before performing it.
Step 1
Start with your feet together. Extend your arms straight out from your shoulders, parallel to the ground.
Step 2
Swing your arms down as you bend your knees deeply. As your arms pass your legs, start to jump off the ground and swing your arms forward and up, arching backward until your hands land on the ground.
Step 3
Use your abdominal muscles to pull your lower body over. Pike your feet down as you lift your hands up off the ground.
Step 4
Land your back handspring solidly, pausing in a bent over position with your hands alongside your calves. Snap your head up and come to a standing position to finish the skill cleanly.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep your legs straight and your toes pointed throughout this skill. Do not allow your legs to come apart at any point during your back handspring.
- This is an advanced tumbling skill. Do not attempt without a qualified spotter. Do not attempt a round-off back handspring until you have mastered the skill from a standing position, without a spotter.
Member Comments