The easy answer to this question is no, all cheerleaders do not have to be able to do a back handspring. But because tumbling has become such an important part of cheerleading, learning a back handspring can enhance your cheerleading skills. Although you do not have to be able to do one, you should work on learning a back handspring. Even if you never master it by yourself, the process of learning and practicing a back handspring helps you develop better body awareness and become a stronger cheerleader.
Back Handspring Basics
A back handspring is an advanced tumbling skill frequently used in cheerleading. In a back handspring, start with your feet together and your arms extended overhead or straight out from your shoulders. Swinging your arms down past your legs, dip deeply to initiate the power for the skill. As you reverse the swing of your arms up, explode off the ground, arching back slightly to place your hands on the ground. Traveling through a handstand position, snap your legs down and then rebound up with power.
Handstand Form
The importance of good handstand form is often overlooked. A handstand is at the base of many tumbling skills used in cheerleading, such as a cartwheel, round-off and back handspring. Drilling proper handstand form can help you more quickly master your back handspring. Lunging forward with one foot, kick up into a handstand position against a wall. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders. Pull your abs in toward your spine to create a strong core that will support your body weight. Keep your legs straight and together and your toes pointed. Mastering this body position will help you in attaining a back handspring.
Cheernastics
One effective way to improve all of your cheerleading skills and make big strides toward executing a back handspring by yourself is enrolling in cheernastics classes. Many gymnastics academies offer classes where they teach tumbling from a cheerleading perspective. These classes are called cheernastics and often include instruction in jumps as well as tumbling. Beyond providing a qualified instructor to teach you, cheernastics classes will give you access to equipment such as a tumble track, trampoline and foam pit, which will all help expedite the process of mastering your back handspring.
Mental Block
At some point, almost every cheerleader deals with a mental block, when your body has the strength and coordination to execute a skill, but your mind creates a roadblock to performing it. Many suffer a mental block with regards to a back handspring. Power through a mental block by increasing your practice time, visualizing yourself successfully completing the skill and never giving up on it. Schedule extra time in the gym. Stop before every attempt at your back handspring, and close your eyes, imaging yourself executing it with perfect form. Keep on trying, remembering that even if you never get your back handspring, the process of practicing it is beneficial, too.
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