Gymnastics: Use a Bench to Teach the Back Walkover
Your students may need help before they develop the confidence and kinesthetic sense to complete a back walkover. You can provide this assistance by supporting them part-way through the movement using mats and benches.
The Technique
Drape a gym mat over a bench. A spotter stands by while two assistants hold down the bench.
Your students begin by standing on the mat facing away from the bench. They lie on their back on the mat, tilt their head back and reach their hands over their head until their hands touch the mat on the floor. Palms down on the mat, they point their fingers back towards the bench.
They then move their weight onto their hands, lift one leg and push off with the other, creating a split-leg handstand.
The next step is to lower first their front leg and then their back leg, keeping their toes pointed to the mat. They push off from the mat with their hands and stand up. The spotters support the gymnast behind the waist.
References:
1. Joanne Landy & Maxwell Landy, Ready to Use PE Activities for Grades 7-9, Parker Publishing Company, 1993.
2. USA Gymnastics, Coaching Youth Gymnastics, Human Kinetics, 2011.
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