Trampoline Flips – The Importance of Instruction Part 2

Welcome back. Last week we discussed the importance of safety when performing trampoline flips, and how vital it is to be properly taught how to attempt trampoline flips through the professional instruction of trampoline coaches. At last we left off, we had just discussed the very first progression in learning how to safely flip. This was the “doggie drop front flip”. If you remember, this flip involved performing a front roll from your hands and knees, or “doggie drop”, and landing on your back having safely rolled over your head. Being the most basic form of progressions, the risk of injury, or incorrect form is minimal. We left off by asking what the next step was in learning how to safely flip. We now continue on with our article on the safely learning trampoline flips.

The second progression of a front flip can be easily summed up in two words, baby steps. We have already elaborated on the “doggie drop front flip” and how it is the basic introductory technique to teach flips. After the successful achievement of the doggie drop front flip, Airborne instructors gradually progress the student into different take off positions. Usually, the first step will be taking off from your feet, while still landing on your back. This technique begins to introduce the student to the feeling of voluntarily becoming inverted from their feet. Nothing else changes during this progression. The flip is still performed with no bounce at first, then with a gradual bounce to allow the students brain adequate time to become accustomed to the new take off position. As always, the coach is always on hand to provide assistance in the event that assistance is required.

After the student has successfully performed the front flip from their feet to their back, further progression continues in small increments. Landing on your back becomes landing on your bum, and landing on your bum gradually becomes landing on your feet. While all these small progressions are happening, the Airborne Trampoline Coach begins to introduce the proper take off positions for a successful flip. This usually involves having the arms raised in the air to aid in adding rotation to the flip once the student has taken off. The Airborne Trampoline Coach also introduces a 3 count system to begin to enforce the habit of counting out 1…2….3…. loudly before taking off. This habit, while not usually beneficial to the proper technique of trampoline flips, makes it easier for the student to progress to harder flips that require either hands on spotting, or crash mat spotting.

Hand, and crash mat spotting are two unique techniques that aid a trampoline student in safely landing their flips. In some cases, once all the progressions have been completed, the student may still feel uncomfortable or shaky in their attempts at successfully landing a feet to feet flip. What are these techniques? Stay tuned next week for part 3 of this article on trampoline flips. Or, if you’ve been bitten by the bug to learn trampoline flips, or any trampoline skills for that matter, contact any Airborne Trampoline location and check out the recreational trampoline classes, sign up for a trampoline lesson, or try out for Airborne’s competitive trampoline team. Until next week…

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This article was written by Steve M, a Gymnastics Trampoline Instructor, former athlete, & Certified Coach at Airborne Trampoline Woodbridge.

Airborne Trampoline Flips in Woodbridge

For more information on Airborne’s Trampoline and Gymnastics Trampoline Programs, contact any Airborne location by jumping over to www.airbornetrampoline.ca

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