I've Cheered For 7 Years But I'm Not Flexible At All. Any Help?

[wildcats_cheer]

This is my 7th year cheering. (Pop Warner) The high school that I will be going to requires you to have your BHS they only took 4 girls this year that didn't have one and they are in tumbling working on one. My problem is I have no back flexibility whatsoever. I can do a bridge. Only a bridge. I don't even have my CARTWHEEL! UGGH! Every time I go to tumbling after a while I have to stop and its always right after I get my back bend! Then I loose it! I've probably lost it 5+ times! My jumps are so horrible some of the 7 year olds have better jumps! HELP ME PLEASE!


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[wildcats_cheer]

Hi


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[wildcats_cheer]

Didn't mean to post hi!

 

[TheTalkedAboutMinor]

You don't need back flexibility to do a back handspring. Back handsprings are done with extended shoulders and a straight back.
But stretch a lot. Stretch frequently, hold your positions for a long time, and push so that you can feel a light strain. If it hurts a little, it's working.
The stretching will help with jumps. But you need the technique for jumps, keep your chest up, tuck your butt underneath you as if you were sitting (pikes and toe touches). Jump as high as you can and really whack up your hips in your toe touches (roll your hips upward). As for hurdlers/herkies, just stretch.

 

[wildcats_cheer]

Update: I got my scorpion back yesterday so that's a start!


~ wildcats_cheer ~

 

[CheerlyHere]

Stretch daily. Gabi Butler has her stretching routine on youtube. You can use that as a guide.

Do crunches and other ab workouts to improve your jumps. And do each jump at least 10 times a day. Good luck.

Ask your parents if you can take a tumbling class twice a week. Before you enroll, explain to the tumbling instructor that you need a back handspring for school next year and talk to her about how you can go about getting it. Ask her about extra conditioning you can do on your own to improve your chances. If you do this, then I'm convinced that you will have a backhandspring and possibly a tuck for tryouts.

 

[Sommer]

This is my 7th year cheering. (Pop Warner) The high school that I will be going to requires you to have your BHS they only took 4 girls this year that didn't have one and they are in tumbling working on one. My problem is I have no back flexibility whatsoever. I can do a bridge. Only a bridge. I don't even have my CARTWHEEL! UGGH! Every time I go to tumbling after a while I have to stop and its always right after I get my back bend! Then I loose it! I've probably lost it 5+ times! My jumps are so horrible some of the 7 year olds have better jumps! HELP ME PLEASE!


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How bad do you want this? If you want it bad enough, you will work. Stretching EVERY SINGLE DAY. Conditioning EVERY SINGLE DAY. Practice!! Your jumps are all about core strength (those tummy muscles!), leg strength, technique, and flexibility. Practice jumping up onto a stacked mat to increase strength in your legs. Sit in the position you want to hit in the air. Focus on keeping your chest open and high, and your head up, smiling at the crowd. As far as back flexibility, it sounds like you are saying that it hurts you when you attempt a back bend, etc. Is that right? If so, you need to talk to your parents and your doctor. If you have been cheering this long, you should have decent flexibility in your back. Anytime something causes you pain, and you are confident your technique is correct, then you need to talk with your doctor about it. No skill is worth injuring yourself-- Hope these tips help a little! Now get up off the computer and start working!!


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[Coach Jen]

If you are still working on getting that BHS, try googling "back handspring and bridge drills" for more tips.

Sommer is right about committing. I always tell my kids, "I can make you a good cheerleader, but only you can make you a great cheerleader." I would add to her list to do sitting toe touches as well as V snaps, pike snaps, and double 9 snaps. Then get up and do 10 of every jump you know.

Good luck!