Use This Drill To Build Confidence Going Backwards In Walkovers & Handsprings!

If you’re scared to backwards, the good news is that there’s nothing wrong with you. In fact, if you weren’t, I’d be a little worried. That’s because going backwards and upside down isn’t something humans are generally meant to do. Nor are we naturally good at it. 

It’s also why it takes a heck of a lot more time to train a kid to do a back walkover than say… throw a ball into a net. While both of these skills take years to perfect (we all know swishing 3 pointers isn’t easy), the initial barrier to entry is high in the sport of tumbling. 

I mean, just think about it for a second — how long does it take for an athlete to do their very first back walkover without a spot? A few months at the very least, if not a year. Now think about how long it takes a child to throw a ball into a net. You can probably accomplish this at their very first practice. 

So the million dollar question is: How do we get over this fear? Well, one way is to use a simple drill I like to call the Backbend Wallpop

Take a look below…

Here’s Why It’s Awesome

1) Infinitely Adjustable

Whether you have an adorable little nugget starting her very first practice or a seasoned competitive athlete that needs to clean up their walkovers or handsprings, this drill can be adjusted to challenge them all! Case in point — the group of girls you see in the animation above!  Some are working BWO while others already have their BHS.

Here are some factors you can play around with:

• Distance From Wall: Obviously the further away you are, the harder this gets.
• Hand walking VS Straight Drop: In the animation you see the straight drop. But they can also walk their way down.
• Popping vs Stationary: In the animation you saw that my athletes are popping back. But for confidence building (or for newbies) you can ask them to stay there for 3-5 seconds and then come down safely.
• Spotted VS Non-Spotted: Pretty self explanatory; newbies will generally need a reassuring hand on their back when they 1st get started

2) Doesn’t Need Much Equipment

Do you have access to a wall (preferably one that won’t collapse if you push on it)? Great! Then you can do this drill.

With that said, you might want to place a crash mat under the newbies just in case they come crashing down. Another option is to prop a cheese mat against the wall so if they lead with their head (instead of their hands), the loss of brain cells doesn’t become a significant issue ?

3) Can Be Done At Home

While I don’t like my athletes tumbling outside the gym, I don’t mind them doing simple drills at home which will only help them shave off some time from their learning curve. And this drill is a great example that can be turned into a simple and safe home set up. But before you (or your athletes) go throwing Backbend Wallpops in your momma’s basement, here are 3 simple rules that must be followed: 

1. Make sure there is parental supervision at all times
2. Place a pillow, a thick blanket or anything fluffy and soft under the child (especially where the wall meets the floor)
3. Ensure that they aren’t just doing quantity of reps — quality matters! If they lead with their head (shame), it’s very easy to develop a bad habit. And trust me, bad habits are very hard to break. Doing this drill incorrectly will actually make their skills worse and hold an athlete back instead of helping them improve.

Hope you get a chance to play around with it, and have some fun!

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