And this is where the Handstand Snapdown set up comes into play. It’s probably one of the most valuable set ups in all of tumbling. Reason being, it helps athletes avoid the energy drain of doing entire passes and just drill down on the skill at hand. For layouts, one of my favorite is the Snapdown BHS Candlestick
Take a look below…
Disclaimer (Click To Open)
Please keep in mind to watch the drill animations for their theory and mechanics, not execution. Most of my videos are captured during an athlete’s learning phase. Also, please do not perform any drills, prerequisites or progressions unless you’re in the company of a certified coach and have their permission to do so. The information on this website is presented purely for entertainment purposes only. You are solely liable for any injuries that may occur.
Basically, don't be foolish and use common sense.
Enjoying This Content?
Did you know that 99% of the resources on this site are available for free? That's over 100 articles and 300+ drill videos with no paywalls and no ads. Just real value shared with everyone. All made possible by generous readers that stepped up to support the site's maintenance costs. If you would like to help keep this resource alive, click below to donate or visit the store to show your support.
Here’s Why It’s Awesome
- Avoids the use of the RO
- Very safe
- Allows for 2-3x more reps than full passes
- Helps the athlete “feel” the flip of the layout
- “Set it and forget it” — no moving parts to reset or adjust
Now if you’ve followed my drills and content for a while, you know that I’m a big believer in making sure ALL my athletes — whether they’re new little nuggets or seasoned veterans — have to do round off drills and other basics. So the first point may come as a shock to some.
Allow me to explain: it’s not that we want to avoid the round of all together (that would just be silly). But when something is “new”, there is no way around volume. No amount of magic or trickery can replace quantity of solid reps. So if it takes 100 reps to master a skill (it takes more, but let’s play along for now) would you want to do a running round off entry into EVERY single one of those reps?
Sounds exhausting if you ask me.
This is why initially, I like to divert near 100% of their focus and energy on the skill we’re trying to accomplish. Once the athlete reaches unconscious competence, the entry pass can be re-introduced. That’s when magic happens. Try it out, and if you found this drill useful, please be sure to share with a friend, coach or athlete!
Using The Right Equipment
Many people have asked me: “Where did you get that funny looking mini-tramp thing!?”
It’s actually called a T-Trainer and is made of the same material as a Xtreme Bedded Tumble Trak. I got mine from the fine folks at AD Mats because I hate doing cold online ordering for big items. With AD, I was actually able to talk to a human on the phone, got a great deal, and their shipping was lighting quick!
P.S – if you’re going to go with them, tell them “Coach Sahil” sent you 😉
Until next time – train hard, eat well and stay fierce!
Experience The Best Tumbling Clinics At Your Gym!
If you're a Coach, Director or Owner of a program and are interested in hosting Coach Sahil's clinics at your gym, click the button below to fill out the interest form. He is available for staff training, program design, and athlete development. Imagine what it would be like to gain 20 years of tumbling knowledge in just a few days!
About Coach Sahil
For over 15 years, Coach Sahil has been on a mission to help athletes master their tumbling and acrobatic skills in the shortest amount of time possible without sacrificing safety or the quality of their technique. As a former Power Tumbler and Power Lifter himself, he fully understands the inner struggles of an athlete and how to help them get to the next level. To date, he has worked with thousands of athletes around the World and provided training to hundreds of coaches in almost every country you can imagine. He is also a Certified Gymnastics Coach, founder of Addicted To Tumbling, and former co-owner of a gym. He is also the author of the best-selling book The Cheer Diet.
So I’m a cheerleader but you do higher level skills. I’m working on backhand spring and roundoff backhand spring. Do you think you could make drills for that?