DOUBLE BACKS

Date: Sun May 7 8:48 PM, 2006

DOUBLE BACKS

Date: Mon May 8 7:36 AM, 2006

I think they should be allowed for level 6 only.

Date: Mon May 8 4:44 PM, 2006

mabe they should

Date: Mon May 8 6:08 PM, 2006

i think they should be allowed in level five...if double fulls are allowed and standing double fulls...then double backs should be allowed.

Date: Mon May 8 7:59 PM, 2006

Does many kids even have a double back ????? I wonder who even has a double back to throw in compeitition.

Date: Mon May 8 8:10 PM, 2006

I do. I can do it in my sleep.....

Date: Mon May 8 8:40 PM, 2006

I completely disagree. I do not think double backs should be allowed in any level (I'm not completely convinced on double fulls, etc. either). I've seen way too many people SERIOUSLY injure themselves attempting double backs. There are only a few coaches in gymnastics that are qualified to teach and spot a double back, let alone in cheerleading. Maybe in a few years when coaches are REQUIRED to be level certified and a very thorough and strict certification system is put in place then some of these more elite skills can be reconsidered. As of right now, for the safety of everyone, there is no question in my mind that double backs should remain illegal.

Date: Mon May 8 9:45 PM, 2006

Injuries happen when a coach doesn't know how to teach a certain skill. But why make a skill illegal because injuries are possible. Any skill, in cheerleading or gymnastics can be dangerous if taught incorrectly. You're right, coaches should be certified, and I would agree that hardly any are qualified to teach double backs, let alone fulls and double fulls. (I've seen many kids seriously injure themselves "attempting" those too.)

But double backs (as well as ANY tumbling skill) shouldn't be attempted, they should be TAUGHT with drills, using tools such as tumble tracks and loose foam pits. They are no more dangerous to teach to an experienced tumbler than a roundoff tuck is to a brand new athlete. (I learned a double back at the age of 9 in gymnastics, I didn't learn my full until Nelson taught me my Junior year of high school in cheerleading.)

Many cheerleaders are ex-gymnasts anyways... And I would rather re-learn my double back then throw a double full any day!

Date: Mon May 8 9:51 PM, 2006

I think the issue is that a double back is far easier to overrotate and land smack on your back (which, in many competitions, would put you directly on concrete) than a regular single-salto twisting skill. The technique and risks are very different from a double/triple full.

Date: Mon May 8 11:34 PM, 2006

Absolutely NOT.

In my opinion, cheerleaders in general do not have very good tumbling technique. Sure, they can be taught, but as it is; after being a gymnast for 10 years I cannot stress upon the fact that tumbling in shoes was one of the roughest transitions ever. I could throw double fulls barefoot in gym, and in cheer (with shoes) I could barely throw fulls. Springy-er floors from gymnastics do not make a cheerleading spring floor feel like a pic-nic, either.

My point is this--cheerleaders already are chucking skills and not learning properly how to tumble with good technique. I'm guilty as charged for chucking new skills, but I also have no intention of throwing a double back on the floor without proper instruction from a certified USAG coach.

No, double backs should NOT be legal.

My other thoughts are this-- standing double fulls are NOTHING I repeat NOTHING compared to a double back. Granted, you could always land on your neck and break it and become paralyzed, but with taking a chance at two horizontal rotations, you're insane to even compare the dangerousness of both skills!

-Bryan
Motions

Date: Tue May 9 6:00 AM, 2006

Way to go Bryan! A very adult opinion that is absolutely correct! My daughter was throwing double backs at 9 and it is so very easy to lose it under the most controled enviroment(gymnastics) let alone at a crazy cheer comp. Many people don't understand the intensity and focus that is required to do these skills in the middle of a cheer routine. Lets leave the doubles to the elite gymnasts!

Date: Tue May 9 6:40 AM, 2006

How do you know if a coach is certified and if their certification is done properly? Do they have to take exams that are monitored by some authority? Are they tested to see if they spot the kids properly? Or do they just get something mailed to their gym and then they "group" complete the answers and send them back?
Just wondering

Date: Tue May 9 9:36 AM, 2006

As of right now USASF has a certification process set up. They have certain people who they have trained as certifiers, that then go out and train others at specific training sessions. I believe all of the Cheergyms.com staff are certified and a large portion of them are trained certifiers as well. It is not required by the USASF that a coach is certified (this will hopefully change in the near future). Coaches right now can also be certified through AACCA or NFHS, but as someone who is certified in both and a certifier for NFHS, neither of these require anything more than, basic knowledge of how to build a half, thigh stand, etc., and the ability to read and memorize the booklet. USASF is really the only one geared towards All Star cheerleading.

While USASF has made a huge step in the right direction, it's still not really intensive enough of a test to warrant the addition of more difficult skills, such as double backs or triple fulls. If you are concerned that your coach is not certified in the correct way, ask them to show you proof of their certification or contact USASF.

Date: Wed May 10 9:10 AM, 2006

For USAG, coaches must go to an international coaches convention called "CONGRESS", and it is a weekend spent taking workshops and classes and working with some of the best olympic athletes and coaches to learn proper technique no only with tumbling, but with Vault, Bars, Beam, High Bar, Pommel Horse, Rings, Paralell Bars and Floor. Coaches must also take an 8 hour CPR certification class.

Bryan
Motions

Date: Thu May 11 4:06 PM, 2006

I most definitely agree with the post about the USASF certification. As a coach who is certified, I feel it is not difficult to complete the written and hands on certification if you have even just a moderate amount of cheerleading experience. Hopefully in the future the certification tests will be more in-depth and detailed...but as of now...the USASF certification will not prevent injuries in cheerleading anymore than the DMV can prevent teenage drivers from making dangerous and even fatal mistakes while driving. This is not necessarily the fault of the USASF board...the certification program has just been recently enstated...but keep in mind that a coach certified through USASF may not been much better qualified to teach skills than anyone else involved in the field. Make sure the coach you have teaching your children has lots of experience and skill in ADDITION to the USASF certification.

Date: Thu May 11 7:28 PM, 2006

Is this a new thing? Because when I stopped coaching gymnastics a couple of years ago, nothing was REQUIRED of gymnastics coaches. All you had to do was pay your coach membership fee for the year and you could be on the floor coaching any level.

Date: Fri May 12 8:04 AM, 2006

I coached gymnastics at Colorado Aerials and to be a gymnastics coach you have to be USAG certified and go through a safety certification program.

Date: Fri May 12 8:22 AM, 2006

I coached rec gymnastics over the summer last year too, Boys and Girls levels 1-4, so I didnt have to have USAG Certification. If you're planning on going to a competition with the athletes you personally coach, it would be a bright idea to be USAG registered, unless you want to get into BIG trouble. You shouldn't even be hired to coach competitive track gymnastics at a gym unless you're USAG certified, or plan on becoming certified upon being employed.

Bryan

Date: Fri May 12 9:23 AM, 2006

Actually, I do remember having to be safety certified, now that I think about it. But there was no requirement to go to Congress or take the PDP tests. And the safety certification when I took it was a joke - someone read you the book, then you took the test, open-book.

Date: Fri May 12 10:56 PM, 2006

as a gymnastics coach and once a cheerleader I think that only level 6 teams should be allowed to through double backs. not only is there an issue of safety when competing with them but learning them is very dangerous. If level 5 cheerleaders are able to compete with this skill then younger cheerleaders will feel the need to learn it.... and don't take this the wrong way, I was a cheerleaders for 19 years... but i believe to safely complete a double back you have to have a STRONG gymnastics back round. But i love double backs, i just am afraid of pushing younger kids to get this skill for a level 5 team.