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Developing The Flyaway Early in a Gymnast's Career

Developing The Flyaway Early in a Gymnast's Career

Aug 30, 2013 by Nickolas Velliquette
Developing The Flyaway Early in a Gymnast's Career

As one of the most widely used skills on uneven bars and high bar, it is important to develop a strong flyaway early in a gymnast's career. American gymnasts begin competing a basic tucked or laid out flyaway late in the junior Olympic compulsory levels. Most elite gymnasts today compete double layouts or full twisting double tuck dismounts from uneven bars. And they all started with a simple flyaway. 

Coach Justin Laury of Splitz Gymnastics shares three drills with us to develop the proper body shape and technique for the skill. 

Teaching Shaping for the Flyaway 
This coach assisted drill is done on the floor instead of the bars and focuses on getting the gymnast aware of her body position while doing a flyaway.  This is a great drill for developing muscle memory while doing a flyaway. 

Taking Fear Out of the Flyaway
In the second drill Coach Laury allows the gymnast to experience the feeling of a flyaway in a safe environment. He's found that this helps gymnasts conquer the fear of flying on bars. 

Creating Big Soaring Flyaways
The third drill in the progression combines all taught in the first two drills and focuses the gymnast on creating soaring flyaways.