Is A Front “Layout” On The Floor Really A “Layout?”
July 15, 2008 by danconnelly
My question to any of you who may read this is, Is a front layout on floor really a layout? After all in most cases going backward it seems everyone encourages a hollow body position. Do you use a hollow body position to do a front layout? It is my experience that a front layout is in an arch. Does that make it another skill or is it just different from back tumbling? Another question is: when you twist backward you do a layout then twist, do you do the same going forward? I have some definite thoughts on these questions but I would like to get some feedback before I start giving my answers. Anyone want to jump in?
Thanks to Valentine for a very astute response to my question.
In answer to Valentine, I agree that there are two types of layouts. Unfortunately, most coaches think of only the arched whipping layout as a “layout”. This becomes a drawback when trying to teach a full twisting layout. In my opinion the whipping layout should be in almost the same body position as the layout that goes up. In other words the gymnast’s take off is hollow followed by a tight arch. The difference in whether one does a whip or goes up is in the front handspring. To create the whipping action the front handspring must rotate faster and land more arched than the handspring that is used to go straight up. Remember that the hollow takeoff must come from an arched position in order to create power.
So, there are two very distinct “Layout” front flips. Please do not be confused by the term “layout” and think that the layout that whips is the only way to do this. As a matter of fact if you try to twist the whipping tight arched layout the gymnast wil have a very difficult time twisting beyond a full. In order to efficiently twist the front somersault one must rotate the front handspring less in order to stand up taller on the take. However, note that to create the power necessary to go up you must still land the handspring arched and snap to the hollow position. The difference is that to twist you never drive the heels to create rotation. The body stays in the hollow and you begin the twist at the top of the somersault which will increase the rotation and allow you to land on your feet. Good Luck.
Hi
Well i believe there are 2 distinct front layouts skills. Essentially there is the front whip (which the front layout with the tight handspring arch) , and than there is the front layout where you are dead straight. Its very rare to actually see someone doing a front layout where they maintain a perfectly straight body all the way around, normally this isn’t done, not because they can’t but mainly because it has limited application, and its not as easy as just doing a really tight whip.
Obviously the front whip is an accelerator skill, which is the opposing skill of the back whip. Shapes differ slightly, even though in my opinion i don’t think they should a great deal. However, it is important to consider the skill that directly follows when we consider shape.
The straight body layout is obviously for twisting. I know that this insn’t the only technique, and coaches actualy encourage a pike kick to layout because of the potential benefits it can add to twisting. However in my opinion from an aesthetic, and optimal technique the front layout should be straight from the take-off. This has technique offers also the most skill transfer benefits, for example in vaulting.
When it comes to twisting, well essentially yes. Your front twisting should be like your back. Layout first then twist. However we all know that this isn’t always done. Actually its rarely done when more than 2 twists are needed. When you get to triple twisting of anything more and more ground torque is often used to initiate the twist. The problem with front twisting is that the front layout is much harder than the back layout. The dominant reasoning to this is activation timings, and take-off position (as suggested by Sands (2007).
These are my thoughts. I would be very interested to hear yours coach Connelly
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