Layout Lift

 

This skill requires the gymnast to be able to tighten their bodies. While the gymnast keeps a tight body the coach gently lifts the gymnast into the stand tall position.

Objective

• Learn to keep the body in a tight straight position (layout position).
• Learn to trust the coach as they lift the gymnast.

Prerequisite

• None

Equipment

• None

Execution

Lift the gymnast by the shoulders until the gymnast is in the stand tall position.

Stage 1 – Setup

Toes are pointed. Arms are pressing into the sides. Stomach is tight Butt is tight. Head is in the neutral position.

Stage 2 – Lifting

Keep tight  The coach carefully lifts the gymnast to the stand tall position while the gymnast keeps tight in the layout position.

Stage 3 – Finishing

Keep tight also when standing tall.  When the gymnast has completed the drill and is standing tall then the coach should do the drill in reverse, lower the gymnast slowly until the gymnast is laying flat on the floor. Note: When doing the drill in reverse, the coach can start by letting the gymnast fall a little back before spotting. This is very good for building a trust relationship between the coach and gymnast.

Spotting

It is important to remember a couple things when spotting:

• The coach should only spot, meaning they should not actually do the drill for the gymnast. Let the gymnast do as much as the drill as possible and do not help with more than what is needed.
• Spotting should be avoided. Only spot when gymnasts are learning new skills or for safety reasons. If a gymnast is having difficulty executing the drill then the coach should consider new drills that help the gymnast improve the area they have difficulties with.
• Spotting can turn into a bad habit for gymnasts. If gymnasts are being spotted all the time they will be dependent on a spotter and have a very hard time doing the skill when their is not a spotter (this is true for all skills and very common)

This exercise requires spotting and can be done with one or two spotters.

Besides teaching the gymnast to be tight, the drill also bonds a trust relationship between the coach and the gymnast. This bond is very important, the gymnast needs to know that as long as you are their that nothing will happen that can injury the gymnast. The coach must have full control over this drill and must be able to handle the gymnast with ease.

If a gymnast should be on the heavier side and you are not sure you can handle the gymnast with ease, then you have a couple of options at hand:

• Get another coach to help you (best option)
• Don’t do the exercise

It might seem strange that not doing the exercise is an option, but as stated if you lose control of the gymnast then you will have a much harder time teaching new skills when the gymnast does not trust you. Next time you have a session be prepared and have an assistant with you.

Spotting Method 1 – One Coach

This drill requires spotting, so the illustration for spotting with one coach is the same as the description in the execution. Not all gymnasts weigh the same, so make sure you are able to lift the gymnast without straining your back. Use your legs to lift the gymnast by extending them. Avoid bending your chest too much forward and keep your back as straight as possible.

Spotting Method 2 – Two Coaches

This is the recommend spotting method that makes it easier for coaches to lift heavier gymnasts. Each coach places one hand under the gymnasts shoulder and one under the upper thigh. Make sure that both coaches lift at the same time or else you risk tilting the gymnast to one side.

Common Mistakes

Coaches teach gymnasts how to do skills correctly, but most gymnasts learns how to perform the skill correctly when coaches corrects their mistakes. This is not wrong, this is actually how gymnasts learn. This being said, it is very important that coaches corrects mistakes all the time. If a gymnast continues doing the same mistake over and over then they will be good at doing that drill with that mistake and have a difficult time later correcting it.

• Always correct mistakes
• Correct the first mistake you see the gymnast do (even if it is before the actually drill, i.e. the gymnast forgets to stand tall with arms over their head)
• Correct only one thing (sometimes two if they are related)

Mistake 1 – Arching

The gymnast must not arch their back at any point in this drill. A lot of beginner gymnasts do this because the body becomes tight when they are fully arched, but this is NOT what we want! We want the gymnast to tighten their stomach, butt, press their legs together and press their arms into their sides. A straight (layout) position is what they should be aiming for.

Mistake 2 – Relaxing

This happens when the coach lifts the gymnast and the they bend forward. This is a common mistake when the gymnast just relaxes and expects the coach to do everything for them including tighting their bodies. The coach can NOT tighten a gymnast body, only the gymnast can do that that. In this situation the gymnast has not understood how they should go about tighten their body. A good method to resolve this problem, is to tell the gymnast to press their arms into the sides of their body. This will usually initiat the gymnast into tightning their body. The coach can poke at the sides of the gymnasts butt to show the gymnast were they should be tightening their body.

Mistake 3 – Breaking

This is a common mistake that happens when a gymnast tries to execute the drill and half way into the exercise the gymnast will bend forward (breaking the tight position).

Warning

Any activity involving motion or height creates the possibility of accidental injury, paralysis or death. The equipment and instructional materials are intended for use ONLY by properly trained and qualified participants under supervised conditions. Use without proper supervision could be DANGEROUS and should NOT be undertaken or permitted. Before using, KNOW YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS and the limitations of the equipment. If in doubt always consult your instructor. Always inspect equipment for loose fittings or damage and test for stability before each use. We will not be liable for injuries or consequences sustained from the use of the instructional materials supplied by us. Use common sense!