Spirit Post

David Petty is the Tumbling Director at Cheer Extreme Raleigh in North Carolina.

When should you start teaching a standing full?

I recommend after the athlete has consistent jumps to tuck and after they have mastered a running combination to full, possibly even a double.

Favorite Drills

My favorite drills starting out would be doing tucks onto an elevated surface to promote a better drive through the shins and to hopefully eliminate bad landings. I also like to teach the proper arm swing into this skill. The best way it was ever explained to me, whichever way you spin your full, raise your arms to go above, or at least shoulder height and shaping them into a circle, or “hoop” shape.

Should you teach a standing full with/without a drop step?

This is something that can be debated for days. I like to teach the skill without a step, but I am not against using the drop step. Especially since this is often choreographed with counts in a routine.

How to teach better landings with a standing full?

A common problem is short landings and/or feet apart. This is something I also teach with standing tucks. Too many times a coach will teach an athlete to drive their knees to their chest for better rotation. However, this often causes heels to be driven to their backside and actually slows down the rotation and causes bad landing. I try to teach a shin drive over the head. I know that’s an exaggeration, but it will cause better hip rotation and better landings.

Shea Crawford is the Tumbling Director at Midwest Cheer Elite, which has several locations, originating in Ohio.

Prerequisites

Prior to starting to introduce a standing full to an athlete I require the athlete to have an open or no grab standing tuck.  This demonstrates the athlete possesses the height and strength to begin working on a standing full.  The athlete must also (usually) have at least a solid round off back handspring full and/or a two-three back handsprings to full.

Introducing Standing Fulls

I like to work standing one back handspring to full at the same time as standing full.  This helps the feeling of the skill.  Arm placement for standing fulls is crucial so I like to have athletes work on proper arms with jump full turns and jump full turn to tuck position onto a crash mat.

Gaining Confidence

Attempting the standing full on different surfaces such as a trampoline or elevated mats onto a crash mat is a great way to help the athlete gain confidence in any skill including standing full.

Troubleshooting

One of the biggest mistakes I see in standing fulls is underestimating the strength required.  Often times athletes posses the technique required but lack the strength required.  Next would be the dragging of feet behind the skill.  Pushing all the way through toes with strong arms is crucial to having a solid standing full.