Keep it Simple

Coach:

OK, listen carefully, I don’t want to have to explain this again. So, you’re going to jump over this mini block into your hurdle step, then you’re going to round off over the wedge making sure you put your hands on the thick part of the wedge, then you’re going to land your round off on the mat and immediately rebound over the top tumbler for the handspring and then I want you to land in front support. Oh and don’t forget to drive a hard needle kick in the round off, keeping your arms by ear ears, then you’ll block, striking like lightning, then when you land the round off make sure your ams are low so you can whip into the handspring shape and make sure your feet are in front of your hips, then land in a front support so I know you’re squeezing your bottom.

Athlete: 

Huh?

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Sound familiar? Because I feel personally victimised by my own blog. It’s quite humbling because I know I have been this coach, both in the over set up of drills and in my explanations. I can’t begin to think what an athlete is supposed to do with this, OR how they’re supposed to progress.

It’s overkill. I got so caught up in trying to create something spectacular I forgot that simplicity is key, less is more, and I am not the centre of the tumble class; it’s the athlete.

I’m changing my MO. It’s a simple life for me going forward.

So, in true simple life spirit, I’m going to share a small series of blogs committed to simple tumble hacks. In this one, I present to you the humble tea towel.

Athlete leading with the toe during a BWO

It’s designed to prevent the bend at the knee, so the athlete doesn’t buckle and leave their feet behind. Remember: whatever gets left behind is going to make an athlete heavy and will make them move through a skill slowly. This will make skill performance ‘clunky’ and the athlete more prone to a fall or injury. Not great for building confidence.

This is what it might look like in performance:

Unlimited possibilities.

What about as part of a circuit? Here’s three examples:

BWO

Athlete levers while balancing a tea towel on their foot.

BHS

Athlete drives toes when jumping onto the top tumbler to create an extended horizontal body line

BHS Set Drill (running)

Athlete uses the tea towel to work on BHS shape and set angle for the level 3+ skill

These are just a few examples of what you could try. The possibilities are endless, which is what we love as tumble coaches: easy, practical and recyclable. 

I’ve been using tea towels with my own athletes and the athletes I work with when I visit other gyms. I believe its simplicity is its key. People like challenges and are inspired by what appears easy but proves to be challenging. I’ve found that even the most work shy athletes find time to get in more reps than usual. Everyone wants to join the elite club of Tea Towel Dominators and enjoy the prospect of an upgrade challenge, of which there are many. 

In its most basic principle it’s not complicated, athletes aren’t overwhelmed by the details, they’re easy to obtain and can be used again and again.

I hope you’ve found this useful. If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, please email: beardrylls@gmail.com.