This skill starts with the backswing. In the upward phase the gymnast should initiate a quarter turn around the support arm, at the same time they should transfer their body onto the single rail. Their arms should be placed on the bar at roughly shoulder distance and width. The gymnast should already be in handstand by the time they get to the single rail. Their body should continue to be transferred onto the the post arm. This arm will become the support arm on which the gymnast finishes the skill by completed another quarter turn. They should finish the pirouette in handstand on both rails. There are two ways to do a pirouette. It can either be done through an initiation early in the swing, or from a handstand hold. The first method involves the athlete initiating the skill before reaching the handstand position. It’s critically important for the gymnast to be in an exact straight body position if this method is used. When they transfer their body from one hand to another, they should not break the straight line from their hips or any other part of the body.
A handstand is a basic skill. Most gymnastics skills start, finish or pass through the handstand position. It’s critical for the gymnast to learn the correct execution of this skill. The gymnast’s body should be completely straight with their arms tight and the angle of the shoulders being completely cleared. Their head should be slightly open, enough to watch the hands through the eye brows. Their back should stay straight or slightly rounded with an arch. The gymnast’s buttocks should be squeezed with their legs tight and toes pointed. The distance between the rails should be comfortable for the gymnast, but not excessively wider than shoulder width. The rails should pass through the palms between the thumb and the fingers. The athlete should be comfortable holding the handstand for extended durations.
The gymnast should be in a handstand. The coach should hold the gymnast’s hips or legs and put pressure on them in a downward direction. The gymnast should maintain the exact handstand position under the pressure.
The coach holds the gymnast and assists him to transfer his body from one hand to another. During the transfer the body is exact tight.
The coach should hold the gymnast in handstand and move them forward and backward in what is called a “tik tak” drill. Leaning forward, the gymnast should be in a slightly hollow position. Leaning backward they should be exactly straight and push back on the floor.
The easiest pirouettes can be done on the floor. For more precision the gymnast can draw lines with chalk, imitating the parallel bars.
When the gymnast becomes familiar with the pirouette on the floor they can move onto the parallettes. In the beginning they could do this drill with a coach’s assistance.
The coach can spot the gymnast on the parallel bars and let them do the first part of the pirouette, finishing in a handstand on one bar. The gymnast can do a backswing, and on the way up they can initiate a turn around the stationary hand. This must be done while in motion. In the handstand the free hand should be placed on the same rail. Then the coach can assist the gymnast to turn back for the front swing. Repeat this drill several times in a row.
The final step is the full pirouette on the parallel bars with assistance. The coach should gradually spot less and less until they remove themselves all together. This will leave the gymnast to perform the skill alone.
Integral part of gymnastics coaching process are skill drills. They help gymnasts to learn easier and technically correct. With GYM DRILL PRO you will find variety of ideas for the most the basic gymnastics skills. There are plenty of images with skill drill progressions. It is intended to support explicitly the qualified coaches in their daily coaching business. DO NOT practice without the guidance of proper professionals.