Double back somersaults have become commonplace in today’s routines and are performed on every event. The performance of these skills and certainly the learning process is no longer reserved only for the elite level experienced gymnast. In fact, it is not unusual to find training team gymnasts working these skill progressions. 

Drill, Drill, Drill
A variety of training methods for double somersaults have been utilized including the use of spotting, trampoline, pits, and belts. Regardless of the environment in which the actual skills are performed, the mastery of various progressive lead-up drills is necessary for their safe execution. 

One and a Quarter to a Back Drop
One such drill involves the performance of a one and a quarter rotation, in the case of the backward double, or a one and one quarter rotation to a back drop and a one and three quarter rotation to a front drop, in the case of the front double. These drills can be done onto stacked mats or on the trampoline and give the gymnast the experience of the multiple rotation of the skill in a relatively safe environment. Multiple repetitions of these drills can develop the air sense in the skill necessary for safety and consistent landings.

Tumbling Up
A gymnast will begin by performing a single salto to the feet onto a stack of mats considerably higher than that of the take-off surface to encourage height in her tumbling. Once this task has been achieved/ the next step is to continue the rotation to land on her back on the stacked mats. As the gymnast becomes more and more proficient in her tumbling skills and begins to achieve greater height in her salto, more rotation can occur. 

Tumble Higher and Higher
The higher the gymnast/s center of mass is from the landing surface, the more rotation can be achieved prior to mat contact. This can present a safety concern if the drill is not adapted to the gymnast's new level of proficiency. Injury may occur if sufficient rotation is achieved to cause the gymnast to land on the neck or head. Although a higher level gymnast may have sufficient awareness to avoid this situation, an inexperienced gymnast may be unable to recognize the error in rotation until it is too late. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt the equipment setup to reduce the chance of this situation occurring and to maintain a consistent focus of information and correction to the gymnast.

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