Coaches have experience regarding when and where falls from the equipment are likely to occur. For the gymnast, a fall can have a negative effect on future performance and potentially lead to a mental block on the skill causing them fear. But it is not the skill for which they have fear, it is the falling from that skill. 

#1.   Always practice the Fall first!
#2.   When in doubt always tuck up, never open out. Serious neck and back injuries may be avoided.
#3.   Avoid putting hands to the floor, hyper-extension can result in an elbow break or dislocation of the shoulder can ensue due to this reflex action, EXCEPT TO PROTECT NECK.
#4.   If landing is likely to be on the front of the body, try to 1/2 turn to the back, with the arms used to break the fall, extended above the head. 
#5.   Practice forward and backward rolls and shoulder rolls for fall from height.
#6.  Practice back rolls with the arms overhead protecting the neck.
#7.  Place protective matting in the proper places.
#8.  Practice judo falls including slapping the mat.
#9.  Practice fall to push-up.
#10. Teach gymnasts to continue with the execution of skills.  Injuries and more serious injuries are more likely to occur when bailing out.

Practice Regularly
All of the above can in certain situations be rehearsed. Support the gymnast through the exercise of falling or falling with a 1/2 turn to back and continue to rehearse with assistance regularly.

Ensure Adequate Matting
For a young gymnast, even cartwheels on beam for example can be a cause for concern. Ensure that adequate safety matting is provided in the area where the gymnast is likely to fall. Frequently coaches place matting under the beam, the gymnast is hardly likely to land there. To the side of the beam and well behind the point of take off is the more likely landing sight. Again avoid hands being placed behind them and rehearse jumping and falling back from the beam. 

Roll Out of Somersaults
Over rotation from saltos, encourage the gymnast to roll backwards from back salto, again avoiding hand placement on the floor to stop rotation but to place above the head, as in the execution of the back roll.  Gymnasts should do shoulder rolls when over-rotating front saltos.  Shoulder rolls avoid rolling over the head and risking neck injuries.

Soften Short Landings
When landing in an under rotation from back saltos, encourage gymnasts to free forward roll or shoulder roll out, again avoiding rolling over the head and risking neck injury.  Landing under rotated from front saltos, will just result in a seat drop or a half roll back.  In both cases the hands should be used to soften the landing.

Drill Safe Falls as Part of the Learning Process
Many skills have similar 'outs' and these should form an integral part of learning the skill at hand.

Continued Next Page 
 

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