Product Description
BACK HANDSPRINGS: THE SECRET TECHNIQUES uncovers the easy-to-learn drills to safely and successfully learning a back handspring. Heads will turn and crowds will cheer when you tumble across the floor with high-speed, explosive back handsprings! This book contains valuable resources, techniques, and illustrations gathered from master coaches over the past thirty years including suggestions for improvement, that lead to more advanced tumbling skills. Get this book now and get started before your competition does. Make your dream a reality. Order your copy ($19.95) at: www.GymnasticsTrainingTips.comor email coachrik@aol.com for more information. Richardson Publishing, PO Box 162115, Altamonte, FL 32716. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good
Has helpful information but also has alot of "fluff". I feel it is more geared toward a student or fresh new coach in training. Some parts/diagrams a little confusing.

Overall good book.

A "must-have" for anyone seeking to master the back handspring.
Written by former competitive gymnast and current trainer Rik Feeney, Back Handsprings: the Secret Techniques is a straightforward guide for cheerleaders, gymnasts, dancers, martial artists, and choreographers. Chapters cover the four areas that any athlete needs to work on in order to master the back handspring: conditioning, training, environment, and desire. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate the step-by-step instructions to strengthening muscles, aligning one's body properly, performing appropriate training drills, and more. "In both the handstand and the back handspring, it is very important that you position your hands correctly to prevent injury to the wrists, elbows, and arms. If your hands are turned out, you can cause the elbows to lock which could lead to hyperextension injuries, dislocations, or worse." A "must-have" for anyone seeking to master the back handspring.

Wow....What a help
This is THE book for everyone including gym owners and parents.The Back Handspring is the premier trick needed by both gymnasts and cheerleaders.

As a former gym owner,and a Mom, I highly recommend it.This book takes the mystery out of the skill and breaks it down into easy to learn pieces.Safety is the number one concern when learning this skill and Coach Rik makes safety an integral part of the learning process.

This book is for everyone (coaches, students, owners and parents) that wants a "How To" manual on this skill.

I will be the first one in line when he writes another book on skills.

Keep "flipping" those pages.

Rayelynn Henderson

Old dog learns new tricks
Like the author, I have probably spotted a million back handsprings. I found this book to be a great refresher for someone who is an "expert" but also useful to those who are just beginning. If you follow the author's guidelines and work through to the end of the book you really will learn a back handspring. This book is easy to read and the directions are clear and concise.

great book for learning
written so that if a child is reading it, she'll understand it.
very helpful for a beginner and advanced. Drills and skills to straighten out problem backhandsprings.best book out there
for this skill. ... Read more

Product Description
Highly successful companion volume for Key Stage 2 gymnastics ... Read more

Product Description
There are five gymnastics conditioning workouts included in this book. Topics include endurance, core, upper body strength for uneven bars, leg strength, and more! There are very specific instructions along with an illustraion for each exercise.For best results alternate these workouts. The shoulder exercises are for cast handstand, the hip flexor exercises such as the step over exercises are for straddle jumps, the wood chop and other oblique exercises performed with straight arms are for twisting, the exercises performed with the ball help with handstands, including cast handstand, the leg exercises are for the push of the round off and back handspring, the running exercises are for vaulting and tumbling. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I am a coach....
Her books have a lot of the same things in them....so if I wouldve known that I couldve saved myself some money...but they are helpful books but kind of not what I was looking for..it will be great for other coaches..now this book was ok (but again the other books have a lot of the same info) I bought all her books and so instead of writing on each one something different I just chose to use the same info just change if i like this book or not.. ... Read more

Product Description
Gymnastics Journal. Keeping a gymnastics journal is a great way to set goals and preserve memories. There are spaces for gymnastics competition scores, event goals, future goals, and much more! You should have enough space for more than one season of meets. In one journal you'll be able to track your progress and your goals from year to year. Written by a very experienced coach, she helped her gymnasts set goals, achieve them, and even surpass them often. Karen Goeller'sgymnasts have been State Champions and National TOPS Team Athletes among many other successful gymnasts. ... Read more

Product Description
Gymnastics explains basic moves, routines, and equipment, used by both boys and girls, and addresses the importance of stretches, warm-ups, and safety.Photos show young gymnasts in action. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Mary Lou Retton
This book is about Mary Lou Retton being inspired by Nadia Comaneci to be a great gymnast.Mary Lou showed her strength and enthusiasm in her routines.Mary Lou's great in this book because she shows the fun side of gymnastics.One of the things that stands out in this book is Mary Lou's great positive attitude and her great smile.You should read this book because it's fun and exciting.

A TERRIFIC BOOK FOR GYMNASTICS FANS!
This book is a great book for gymnastics fans .I think a lot of non gymnastics fans would be bored with this book.This booktells about some of the most famous gymnasts in history, Mary Lou Retton, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Nadia Comaneci, Olga Korbut, and Svetlana Boginskaya,etc.

the book has a powerful overview of all of the women.
This is a great book for anyone who wants to know about these superstars and their termendus struggles as they strive for perfection.For example, I wanted to learn about Shannon Miller and I learned alot more than I expected.This is a great book and I recommend it for all Gymnasts of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents basic information on the essential skills, techniques, and equipment for gymnastics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Nice Book for all Gymnasts
I thought this was a nice gymnastics book. It had a history of gymnastics, a section with skills, a competitive section, and an advanced section. The history part was interesting. I learned stuff about gymnastics I never knew about before! I also thought the part about basic gymnastics skills was nice too, because there were color photos and a paragraph about how to perform the skill. The part about competitive gymnastics is perfect for anyone who is thinking about or is a competitive gymnast. Last, there was an advanced section at the end, with difficult and spectacular moves. This is the perfect resource for all gymnasts!

Good Information
Fundamental Gymnastics is a good book for people who want to know about the sport of gymnastics. I have only given it three stars because I prefer books that focus on teaching skills. But this is a very interesting book, I especially liked the history section. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers the history, equipment and basic techniques of gymnastics, as well as competitions and performances. ... Read more

Product Description
Gives a basic introduction to gymnastics, including a brief history of the sport and descriptions of essential exercises. ... Read more

Product Description
Ages 6 to 9 years. Budding gymnasts will be attracted to the engaging text and bright illustrations of this book. Displaying agility, strength, and flexibility, athletes are shown performing amazing routines on several apparatuses. The book provides a basic overview of this multi-activity sport featuring: warm-up exercises; basic techniques on the bars, rings, and pommel horse; the components of a floor routine; rhythmic gymnastics; competitions. ... Read more

Product Description

Fanciful dreams of gold-medal glory led Jennifer Sey to the local gymnastics club in 1976. A natural aptitude and a willingness to endure punishing hard work took her to the elite ranks by the time she was eleven years old. Jennifer traveled the country and the world competing for the U.S. National team, but the higher she set her sights—the world championships, the 1988 Olympics—the more she began to ignore her physical and mental well-being. Jennifer suffered devastating injuries, developed an eating disorder, and lived far from family and friends, all for the sake of winning. When her parents and coaches lost sight of her best interests, Jennifer had no choice but to redefine her path into adulthood. She had to save herself.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Voice and Well Told Story
This is a well told story about the rigors of gymnastics that makes many valid points about the sport that I had never thought to consider previous to reading this book. Whether you find yourself loving the story for shedding light on the clear lack of attention paid to the all around wellness of the young ladies involved or hating it for condemning the coaching techniques and intense training required at the level Ms. Sey was involved; this book will make you think. As a former competitive gymnast I had not ever considered the way the many hours I committed to the gym from age 7 - 12 shaped my life outside of my muscular body composition and continued love of exercise. Jennifer Sey does an excellent job of telling her story along with explaining the inner workings of the sport that are not exposed in television broadcasts of tiny girls flying through the air. Worth the read. ... Read more

Product Description

This indispensable guide is simply the best book for beginners to the sport of artistic gymnastics. Illustrated with stunning full-color photographs of gymnasts swinging, balancing, tumbling and jumping, The Gymnastics Book features skilled guidance from a medal-winning athlete who is now a noted instructor. The topics covered in detail include finding a good gymnastics club, qualities to look for in a coach, warm-up and cool-down exercises, moving into competitive gymnastics, managing victories and losses, the importance of family and friends, nutrition and apparel, financial aspects, and a typical day in the life of a competitive gymnast.

The book is also filled with anecdotes and advice from Olympic stars, taking beginners behind the scenes and offering a no-holds-barred account of the life of a competitive gymnast.

Customer Reviews (5)

useful guide if you're considering or getting started in gymnastics
For less than the cost of a single gymnastics lesson, you won't go wrong reading this before signing up for gymnastics class!Very nicely done guide to gymnastics, written by Elfi Schlegel, a former Canadian national champion and University of Florida NCAA champion gymnast, along with Claire Ross Dunn.This book provides detailed information for girls (boys, too) considering gymnastics and wishing to develop their beginning gymnastics skills.The book addresses reasons for choosing to pursue gymastics, what to look for in a gym and coach, how to get started, staying healthy, basic gymnastics skills, recreational gymnastics, and competitive gymnastics.

Throughout the book, there are many photographs of young girls demonstrating skills and techniques.There are also many photographs of Efli Schlegel as a child performing a gymnastics stunt.There are a few photographs of boys, but they're definitely not the target audience.Skills are often shown through a series of photographs and detailed explanations, which are instrumental in showing EXACTLY what one should do in order to master a skill -- such as learning how to do a handstand or a cartwheel.All apparati used in both boys' and girls' gymnastics are featured.

Particularly enjoyable is the section at the back of the book on the people and moments most impacted the author -- she calls this "Elfi's scrapbook."It features Olga Korbut, Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Vitaly Scherbo, and others.

The book looks a little bit dated (copyright 2001), but the information seems current.Although it describes the benefits and fun parts of gymnastics, it doesn't glamorize gymnastics.Nor does it minimize the amount of time and committment that is required in order to compete, particularly at the senior level.The "Day in the Life of a Competitive Gymnast" may help keep your young gymnast from getting stars in her eyes and dreaming of the Olympics.

Overall, this is a book that young gymnasts will return to time and time again, that provides information useful to beginning gymnasts and to parents guiding their children through the beginning stages of gymnastics.

Almost nothing for/about boy's/men's gymnastics
Nice book, but do not be misled by info in reviews here - there is almost nothing on men's competitions or male competitors.I originally purchased it for my nephew, but found that all of the photos of young competitors were little girls.

Wonderful book !!
I really recommend all parents and children to read this
book whether they are involved or not in gymnastics. It
tells you everything there is to know about the world of
recreational and competitive gymnastics. It also motivates
kids to stay fit,healthy,and doing their best in any aspect
of life. It also informs parents the benefits of hard work
and discipline on children .

Wonderful book !!
I really recommend all parents and children to read this
book whether they are involved or not in gymnastics. It
tells you everything there is to know about the world of
recreational and competitive gymnastics. It also motivates
kids to stay fit,healthy,and doing their best in any aspect
of life. It also informs parents the benefits of hard work
and discipline on children .

Great For Beginners
A wonderful book for those who want to or have just started gymnastics, this book will guide you and makes a great introduction to gymnastics. The book was written Elfi Schlegal, a former Olympian, and has many full-color photographs of famous gymnasts and young gymnasts performing basic gymnastics skills. Some things this book talks about are getting started, finding a gymnastics club, what to look for in a coach, eating healthy, conditioning and warm-up excercises, different gymnastics skills, competitive gymnastics, and much more. Many tips and quotes from famous gymnasts are also in this book, too. This book is a wonderful choice for all beginning gymnasts, and a very wise purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
Deals with the exercises and skills that make up gymnastics. ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

Product Description
Aimed at the growing number of those involved in gymnastics through schools or clubs. A brief history of the sport is followed by a review of equipment and terminology. Also covered are scoring systems, basic techniques for all pieces of apparatus and practice possibilities at home. ... Read more