One Quarter Turn Jump Drills
Gymnasts that already know how to perform straight jumps up in place may begin practicing 1/4 turn jumps as an introductory drill for more complex 1/2, 3/4 and full turn jumps.
Full Turn Couppe Position on Balance Beam
The full turns are performed on the beam following the same technical motions as the floor exercises. The turn is initiated moving the body in one single unit from the head and shoulders to the feet where the back foot not only pushes off the equipment to transfer the body support to the front foot, but also anchors the turning direction during the push off.
Full Turn Passe Position on Balance Beam
This is a fair full turn in a passe position showing a good effort to show a controlled one foot balanced ending. Notice how the turn is created from two feet as the weight support is transferred forward to the turning foot.
Full Turn with Horizontal Straight Leg on Balance Beam
The goal in this challenging variation is to perform the turn around with the leg held horizontal. To begin, turning the back leg does not kick straight forward, but starts with a side sweeping action to help create the turning momentum.
Full Turn with Stag Leg on Balance Beam
The gymnasts' goal while performing the full turn with the front leg in a stag position is to complete the skill with the leg still in a horizontal line. The gymnast should also bring it down with control instead of dropping the leg down too early during the turn. The stag leg must be turned out.
Fourth Position Full Turn on Balance Beam
Some gymnasts and coaches prefer to begin the full turn from a lunge position, others from a regular step forward, and some like to start the full turn from a fourth position. Here are several passe full turns beginning in a fourth position.
Full and a Half Turn on Balance Beam
All of the turning skills on beam are performed in a fairly tall releve like on the floor. A proper full and a half turn finishes with the free leg stepping forward at the skill conclusion. Stepping back like in this example is a sign of the body's center of mass not being correctly placed very close to an imaginary line. The line runs from the center of the head to the body support on top of the turning foot.
Back Full Turn on Balance Beam
This is an example of a rarely seen passe full turn, where the skill is initiated moving the body support from a lunge or fourth position toward the back leg. Before the gymnast spends time working odd turn variations, they should master the regular couppe and passe full turns.
Swing Kick Half Turn
The swing kick half turn is a good balance drill. The goal is to perform a high front kick and swing the same leg back while raising the support leg in a tall releve. The gymnast performs a half turn ending with that same free leg raising up as high as possible above the horizontal line.