Technique Time with SkillzonDemand: Hang Drills
The hang drill: Simple. Easy. Fundamental. At least that’s what many cheerleaders and coaches think and therefore quickly overlook it, when in fact, the hang drill is the single most important component to advancing into elite skills.
Taking time at the beginning of the season to focus on the hang drill and work at it until a group can perform it perfectly will pay off tenfold throughout the season. So let’s fix our hang drills!
One of the most common technique problems when it comes to hang drills has to do with the position of the top girl’s hips and knees. Too often, coaches will instruct top girls to load in with their knees up high. When the top girl’s knees are high, making the tops of her thighs parallel to the ground, her hips and center of gravity are positioned too far behind and below her legs to properly stand up quickly.
Instead, coaches should be constantly reminding their top girls to load into a hang drill with her hips higher than her knees. When a top girl’s hips are elevated above her knees and her chest is upright, she is in the best position possible to safely and quickly stand straight up without having to lean forward.
This one correction allows for the top person to transfer her weight out of her legs and into her upper body quickly, which in turn allows the bases to explode and drive the top girl to the top of the stunt.
David Kirschner
President/CEO of The Spirit Consultants
Co-Owner of Skillz on Demand