Why the Back Handspring Is Different
Ask any coach: the back handspring is where athletes get stuck. It's the first skill that asks an athlete to jump backward — which means technique, strength, and fear all have to be solved at the same time. In a crowded group class, an athlete might get three or four coached attempts in an hour. In a private session with Coach Renee, every single rep is spotted, corrected, and built on.
How Coach Renee Teaches It
- Foundations first. Bridge, backbend, kickover, handstand, and round-off mechanics — the prerequisites that make the skill safe.
- Strength & flexibility. Shoulder flexibility, core and leg power targeted at exactly what the skill demands.
- Progressive drills. Backward rolls to elevated surfaces, sit-jump-to-hands drills, and heavy spotting that fades as confidence grows.
- Fear work. Most stuck athletes aren't missing strength — they're blocked. Renee specializes in breaking mental blocks with patience and smart progressions.
From First Back Handspring to Full Passes
Once the standing back handspring lands, Renee builds it into what squads and judges actually want to see: round-off back handsprings, back handspring series, and connections into tucks, layouts, and fulls — see her cheer tumbling coaching for the full progression.
Coach Renee is Buffalo's only independent private coach for gymnastics, cheer tumbling, and acro, and serves as Head Tumbling Coach of the BFLO Cheerleaders, Western New York's premier professional cheerleaders. She works with athletes across Amherst, Williamsville, Orchard Park, and all of Western New York.
Related coaching: cheer tumbling lessons · acro lessons for dancers · standing back tuck lessons · aerial & walkover lessons · flexibility & strength training · virtual & remote coaching · tumbling clinics (nationwide) · 7-week intensive clinic · tumbling & acrobatics (NCAA) · recruiting & NIL negotiations · college recruiting · NIL negotiations · adult gymnastics & pilates · mobile & in-home coaching · routine construction & judging.