Here is the answer I posted for a previous poster. Hope this helps.

The problem I see most often with back handsprings in individuals trying to learn them is that they allow their hips to move forward as the athlete is trying to reach and move backward. This is counterproductive and sets up improper weight transfer by driving the arms and head into the matt. The back handspring becomes short, gainered, and heavy looking in appearance. In addition to increasing the risk for injury. Here are the steps to a good back handspring:

1. Athlets starts in standing position.
2. Sit back as if you are sitting in a chair. Head should be neutral and facing forward while the hips and knees get to almost 90 degrees with the back straight. (It is almost as if you are sitting down in a chair, but without the chair.)
3. After reaching the point described in #2 you will swing your arms back leaving your head in a neutral position (do not throw the head back). Your hips should move from their close to 90 degree position backwards and at a slight angle up and back as the knees straighten out.
4. Your hands should contact the ground with your feet pointed up and short of vertical (not past verticle, sure sign you are not completing full extension from hips and knees). Body position is fairly stretched with a slight bow in it short of the handstand position (which you will move through fairly quickly if done right). Best to use flexibility in hips and shoulders without a big back arch.
5. Weight transfer should be light on your hands with a strong push off using your arms and shoulders. Arms should not really bend much, if at all, and you should not feel your weight coming down heavy on your arms. You tumble across the ground not up and down through it.
5. That arm push off and snap down with mid and lower body is done simultaneously.

The back handspring should be as long as your body is, from feet to fingertips, if you were to lay down on the matt outstretched with arms over head. Shorter standing backhandsprings mean your hips are moving forward and not backward as they are supposed to.

Here is a good link and visual that also demonstrates some mistakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAEibfWiNV8

Here is an even better example including lead up drills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAOeZBDCDwA

Spotters, matts, pitts, etc. should all be used until confidence is gained. A skilled spotter will know how to slowly decrease spotting without you really knowing this is occurring. In short order the spotter will just be there for assisstance and you can gain the confidence you need to perform this on your own. Hope this helps.

Kirk Mango
http://becomingatruechampion.com/
http://becomingatruechampion.blogspot.com/

Makenzie,

I would suggest going to a gymnastics club. A coach there will be very good at spotting these. They also may have other good suggestions for you. Bring a friend and ask if the coach can teach them how to spot. It is not that hard to learn. The hardest thing is to know how much or how little to spot and to determine how to slowly decrease help as you get better. Hope this helps.

Sice u have cheerleading as

Makenzie,

That is not a bad idea, however, if you bring several from your team to an open gym at the club a couple of times they should be able to learn how to spot pretty well. You all could help each other then at practice. Just make sure you have proper matting and supervision. You may not need to hire a gymnastics coach then, even though that is a good idea.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!