Wm A. Sands, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Development
USA Gymnastics Women's ProgramTwisting and somersaulting make up the majority of flight skills in gymnastics. The gymnastics coach often faces the brunt of the problems related to twist direction due to poor initial learning and resulting bad habits. Gymnasts often learn rudimentary twisting, cartwheel, round off directions, and so forth long before they come to a serious coach. Moreover, given the typical backyard tumbling experiences of young gymnasts, a round off is often discovered from a very early age.
Recent discussions on the USA Gymnastics Web site, personal communication with coaches, and abundant unsupported claims led me to explore the issue of twist direction and how a coach might predict the optimum twist direction for a gymnast. In order to investigate the relative distributions of twist and turn directions, I began by observing twist and turn directions at the 1999 Classic Competition held in Rochester, NY. Following the observations, I sent a brief survey questionnaire to coaches for whom I had their email addresses. The observations were recorded by hand at the competition, while the surveys were returned by a number of coaches. In all, 244 athletes' information was provided. The observations at the Classic competition sometimes missed one or more categories of information simply because the gymnast did not perform that category of skills during her competitive routine. When data from a category are lacking, the results are listed in the following tables as "Missing."
The competitive levels surveyed are shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows that the majority of athletes were Level 10 and above (70.1%). The athlete's competitive levels are probably biased somewhat due to the observations being of elite athletes, and the email list coming largely from the U.S. Elite Coaches Association for Women's Gymnastics. However, since Level 10s and above are more likely to be performing a wider variety of twisting elements, it is probably fortuitous that the sample includes these athletes.
Table 1. Competitive Level
LEVEL FREQUENCY PERCENT 6.00 3 1.2 7.00 8 7.4 8.00 26 10.7 9.00 26 10.7 10.00 61 25.0 Nat Elite 36 14.8 Jr Internat 40 16.4 Sr Internat 34 13.9 Total 244 100.0 The descriptive information showing the number of responses for each variable from all the athletes regarding twist and turn direction is shown in Table 2. The variables are self-explanatory, with the exception of the "pirouette." A pirouette in this context refers to a forward or inward turn on one foot.
Table 2. Descriptive Statistics
VARIABLE FREQUENCY % MISSING % Backward Twist 241 98.8 3 1.2 Forward Twist 180 73.8 64 26.2 Jump Turn 230 94.3 14 5.7 Pirouette 223 91.4 21 8.6 Round Off First Hand 244 100.0 0 0.0 Table 3 shows the number of responses for all athletes regarding forward and backward twist direction. Note that more athletes twist to the left in both forward and backward somersaults. However, the distributions of twist directions were not statistically different (Backward Twist x²(1) = .104, p = .747: Forward Twist x²(1) = 2.222, p = .136). The lack of statistical difference means that the distribution of twist directions in both forward and backward twisting is approximately equal between left and right.
Table 3. Twist Direction
DIRECTION FREQUENCY PERCENT Backward Twist Left 123 50.4 Right 118 48.4 Total 241 98.8 Missing 3 1.2 Forward Twist Left 100 41.0 Right 80 32.8 Total 180 73.8 Missing 64 26.2 Table 4 shows the frequency of responses involved in jump turns and pirouettes. Note that the majority of athletes prefer left turns in a jump turn, while they prefer right turns when performing a pirouette. The "Both" category indicates that the gymnast performs these turns in either direction. The jump turn directions (excluding "Both") were not statistically different x² = 1.818, p = .178). The pirouette directions (excluding "Both") were not statistically different x²² = 0.558, p = 0.455).
Table 4. Turns
DIRECTION FREQUENCY PERCENT Jump Turn Left 120 49.2 Right 100 41.0 Both 10 4.1 Total 230 94.3 Missing 14 5.7 Pirouette Left 103 42.2 Right 114 46.7 Both 6 2.5 Total 223 91.4 Missing 21 8.6 Round offs are among the first skills that a young gymnast learns, usually teaching herself through imitation. Round offs are usually developed from a cartwheel and are used for many other skills and drills. Because the gymnast must place one hand down before the other in a cartwheel and round off, the selection of the appropriate hand is an important consideration. Round offs are also somewhat enigmatic with regard to twist direction. Without going into detail, if the gymnast places her left hand down first-she is twisting to the right and vice-versa. Cartwheels and round offs are among the first opportunities for a young gymnast to perform turns while inverted. Table 5 shows the frequencies of which hand is placed first in a round off. Note that the majority of the athletes place their right hand down first. The choice of which hand to place first in the round off was also not statistically different (c2 = 2.770, p = 0.096).
Table 5. Round Off
1ST HAND DOWN FREQUENCY Percent Left 109 44.7 Right 135 55.3 Total 244 100.0 Table 6 shows the relative frequencies of directions based on the first hand placement in the round off. Clearly, the choice of forward and backward twist direction, once the round off direction is determined, shows significant trends as indicated by the statistically significant c2 values.
Note that the trends appear different depending on which hand is placed first in the round off. With regard to backward twisting, if the gymnast places her left hand down first, she will twist left approximately 80% of the time. However, if the gymnast places her right hand down first, she will twist right only approximately 70% of the time. This difference is statistically significant indicating that the difference in twist choice based on round off direction is not likely to have occurred by chance (Cramer's V = .523, p < .001).
Table 6. Round Off As Predictor
VARIABLE FREQ. % VARIABLE FREQ. % Lt. Hand Down 1st Rt. Hand Down 1st BACKWARD TWIST BACKWARD TWIST Left 87 79.8 Left 36 26.7 Right 22 20.2 Right 96 71.1 Missing 0 0.0 Missing 3 2.2 Total 109 100.0 Total 132 97.8 x² = 38.761, p < .001 x² = 27.273, p < .001 FORWARD TWIST FORWARD TWIST Left 64 58.7 Left 36 26.7 Right 17 15.6 Right 63 46.7 Missing 28 25.7 Missing 36 26.7 Total 81 74.3 Total 99 73.3 x² = 27.272, p < .001 x² = 7.364, p = .007 JUMP TURN JUMP TURN Left 80 73.4 Left 40 29.6 Right 20 18.3 Right 80 59.3 Both 3 2.8 Both 7 5.2 Missing 6 2.9 Missing 8 5.9 Total 103 94.5 Total 127 94.1 x² = 95.32, p < .001 x² = 63.134, p < .001 PIROUETTE PIROUETTE Left 89 81.7 Left 14 10.4 Right 9 8.3 Right 105 77.8 Both 4 3.7 Both 2 1.5 Missing 7 6.4 Missing 14 10.4 Total 109 100.0 Total 121 89.6 x² = 133.824, p < .001 x² = 157.306, p < .001 Although this small effort at deciphering twisting direction will probably not eliminate controversies among coaches, it is clear that trends on twist direction are evident. The magnitude of these trends indicates that although evident, these trends are not applicable to all gymnasts. Moreover, the fact that much of the data used for this study was obtained during a competition including some of our nation's best female gymnasts, it is clear that a variety of twist direction approaches may be incorporated even among the best gymnasts. The information included here may help coaches make initial decisions with regard to twist and turn direction based on preferences. One study was found in the literature that investigated the relationship between preferred twist direction and hand and eye dominance (Brown, et al. 1983).
This study surveyed 171 gymnasts (n = 51) and non-athletes (n = 115). No significant correlations were found between twist direction and hand or eye dominance. As the gymnast progresses, it may be wise to experiment with both directions of turn and twist to ensure that the gymnast has adequate opportunity to demonstrate a preference. Short of this, it appears that the majority of gymnasts who do a round off with a particular first-hand will twist in the same direction as that hand. However, the relationship is not strong enough to allow rule-like assessment and the direction of the round off interacts with the backward twist direction.
References
Brown, J.; Tolsma, B.; Kamen, G. (1983): Relationships between hand and eye dominance and direction of experienced gymnasts and non-athletes. Perc. Mot. Skills 57, 470.
[ Home ]
[ Technique magazine ]
About USA Gymnastics Online.
Please report problems to our webmaster.
Copyright © 2000 USA Gymnastics. All rights reserved.URL: http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/publications/technique/2000/2/twistdir.html
