Cartwheel → Back Handspring
A developmental tumbling connection that asks an athlete to move from the sequential, side-travelling mechanics of a Cartwheel into a two-foot backward Back Handspring take-off. The technical challenge is not simply completing both skills — it is organising the Cartwheel finish so the athlete can square the body, bring the feet into a useful take-off position and begin the Back Handspring without uncontrolled twisting, excessive resetting or losing backward travel.
Athletes should already have a reliable Cartwheel and independent Back Handspring before this connection becomes a training priority. Stop or regress for pain, uncontrolled turning, significant fear, elbow collapse or head-contact risk. This page intentionally does not provide hands-on spotting mechanics; physical assistance must remain within appropriate qualification and practical coaching competence.
What Is Cartwheel → Back Handspring?
A Cartwheel transition used to enter a Back Handspring.
The Cartwheel travels sideways through sequential hand and foot contact, usually finishing one foot and then the other.
The athlete then has to reorganise that staggered landing into a stable backward-tumbling take-off.
The body must square sufficiently for the Back Handspring, while the feet organise into a useful two-foot take-off without the athlete wildly spinning, jumping sideways or pausing for an entirely separate standing flick.
The Back Handspring should then travel backwards with its usual straight-arm support, active shoulder block and fast snap-down.
Developmental Connection — Not an LA Badge
Lower-Level Foundation
Cartwheel is already established as a foundational constant-contact tumbling skill before Level 2.
Level 2 Skill
Back Handspring mechanics sit centrally within Level 2 tumbling development.
Do Not Assume LA Credit
The current Level Appropriate list does not separately name Cartwheel → Back Handspring as a Level 2 specialty-entry pass.
Prerequisites
Reliable Cartwheel
Straight arms, clear hand-hand-foot-foot sequence and predictable landing direction.
Independent Back Handspring
Athlete already understands backward travel, take-off, straight-arm support, shoulder block and snap-down.
Cartwheel Landing Control
The athlete can finish without spinning, stumbling or taking several corrective steps.
Two-Foot BHS Take-Off
Athlete can organise both feet beneath the body before producing backward power.
Strong Handstand Shape
Helps the Cartwheel pass cleanly through inversion rather than moving around the side with low hips.
Cartwheel Both Sides Awareness
Coaches should understand the athlete's preferred direction and how that affects the orientation of the BHS entry.
Hip Squaring Control
Athlete can deliberately move from the Cartwheel's side-on orientation into a square backward-tumbling position.
Backward Jump Mechanics
Athlete can create backward travel without throwing the head or rotating the shoulders first.
Cartwheel Spins on Landing
If the athlete cannot predict where the Cartwheel finishes, it is not yet a useful entry to a backward tumbling skill.
Skill Flow
The Cartwheel Must Be Predictable
Strong Lunge
The athlete begins from a clear line rather than diving sideways before the hands reach the floor.
Deliberate Placement
First and second hands should support the intended travel path rather than creating unnecessary rotation.
Travel Over Support
The hips should pass through a useful inverted pathway rather than staying low and travelling around the hands.
Large Controlled Split
Long straight legs help produce a predictable sequential landing.
Cartwheel Finish Position
✓ Useful Finish
- First foot lands predictably.
- Second foot follows under control.
- Landing direction is repeatable.
- Chest does not collapse.
- Hips remain controlled.
- Arms remain organised.
- Athlete knows where the BHS will travel.
- Body can square without a large spin.
✕ Poor Finish
- Feet land unpredictably.
- Athlete continues rotating.
- Chest falls forward.
- Hips face a different direction each time.
- Several adjustment steps appear.
- Arms swing wildly.
- Athlete turns before knowing where the feet are.
- BHS begins diagonally.
Square Before You Travel Back
The Cartwheel naturally contains lateral and rotational elements. The Back Handspring needs a stable backward travel direction. The transition must organise one into the other.
Establish the Base
The athlete must reach a stable position from which both legs can contribute to the Back Handspring.
Stop Uncontrolled Rotation
The hips should deliberately organise toward the intended BHS line rather than continuing to spin from the Cartwheel.
Match the Hips
Shoulder rotation should not race ahead of the lower body and pull the BHS diagonally.
Do Not Lead the Turn
Throwing the head toward the BHS direction often creates more rotation instead of better alignment.
Cartwheel → Back Handspring
A good connection is organised enough to be safe but efficient enough that it still feels like one pass.
The BHS Should Still Look Like the Athlete's BHS
Both Legs Contribute
The Back Handspring should not launch primarily from one leg because the Cartwheel landing was never reorganised.
Move Backward
The skill should follow a clear backward track rather than continuing sideways out of the Cartwheel.
Straight Support
Elbows remain extended and hands receive the athlete after useful backward travel.
Finish the Skill
Active shoulders and fast feet create a controlled final landing.
Direction Is the Biggest Diagnostic Clue
Where Does It Finish?
Mark the athlete's intended Cartwheel line and compare it with the actual feet position.
Where Does the Turn Occur?
Identify whether the feet, hips, shoulders or head begin the direction change first.
Where Do the Hands Land?
The BHS hand placement exposes whether the athlete has actually squared before travelling backward.
Build the Connection Without Forcing It
Equipment choice and physical assistance should be selected by appropriately qualified coaches after assessing the athlete in person.
Straight arms, predictable direction, clean foot sequence and controlled finish.
Independent two-foot take-off, backward travel, straight arms and active block.
Confirm exactly where each foot, hip and shoulder finishes.
Athlete learns to organise the body deliberately after the Cartwheel rather than continuing to spin.
Build a stable position from which backward power can be produced.
Rehearse backward travel direction without rushing into the full connected skill.
Introduce the full BHS using an appropriate progression and safe surface.
Athlete maintains direction, arm support and landing without external assistance.
Require control of the final landing rather than allowing another skill to hide the result.
Before routine use, verify that the exact construction is appropriate for the athlete's division and scoring goal.
Connection Development Drills
Cartwheel → Freeze
Identify foot position, chest height, hip orientation and overall direction at the exact finish.
Cartwheel Along a Line
Establish a consistent starting and finishing pathway before adding a direction change.
Hand-Hand-Foot-Foot Markers
Make sequential Cartwheel contacts visually obvious and repeatable.
Cartwheel → Square Freeze
Train deliberate reorganisation without immediately adding backward tumbling.
Square → Two-Foot Set
Teach the athlete to establish the base needed for a genuine Back Handspring take-off.
Set → Backward Jump Shape
Reinforce travel direction without needing to complete the whole Handspring.
Standalone BHS → Stick
Keep the second skill technically strong away from the Cartwheel entry.
Rear-View Video
Analyse where the feet, hips, shoulders and BHS hands sit relative to the intended tumbling line.
Connected BHS vs Standalone BHS
Compare backward travel, hand position, elbow shape, block and landing between the two versions.
Short Coaching Cues
Common Problems & Fixes
| What You See | Likely Cause | Check First | Training Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartwheel already travels off line | Entry or hand placement inconsistent | Cartwheel itself | Remove BHS and clean the Cartwheel. |
| Cartwheel hips stay low | Athlete travels around rather than over support | Inverted shape | Return to Cartwheel and split-handstand work. |
| Cartwheel elbows bend | Weak straight-arm support | Shoulders and arms | Regress to support preparation. |
| Legs bend throughout Cartwheel | Shape control insufficient | Leg tension | Clean component before connecting. |
| Feet land unpredictably | Cartwheel timing varies | Hand-hand-foot-foot pattern | Use floor markers and freeze finish. |
| Second foot lands very late | Trailing leg recovery is slow | Cartwheel second half | Train faster controlled second-leg recovery. |
| Athlete keeps spinning after Cartwheel | Rotation not controlled at landing | Hips and shoulders | Train Cartwheel → square freeze. |
| Head turns before body | Athlete tries to find BHS direction visually | Head position | Organise hips and shoulders first. |
| Shoulders turn before feet | Upper body forces direction change | Connection timing | Train whole-body squaring. |
| Several steps between skills | Cartwheel finish is not predictable | Landing control | Return to freeze-and-square work. |
| Athlete stops completely for several counts | Connection not yet automatic | Transition confidence | Build controlled connection in smaller stages. |
| Feet never organise together | Cartwheel landing carries into BHS take-off | Two-foot set | Train square → two-foot position. |
| BHS launches from one leg | Take-off base not established | Feet before take-off | Rebuild two-foot Back Handspring entry. |
| BHS travels diagonally | Body not square before take-off | Hip and shoulder orientation | Regress to Cartwheel → square. |
| BHS twists immediately | Residual Cartwheel rotation enters BHS | Earliest rotational frame | Stop adding speed and clean transition. |
| BHS goes straight up | Backward travel not created | Take-off direction | Restore backward jump mechanics. |
| BHS undercuts | Hands land too near feet | Backward reach | Rebuild long BHS travel. |
| Head throws backwards | Athlete tries to manufacture rotation | Take-off direction | Use legs and travel rather than head throw. |
| BHS elbows bend | Support deteriorates after transition | Straight-arm readiness | Regress connection and rebuild BHS. |
| BHS shoulders sink | Passive support or poor incoming line | Shoulder block | Return to active block work. |
| Head approaches floor | Arm support failure | Safety | Stop full connection and regress. |
| BHS heavily arches | Body shape deteriorates during transition | Core and shoulder line | Compare with standalone BHS. |
| Final landing rotates | Direction error persisted through BHS | Cartwheel-to-BHS squaring | Find first point where rotation begins. |
| Skill improves only with more speed | Momentum is masking poor organisation | Connection quality | Reduce speed and rebuild control. |
| Skill works one attempt in five | Finish position not repeatable | Cartwheel landing | Build consistency before routine use. |
| Athlete becomes scared at transition | BHS direction feels unpredictable | Square position | Return to known controlled progression. |
| Wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck or back pain | Possible injury / excessive loading | Stop activity | Follow academy injury procedures. |
What Supports This Connection?
Straight-Arm Support
Both skills require strong upper-body support through inversion.
Anti-Rotation Control
Helps the athlete stop unnecessary Cartwheel rotation before beginning backward travel.
Rotational Control
The athlete must deliberately square the pelvis rather than letting momentum dictate orientation.
Backward Power
Support the two-leg drive required for the Back Handspring.
Single-to-Double Organisation
The athlete transitions from sequential Cartwheel feet to a coordinated two-leg BHS take-off.
Landing Stability
Helps manage the Cartwheel's sequential foot contacts before setting the Back Handspring.
Repeated Load Tolerance
The pass includes hand support in both component skills.
Orientation Control
Athlete needs to understand where the Cartwheel finishes and where the BHS should travel.
Direction Change
The main challenge is reorganising lateral movement into controlled backward movement.
Safety Standards
Connecting skills should not replace proper Cartwheel or BHS development.
Do not allow athletes to throw themselves through the direction change at increasing speed.
The athlete should not unintentionally turn the skill into a one-leg or twisted Back Handspring take-off.
Persistent elbow collapse requires regression rather than more momentum.
Stop if support failure brings the head close to the performing surface.
Direction can be less predictable during development, so athletes need appropriate lateral space.
Multiple dynamic hand contacts should be progressed sensibly across the session.
Wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck or back pain should not be trained through.
Hands-on assistance and apparatus progressions require appropriate practical coach education.
Hotshots Video Library
Rear and side views showing Cartwheel finish, body squaring, two-foot set and Back Handspring travel.
Compare a controlled direction change with an athlete who throws the shoulders around after the Cartwheel.
Compare hand position, travel distance, elbow shape, block and final landing.
Is the Connection Ready?
GREEN · Technically Ready
- Pain-free.
- Independent Cartwheel.
- Independent Back Handspring.
- Cartwheel direction is predictable.
- Cartwheel arms remain straight.
- Cartwheel feet land under control.
- Body squares deliberately.
- No uncontrolled spin.
- Two-foot BHS base is established.
- BHS travels backwards.
- BHS arms remain straight.
- Shoulders block actively.
- Final landing is controlled.
AMBER · Developing
- Cartwheel finish varies slightly.
- Small adjustment needed.
- Squaring is occasionally slow.
- BHS travels slightly diagonally.
- Minor elbow softness.
- Final landing occasionally steps.
- Quality changes under fatigue.
RED · Regress
- Pain.
- Either component unreliable.
- Cartwheel spins unpredictably.
- Several correction steps required.
- Athlete cannot establish two feet.
- BHS launches from one leg.
- Significant twisting.
- BHS severely undercuts.
- Elbows collapse.
- Head approaches the floor.
- Significant fear.
- Coach must complete the skill.
IASF 2026–27 Context
Foundation Running Skill
Cartwheel appears within the current lower-level running tumbling framework and is an important developmental skill for body inversion, direction and hand support.
Handspring Running Skills
Current Level 2 running rules permit Handspring series, while the Level Appropriate framework specifically names Front Handspring(s), Round-Off Back Handspring(s) and Front Walkover as a specialty entry.
Coach Checklist
Can They...
- Perform a clean independent Cartwheel?
- Perform a clean independent BHS?
- Cartwheel on a predictable line?
- Maintain straight arms?
- Control sequential foot contact?
- Stop unwanted rotation?
- Square hips deliberately?
- Square shoulders with the hips?
- Establish a stable two-foot set?
- Travel backward rather than sideways?
- Keep the head controlled?
- Block actively through BHS support?
- Finish under control?
Have You Checked...
- Preferred Cartwheel side?
- Entry lunge?
- First hand placement?
- Second hand placement?
- Hip height?
- Leg split?
- First-foot landing?
- Second-foot recovery?
- Hip orientation?
- Shoulder orientation?
- BHS take-off feet?
- BHS travel line?
- BHS hand placement?
- Final block and snap?
- Current competition rules?