Valdez → Back Handspring
A backward tumbling connection that combines the asymmetric entry and split inversion of a Valdez with the symmetrical take-off mechanics of a single Back Handspring. The coaching challenge is getting the athlete from an uneven Valdez start into a square, powerful and predictable Handspring without twisting, shuffling or throwing the head backwards.
This page is a technical coaching reference and does not teach hands-on spotting. Physical assistance must come from appropriate practical coach education and stay within the coach's qualification and competence. Stop for pain, uncontrolled twisting, elbow collapse, head-contact risk or significant fear.
What Is Valdez → Back Handspring?
A Valdez connected into one Back Handspring.
The athlete first completes a technically recognisable Valdez: controlled backward movement, hand support, split inversion and sequential return to the feet.
The Valdez naturally begins from an asymmetric position, whereas the following Back Handspring needs a much more symmetrical take-off.
The connection therefore depends on the athlete reorganising the final Valdez foot placement, shoulders, hips and arms quickly enough to produce a straight Back Handspring.
The aim is continuity without carrying the Valdez asymmetry into the Handspring.
Prerequisites
Reliable Valdez
Athlete can perform the Valdez independently without uncontrolled rotation, bent arms or collapsing through the finish.
Reliable Back Handspring
Athlete already owns the single Handspring from an appropriate standing entry.
Controlled Valdez Finish
Athlete knows exactly where both feet finish rather than recovering through several uncontrolled steps.
Shoulder Alignment
Athlete can identify and correct uneven shoulders before initiating the Handspring.
Hip Control
Athlete can move from split-leg mechanics back into a square, two-leg take-off position.
Backward Power
The Back Handspring must still be produced through the legs rather than by falling out of the Valdez.
Combination Flow
Asymmetric Valdez → Symmetrical Flick
This conversion is the defining technical challenge of the pass.
Square Before You Drive
✓ Strong Transition
- Valdez keeps its normal split shape.
- Feet land predictably.
- Second foot finishes underneath the athlete.
- Pelvis returns toward square.
- Shoulders face the travel line.
- Arms are organised.
- Hips load backwards.
- Both legs contribute to take-off.
- Back Handspring travels straight.
✕ Twisted Transition
- Valdez finishes diagonally.
- Second foot lands across the body.
- One hip remains open.
- One shoulder stays behind.
- Athlete shuffles to recover.
- Head turns before take-off.
- One arm reaches before the other.
- Back Handspring travels sideways.
- Hands contact unevenly.
The Last Valdez Foot Matters Most
Accept the Walkover
The first landing foot should stabilise the athlete rather than immediately pulling the body sideways.
Create the Take-Off Base
The trailing foot needs to arrive in a position that allows a strong two-leg Handspring load.
Avoid the Shuffle
Repeated correction steps usually mean the Valdez has not finished in a useful position.
The Back Handspring Still Needs Full Mechanics
Hips Back
Avoid replacing the Handspring load with an uncontrolled fall backwards from the Valdez.
Generate Power
The athlete needs active two-leg drive rather than relying on residual momentum.
Reach Symmetrically
Hand contact should not reveal the rotation left over from the Valdez.
Push Tall
Active shoulders and rapid hip closure create the Handspring's second half.
Build the Connection in Layers
Athlete owns the asymmetric entry, hand support, split and controlled finish.
Straight, independent and repeatable.
Analyse exactly where the athlete's feet, pelvis, shoulders and arms finish.
Train the athlete to finish the first skill without carrying unwanted rotation forward.
Add the Handspring preparation without completing the second skill.
Establish symmetrical leg drive and straight backward direction.
Join both skills while preserving a clear alignment correction between them.
Increase continuity only after the athlete consistently arrives square.
Athlete can reproduce the pass under counts, fatigue and performance conditions without twisting.
Train the Transition
Valdez → Freeze
Exposes exactly how the first skill is finishing.
Valdez → Square Finish
Reinforce hips, shoulders and feet returning to a useful forward-facing alignment.
Floor-Marker Finish
Use visual targets to help identify whether the second foot consistently crosses or lands too wide.
Finish → BHS Load
Isolate the change from Valdez landing to symmetrical Handspring preparation.
Load → Backward Jump
Confirm both legs can create straight backward displacement.
Square Arm-Reach Drill
Reinforce both arms reaching through the same pathway rather than one shoulder opening first.
Handstand Push-Tall
Preserve straight-arm shoulder mechanics for the BHS.
Combination Along a Floor Line
Identify the exact moment the pass begins travelling diagonally.
Valdez → BHS → Stick
Once technically secure, require a deliberate controlled finish to the single Handspring.
Short Coaching Cues
Common Problems & Fixes
| What You See | Likely Cause | Check | Coaching Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valdez finishes sideways | Rotation already exists in first skill | Valdez hand and foot pathway | Clean Valdez before reconnecting. |
| Second foot crosses over | Trailing leg lands across the midline | Valdez finish foot placement | Use floor markers and square-finish work. |
| Second foot lands very wide | Athlete cannot reorganise for BHS | Finish width | Build predictable two-foot preparation. |
| One hip stays open | Valdez asymmetry carried into take-off | Pelvis at transition | Freeze and square before adding speed. |
| One shoulder stays behind | Upper body has not returned to square | Arm and shoulder finish | Restore symmetrical BHS preparation. |
| Athlete takes several shuffle steps | Valdez finish is not usable | Foot placement | Return to Valdez → freeze. |
| Arms drop completely | Athlete performs a full reset | Connection timing | Build a smaller controlled transition. |
| Athlete squats very low | Trying to manufacture BHS power | Hip loading direction | Train hips back rather than simply down. |
| Athlete throws head backwards | Uses head to initiate second skill | BHS take-off | Restore normal Handspring mechanics. |
| Back Handspring travels diagonally | Asymmetry remained through take-off | First point of deviation | Film from behind and isolate alignment. |
| One hand lands before the other | Shoulders rotated during reach | BHS arm pathway | Rebuild symmetrical reach. |
| Hands land diagonally | Body turned before support | Hips and shoulders at take-off | Square body before driving. |
| Back Handspring undercuts | Little backward travel | Leg drive and reach | Return to independent BHS travel work. |
| Elbows bend | Connection exceeds current support ability | Straight-arm strength | Regress the progression. |
| Shoulders sink | Passive hand support | Shoulder elevation | Rebuild active block mechanics. |
| Snap-down is slow | Block or hip closure insufficient | Second half of BHS | Train snap-down separately. |
| Athlete lands very low | Second-half BHS power is poor | Block and snap | Improve single BHS before connection. |
| Athlete immediately adds another BHS | Habit from Level 3 series training | Level awareness | Reinforce the Level 2 single-handspring finish. |
| Athlete becomes hesitant after Valdez | Transition feels unpredictable | Confidence in finish position | Return to Valdez → freeze → load progressions. |
| Wrist, shoulder, neck or back pain | Possible injury or excessive loading | Stop activity | Follow academy injury procedures. |
What Supports the Combination?
Anti-Rotation Control
Helps the athlete stop the asymmetry of the Valdez carrying into the Back Handspring.
Pelvic Control
Allows the athlete to return from split alignment to a square take-off base.
Symmetrical Jump Power
Both legs need to contribute effectively to the BHS.
Active Overhead Strength
Supports both the Valdez and Handspring hand-contact phases.
Repeated Support Tolerance
The pass contains two hand-supported skills in close succession.
Shape Reorganisation
The athlete must move quickly from asymmetric split mechanics into symmetrical Handspring mechanics.
Combination Safety
Connection work should not bypass missing individual skill development.
Repeated diagonal or twisting Handsprings should not become the athlete's normal version.
Significant elbow collapse means the athlete should return to an easier progression.
Stop repeated attempts where hand support fails or the head approaches the surface.
Consecutive hand-supported movements increase wrist and shoulder loading.
More spinal arch is not the answer to poor alignment or insufficient shoulder range.
Re-establish predictable finish positions instead of pressuring the athlete through a block.
Progressions should use surfaces and equipment appropriate to the athlete's stage.
Physical spotting requires appropriate practical education and current coaching competence.
Hotshots Video Library
Side and rear views showing Valdez finish, re-square, Handspring take-off and controlled landing.
Compare correct hip and shoulder organisation with a pass that carries Valdez rotation into the BHS.
Rear view showing how final Valdez foot placement changes the direction of the following Back Handspring.
Is the Combination Ready?
GREEN · Ready
- Pain-free.
- Independent Valdez.
- Independent single BHS.
- Predictable Valdez finish.
- No unnecessary shuffle.
- Second foot finishes underneath.
- Hips return toward square.
- Shoulders align before BHS.
- Two-leg backward drive.
- Head remains controlled.
- Hands contact symmetrically.
- Straight arms.
- Active block.
- Controlled landing.
AMBER · Developing
- Small pause required.
- Minor foot adjustment.
- Slight hip opening.
- Shoulder alignment varies.
- BHS travels slightly diagonal.
- Landing needs a small step.
- Technique changes under fatigue.
RED · Regress
- Pain.
- Either component is unreliable.
- Valdez lands significantly twisted.
- Multiple recovery steps.
- Head thrown backwards.
- BHS turns substantially.
- Hands land unevenly.
- Elbows collapse.
- Head approaches surface.
- Significant fear.
- Coach must complete the skill.
Cleaning the Combination
Match the Milestones
- Same Valdez initiation.
- Same hand-support timing.
- Same first-foot landing.
- Same second-foot landing.
- Same re-square timing.
- Same BHS take-off count.
- Same hand-contact count.
- Same final landing.
Watch From Behind
Side view is useful for Back Handspring travel, but rear view is especially useful for this combination because it reveals hip rotation, shoulder alignment and uneven hand placement.
Film both angles when cleaning advanced connections.
IASF 2026–27 Context
Valdez + Single Back Handspring
Valdez is included within the current Level 1 Standing Tumbling Level Appropriate list.
Level 2 Standing Tumbling permits a single handspring, with lower-level tumbling skills continuing to sit within the applicable framework.
The Connection Is Not Separately Named
The current Level Appropriate document names Single Back Handspring at Level 2.
It does not separately identify Valdez → Back Handspring as another named Level Appropriate combination.
Coach Checklist
Can They...
- Perform a strong independent Valdez?
- Perform a strong independent Back Handspring?
- Finish the Valdez predictably?
- Place the second foot underneath?
- Re-square the pelvis?
- Re-square the shoulders?
- Create a two-leg BHS load?
- Travel backwards rather than sideways?
- Keep the head controlled?
- Contact with straight arms?
- Block actively?
- Finish the single Handspring?
Have You Checked...
- Valdez direction?
- Valdez final foot placement?
- Hip alignment?
- Shoulder alignment?
- Arm pathway?
- BHS load?
- Take-off symmetry?
- Hand placement?
- Straight-arm support?
- Snap-down?
- Travel line?
- Current IASF rules?