Trapezoid Training Ideas

Suggestions from real coaches, instructors, and Mancino customers, responding to the Mancino E-Promotions Challenge Question:
"What's your unique training idea using a single section of a Trapezoid?"

Winning Submission: Rich T. of Lancaster, TX writes...

ÒThe single section height of the Mancino trapezoid mat is great for the younger athletes to practice press to handstands without a spotter. We put the mat angled against the wall with one end on the wall and the other end on the ground. The kids lean their shoulders against the mat with straight arms and can practice presses to handstand and repeat without a coach assisting. As the kids improve, they lay the mat down on the ground and can practice the same press with just their head touching the edge of the mat. Eventually the kids can straighten their shoulder angle and push into a free balancing handstand, lower back to their head or shoulders and repeat. We love our trapezoids.Ó

More Submissions

Michelle of Taylorsville, NC writes:

ÒI would use a single Trapezoid for many things. Round offs off the end, the gymnast could put their feet on the end of trapezoid to do backbend kickovers, backward arm circles then jump on the trapezoid then do jumps off the endÉ also you could do handstand drills/front handsprings you can also have the gymnast stand on the trapezoid and do backhand springs and back tucks.Ó

Robert C. of Forked River, NJ writes:

ÒWe use the top section for kids that can't do a bridge. The kid lays perpendicular on the top section which is velcroed to the ground. Then when they go to push up, half of the work is already done for them! They are also great for keeping other mats from sliding.Ó

Alie F. of Milwaukee, WI writes:

ÒWe use a single section of the Trapezoid to teach a more efficient back handspring. The gymnasts stand with the trap behind them and backhand spring onto the mat, (sometimes pausing in a handstand position with a spot) to work the hollow and snap down. This is done both crosswise and lengthwise.Ó

Jennifer K. of Salinas, CA writes

ÒWe use the single trapezoid for many uses but one of our favorites is for bounding. Our competitive team gymnasts bound over each single piece of trap, and we love it as much as they do. Different widths give the girls more length to bound!Ó

Tina Z. of Grovetown, GA writes:

ÒThe Trapezoid can be use for cheerleaders to jump over. This works on their height in their toe touchesÓ

Mimi M. of San Luis Obispo, CA writes:

ÒI think one of the best ways to use a trapezoid block is to teach one of the basic fundamentals of gymnastics Ð The Cartwheel. So many children sign up, especially girls. You can use the smallest one to teach younger preschoolers and use the wider ones as the athletes are bigger and more advanced. Just put feet on both sides and hands on top. It makes it easy for a preschooler to jump over sideways like a cartwheel and more advanced for older athletes to have to actually push off their legs to get their feet high enough to actually do a cartwheel.Ó

Susan K. of Lehigh Acres, FL writes:

ÒWe use the trapezoid for extra height when learning elbow cartwheels. This gives more leg clearance space.Ó

Stacy M. of Bordentown, NJ writes:

ÒI use a single trapezoid for sit ups. The girls put their legs on top of it and lay on the floor. Someone holds their legs down and it helps them with the upper body strength.Ó

Katica D. of Plymouth, MN writes:

ÒWe are using it for teaching back walkover, flexibility for over splitting, endurance work out jumping over the trapezoid, spotting block, vaulting for small children, conditioning for crunches put their foot under the mat, etc.Ó

Michele D. of Lowell, MI writes:

ÒWe use our trapezoid in 100% of our classes! We use a section like a vault & teach preschoolers how to squat on & straddle on then jumping off & doing a safety stop & finish. Older kids use it for learning handstand roll down then roll backwards to begin learning back extensions. We also use it for tick tocks, doing bridges with their feet on it then kicking over to practice back walkovers, & also standing on it & doing a front walkover off of it. Lastly, we do cartwheels up onto it to work on Arial cartwheels. WE LOVE OUR TRAPEZOID!Ó

David J. of Indianapolis, IN writes:

ÒWe use the wider bottom sections to switch leap up to.Ó

Bethany N. of Belton, TX writes:

ÒFor pre-school classes we use a trapezoid centered over a floor beam to create a large rocker. We also use a trapezoid placed at an angle from a medium beam to create a slide for crabwalks. For intermediate classes we use a trapezoid (for elevation) with the short end placed at the entrance of the pit for arial cartwheel drills. The gymnast kneels along the length of the trapezoid and performs an arial cartwheel into the pit.Ó

Tiffany S. of South Lake Tahoe, CA writes:

ÒWhen preparing girls to do forward rolls on the beam I start by having them roll on just the top section (skinniest, but not ask skinny as the beam!) of the trapezoid.Ó

Jess F. of Sebastian, FL writes:

ÒI use the smallest section to start girls on back walkovers and back handsprings for balance beam. It is up higher and wider than a mat beam so it is great for building confidence.Ó

Katy H. of Park City, UT writes:

ÒCartwheel over the box. I like to use it because you can challenge everyone - regardless of their ability level. Beginners learn weight transfer between hands and feet even if they simply have hands on box while they jump to the other side. Students can cartwheel with one or both hands. Those who are proficient with cartwheels are working on heel drive with this station. Put it on a line and practice direction. More advance students can dive cartwheel over the box. One station = something for everybody!Ó

Richelle G. of Meridian, MS writes:

ÒWe do everything, from cartwheels over it for babies, to front handsprings over it for class kids and practice the level 4 dismounts on it before getting on the beam for team kids. We love our Trapezoids.Ó

Emily K. of Hinckley, OH writes:

ÒWe use single trapezoid sections to teach back extension rolls. The kids lay flat on the section with their shoulder lined up with the edge. As they roll back they shoot their legs up, and pop to the correct position. It's a great drill.Ó

Elaine A. of St. Albans, VT writes:

ÒMy all time favorite use for pieces of my trapezoids is as oversized, short, balance beams. We put two of the same size together (we own two 4 piece trapezoids) end to end and this becomes a balance beam. Great for cartwheels from preschool to preteam. We use them singly for handstands! We do our gymnastics stretch, lunge, baby handstand through full handstand depending of level, return to lunge and then our gymnastics stretch to finish. I LOVE THIS ACTIVITY!Ó

Jessica P. of Naples, FL writes:

ÒI use it to teach pre-schoolers the cartwheel. It helps them get their legs up in the air.Ó

Kelly C. of Colorado Springs, CO writes:

ÒI place the mat long wise up and have my athletes jump over it. My upper level team athletes can flip rudi's over it. My smaller athletes, I place a mini trampoline in front of it. We have Ninja athletes which do straight jumps over it. This drill ensures an athlete sets up for their skills, instead of out. Which is important in every aspect of flipping in Trampoline, Double mini and Power tumbling.Ó

Missy W. of Champaign, IL writes:

ÒWe use it for power jumps. Place it on the rod floor for our smaller athletes, and they have to jump up and tap their toes with both feet repeatedly for a certain amount of time. Teaches them how to round, use the rod floor. We stack more as they get better, hip high.Ó

Alie F. of Milwaukee, WI writes:

ÒI use them to teach backward rolls to little preschoolers. Lay on your back on the section. Reach for the floor. Bring toes over your head.Ó