One of the required elements in a floor routine is a dance pass, which has to contain a 180-degree leap connected to a jump. NCAA gymnasts are also required to earn bonus through dance elements as well as tumbling, or they will receive a compositional deduction. One common dance pass is the switch side leap directly connected to a straddle full (also known as a Popa). For gymnasts with good hip strength and flexibility, this is a common connection. However, it can also be a deduction trap if the judges are paying attention.
Here are the most common deductions judges could apply:
Up to one-tenth:
- Incorrect body posture/alignment
- Precision—lack of a definite arm/leg position
- Failure to land with feet together on leaps/jumps to two feet
Up to two-tenths:
- Insufficient height
- Insufficient split
- Legs not parallel to the floor
- Incomplete turn
- 0.05 – 0.1: 1 degree to 44 degrees missing
- 0.15 – 0.2: 45 degrees to 89 degrees missing
- Devalue the skill if 90 degrees or more are missing
Up to three-tenths:
- Bent legs
The Ideal: When evaluating this dance pass specifically, I look at the hip rise (amplitude) on each element, the precision of the turns, and the arm and leg position at the height of the straddle position. The hips should effortlessly rise and fall, with the straddle at the peak of each jump and with sufficient height to easily hit the required body positions and turns. On the switch side, the quarter turn should be completed before the straddle position, and the landing should be directly under the straddle position, with the feet in line with the hips. The take-off and landing position for the straddle full should be exactly the same, with hips, knees, and feet aligned. The straddle should occur at the peak of the jump and 180 degrees from the takeoff and landing position.
Keeping track of the turns, jumps, and splits can be tricky for both trained and untrained eyes. Below, I have three different examples where I break down the four “snapshots” of the skill I look at when evaluating the dance pass. Pay close attention to the landing positions in the still images of the switch side and the straddle full. If the straddle full is properly rotated, each should look nearly identical.
Switch Side Straddle Full
Good Example
Switch Side: Body Position
Uneven split (0.05)
Precision–arms (0.05)
Switch Side: Landing
Straddle Full: Body Position
Straddle Full: Landing
Underrotation (0.15)
Height (0.05)
Realistically, an NCAA judge would not take a total of two and a half tenths on this dance pass, but the deductions are there. Based on the gymnast’s switch side position, her feet should be perpendicular to the white line behind her. She starts turning for her straddle full before her feet land on the switch side, and she still doesn’t get all the way around, seeming about 60 degrees short.
Great Example
Switch Side: Body Position
Precision–arms (0.05)
Switch Side: Landing
Straddle Full: Body Position
Precision–arms (0.05)
Straddle Full: Landing
Underrotation (0.05)
This is an example of 90% of the switch side to straddle fulls you will see in NCAA. If you just watch the legs and hips, it looks absolutely great. The most common error is that the gymnast turns her feet on her landing to make it easier to get around on the straddle full. So, although she completed the full rotation for both skills, the switch side was slightly overrotated, and the straddle full was underrotated.
Excellent Example
Switch Side: Body Position
Switch Side: Landing
Straddle Full: Body Position
Straddle Full: Landing
This is a beautiful pass with great height, rhythm, and precision of the arms and legs in the air. The gymnast still does “cheat” the straddle full a bit with her feet only, rather than the other two examples where the hips are also over-turned out of the straddle full. A judge could take a small deduction for underrotation here, but it’s unlikely they would catch it in real time.
READ THIS NEXT: Judge’s Inquiry: Good vs. Great vs. Excellent Shoot Overs
Article by Rhiannon Franck
Rhiannon Franck is a former national-rated NAWGJ women’s gymnastics judge with over 15 years of USAG judging experience and nine seasons judging NCAA gymnastics.
