best way to teach rolling your hips

[debbimac]

in a way 13 year olds can understand  thanks

[Travana]

Straddle sit, turn the toes out.

[RPCmme]

Does your team do kick drills--holding a T motion, beginning with feet together, kick one leg slightly in front of arm?  A variation of this is to "kick" in slow motion.  Instead of kicking slightly in front of the arm, aim just below the arm.  As the leg is lifted, point laces to the sky.  As the leg gets close to the arm, slightly roll the laces backwards.  As leg falls to the starting position, return laces to sky.

Do it is slow-mo first--so you can correct and perfect.  We also do this as a drill (we call it "kick rolls") when squad members slack on their jumps.

[SoCalCheerCoach2]

Some of the camps I teach have younger kids in them.  In order to have them understand the concept I have them sit in a straddle and turn the toes out, like Travana suggested.  I also have them partner up (as similiar as height and build as possible).  The "helper" stands behind the "jumper" and holds her waist.  She needs to bend with the "jumper" during the prep and then help them jump higher (since some of the kids aren't high jumpers or flexible yet), make sure the "jumper" roll their hips, and help when they are coming back down.  The "jumper" does their prep/jump just like normal.  I tell the "jumper" to try and show the area where their bottom meets the thigh, to the audience.  Then they switch positions. The younger ones love this drill because it gives them a chance to try rolling their hips without having the chance of falling backward or being scared. 

[Jen H]

I would also add V-snap ups. It starts like the old-fashioned kind of a sit up where you are lying down completely, with your hands over your head. But instead of bringing your torso all the way up to make a pike while sitting on the ground, you bring your arms _and_ legs up and hit a straddle at the top of the sit up. You can also do them in the pike position.

And there's a bonus to this exercises, which is that it takes strong abs to roll your hips and get your legs up high. So not only are you teaching the position you are also conditioning them too.

[cheerhelp19]

ok well this worked for my squad in 7th and 8th grade

have them sit in a straddle
then start with the right leg and have them raise it a couple inches off the floor and then lower it a little and raise it up again do 10 reps
then do the left and finally both together(it's tough but rewarding)
the only thing is that the girls should make sure their back is straight and that they lean a little forward(DONT lean back or the stretch doesnt work

[Stunt Double 4U]

The straddle sit works well with younger kids, but I found that for them to really get it, have them put their backs against the bleachers or a wall the first time so they can also feel good back posture during a  jump.   So, back straight, arms in a good T, toes pointed out, hips rolled open, heads up so you can see their faces.  Don't let them get into the dropping the head habit either.  =0)