One of the best ways to practice your Toe Touches is to get a friend to help.

Start by having them (your spotter) grab your waist. Now jump off the ground and throw your toe touch. Your spotter should help lift you up and slowly lower you down.

Make sure you start off slow, and when you feel comfortable with you spot you can throw your toe touches full out. Work on your technique, point your toes, and hit a solid landing.

Here is a fun way to work on your jumps. We are all used to jumping to eight counts,....now try to do them to music. Grab your favorite CD and have your team jump with the music (using eight counts of course). It may make practice more fun and be a good change from the norm!




 
 

So what is the difference between the Hurdler Jump and the Herkie jump? It's all in the bent leg! They hurdler jump has the bent knee and leg up parallel to the ground.

here are 3 things to remember when practicing your toe touch - flexibility, height, and technique! All are important and I will give you some exercises and things to practice to improve your toe touch:

A.) FLEXIBILITY - 1st start stretching in a straddle sit. Then have someone push on your back to assist with your stretching.
Exercise 1.) For some exercises, lay flat on your back with your hands underneath your buttocks. Keep your back on the ground and legs together, pull your legs up off the ground. Start separating your legs as you come up and eventually snap a toe touch. If you can touch your toes to the ground then you flexibility is excellent. Then on the way down bring your legs together and lay your heels back on the ground. Do this 10 times for 3 sets.
Exercise 2.) Lay flat on your back with your arms straight above your head and your legs together. Start by using your abs and pull your arms down through your legs. At the same time snap a straddle snap (toe touch). Do this 10 times for 3 sets.

B.) HEIGHT - Now start working on your jump and improve your height. It will give you enough time to snap your legs up and bring them back down without bending them and loosing your balance.
Exercise 1.) Find some bleachers and/or a chair. Stand in front with both feet together on the ground. Now jump straight up on the chair/bleachers, and then back off. Do this for 30 seconds non stop for 2-3sets. This will increase your jumping ability.
Exercise 2.) Have a spotter stand behind you and grab your waist. On count execute you jump. Have the spotter help lift you off the ground (just a little). This will give you the idea of what it's supposed to feel like to hit the correct height on the toe touch.

C.) TECHNIQUE - Know how to throw the toe touch.
1.) Keep your chest up. Too many girls drop their chest and it actually makes the jump look lower than it should.
2.) Do not touch your toes...kick your legs behind your arms. If you touch you toes, then it reduces the height of your jump.
3.) Straight legs up and on the way down for the landing. Make sure you do not bend your legs on the way up or down. You will loose points for tryouts.
4.) Land with your feet together.
5.) Keep your toes pointed