Bender Tunnel Training
01.06Belly Flying

Belly Fly Enter & Exit

Enter into a neutral belly position and approach and exit the doorway safely, in control, at an appropriate altitude, and with minimal instructor assistance.

Prerequisite: Belly-fly turns, forward and backward movement, and up and down movement.

Desired outcome: Enter into a neutral belly position and approach and exit the doorway safely, in control, at an appropriate altitude, and with minimal instructor assistance.

Key points:

  • Enter from a stable stance with the chin up and hips low toward the center of the tunnel.
  • Use arms forward and bent legs to control forward drive, then use small upper-body inputs to maintain a straight heading.
  • For the exit, face the doorway from roughly five feet above the net and move forward slowly.
  • Stop at the doorway before taking the frame; bend the knees to stand and step out instead of reaching early.

Coaching and safety: The tunnel instructor controls permission to enter. Brief the doorway path and stopping point, avoid uncontrolled vertical travel, and increase independence only after the student shows consistent control.