What level do gymnasts learn a Back Walkover?

Gymnasts usually learn a Back Walkover between Levels 4 and 5. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.

How long does it take to learn a Back Walkover?

About 5 weeks once a Beam Cartwheel is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Step-On Mount, the whole progression adds up to about 14 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.

What should my gymnast learn before a Back Walkover?

Beam Cartwheel comes directly before it. The full progression is Step-On Mount, then Beam Handstand, then Beam Cartwheel, then Back Walkover.

What are the most common deductions on a Back Walkover?

The ones to watch for are Balance Check (usually about 0.1), Bent Knees (usually about 0.1) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.

Is a Back Walkover scary to learn?

It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 3 out of 5 because it involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed and acro on the narrow beam. Techniques like Box Breathing and Power Cue Words help gymnasts build confidence.

How to do a Back Walkover

A Back Walkover is an acro skill on balance beam that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 4 and 5, once a Beam Cartwheel is solid.

Also called: BWO, back walkover on beam.

Quick facts

Apparatus	Balance Beam
Typical level (estimate)	Levels 4-5
Difficulty (Stickd rating)	5/10
Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate)	About 5 weeks
Whole progression (estimate)	About 14 weeks from a Step-On Mount
Fear factor (Stickd rating)	3/5

Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.

What to learn before a Back Walkover

Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Back Walkover.

Step-On Mount (Levels 1-2)
Beam Handstand (Levels 3-4)
Beam Cartwheel (Levels 3-4)

Step-by-step progression

The path to a Back Walkover has 4 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.

1
Step-On Mount
Learn a Step-On Mount until it is solid, usually between Levels 1 and 2. About 1 week (estimate).
2
Beam Handstand
Learn a Beam Handstand until it is solid, usually between Levels 3 and 4. About 4 weeks (estimate).
3
Beam Cartwheel
Learn a Beam Cartwheel until it is solid, usually between Levels 3 and 4. About 4 weeks (estimate).
4
Back Walkover
Learn a Back Walkover. Allow about 5 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).

Drills that build a Back Walkover

Technique focus areas: Flexibility.

What good form looks like

Backward arch through a split handstand, landing one foot at a time.

shoulders: open
spine: extended
hips: extended
knees: straight

Common deductions on a Back Walkover

Deduction	What it means	Typically
Balance Check	Wobble or pause to regain balance on beam	0.1
Bent Knees	Legs not fully extended during skills requiring straight legs	0.1
Body Alignment	Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean)	0.1

Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.

Fear and confidence

Stickd rates a Back Walkover 3 out of 5 for fear. It involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed, acro on the narrow beam. Feeling nervous about it is normal, and confidence usually builds step by step through the progression above.

Mental techniques that help

Box Breathing
A 4-count breathing pattern to calm your nervous system before attempting a scary skill.
Power Cue Words
Choose 1-2 words that trigger your best performance state and say them before each attempt.
Fear Ladder
Break the scary skill into a ladder of progressively challenging steps.

Skills a Back Walkover unlocks

Beam Back Handspring (Balance Beam, Levels 6-7)

Watch an example

Watch a Back Walkover tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

Frequently asked questions

What level do gymnasts learn a Back Walkover?: Gymnasts usually learn a Back Walkover between Levels 4 and 5. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
How long does it take to learn a Back Walkover?: About 5 weeks once a Beam Cartwheel is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Step-On Mount, the whole progression adds up to about 14 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
What should my gymnast learn before a Back Walkover?: Beam Cartwheel comes directly before it. The full progression is Step-On Mount, then Beam Handstand, then Beam Cartwheel, then Back Walkover.
What are the most common deductions on a Back Walkover?: The ones to watch for are Balance Check (usually about 0.1), Bent Knees (usually about 0.1) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.
Is a Back Walkover scary to learn?: It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 3 out of 5 because it involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed and acro on the narrow beam. Techniques like Box Breathing and Power Cue Words help gymnasts build confidence.