Technique drills for kids

asax771
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asax771
Hi, I am coaching a kids group in our local mx club with 10 kids on 50 and 65 ages 7 to 11. Focus is riding position and general technique to increase speed safely. The group is a little mixed with some that are more beginners and some that are faster and have started to race. Its really fun but I would like some new inspiration on good and fun drills/excersises to add to the "program". Do you have any to share?

It's a little limiting with a larger group. For example the figure 8 is hard to do. Long instructions doesn't work so well either 😁

Thanks//




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Falcon
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Falcon 8/8/2022 2:28pm
8/8/2022 2:28pm
You don't need the figure 8 drill; you can just have them do circles around two cones. Spread them far enough apart that all the riders can get in the circle and do left- hand turns first. Then, turn them around and make them do right-handers. If they are good enough, get them to try it feet-up (that will mesh nicely with the "new" fad of feet-up riding demonstrated by Eli Tomac.) Obvisouly, have them focus on the proper form while cornering: head over the bars, elbows up, balls of feet, etc.

Another great drill I like to show young riders is how to turn the throttle like a doorknob. It's a valuable safety skill, because it helps prevent whiskey throttle.

Rickyisms 8/8/2022 3:02pm
8/8/2022 3:02pm
Some things that my pops did that contributed to building really good technique for me were

-Take off the rear brake pedal and ride 10 minutes at 60-70%
-Take off the seat and try to do 3-4 laps smoothly
-Took the clutch lever off for a couple minutes to focus more on what gear I was in vs finger banging the clutch
-10 minutes around the track without taking your feet off the pegs

We would usually do all those once a week on one day, we were fortunate enough to have our own track so it was easy to remove and install the parts on our own time. I really sucked with gripping with my legs because I never really grasped how to do it and where the control comes from, until my dad put my bike on the stand, got in the attack position and started rocking the bike side to side with his legs, it’s hard to explain over text but the visualization of seeing just how much you can do with your legs really put it in perspective.

Every time I chased “speed”, I rode shittier, tenser, and usually ended up tucking the front end. When I go out for a moto and tell myself to focus on just corner speed, or roll speed into a corner, or trying to stay “loose” I’m almost always faster than when I go out for some sprint laps.
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Chris_Buehler
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Chris_Buehler 8/8/2022 3:24pm
8/8/2022 3:24pm
asax771 wrote:
Hi, I am coaching a kids group in our local mx club with 10 kids on 50 and 65 ages 7 to 11. Focus is riding...
Hi, I am coaching a kids group in our local mx club with 10 kids on 50 and 65 ages 7 to 11. Focus is riding position and general technique to increase speed safely. The group is a little mixed with some that are more beginners and some that are faster and have started to race. Its really fun but I would like some new inspiration on good and fun drills/excersises to add to the "program". Do you have any to share?

It's a little limiting with a larger group. For example the figure 8 is hard to do. Long instructions doesn't work so well either 😁

Thanks//




Check out the MX Factory channel on YouTube. He's got a bunch of videos with suggested drills to do.
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Brad460
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Brad460 8/8/2022 4:15pm
8/8/2022 4:15pm Edited Date/Time 8/8/2022 4:16pm
My 7 yr old son watches motocross videos (he likes the Deagan’s on YouTube) then he goes out and mimics what he sees in the videos. He will do this all day long..watch videos then ride and repeat.

Chad Reed is strict with his kids riding technique and so I’ll have him watch his kids ride.

I like what Ryno has to say- balls of your feet on the pegs, stand up, back straight, hips rolled back..been showing him those videos too..

If I tell him he won’t listen, if he sees a video of someone else telling him to do it he will..

His riding has been getting better.
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NITRODOG
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NITRODOG 8/8/2022 5:20pm
8/8/2022 5:20pm
Ask the older ones to help out the younger, send them all out on the track, sit back, enjoy, and watch them learn......
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soggy
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soggy 8/8/2022 5:22pm
8/8/2022 5:22pm
asax771 wrote:
Hi, I am coaching a kids group in our local mx club with 10 kids on 50 and 65 ages 7 to 11. Focus is riding...
Hi, I am coaching a kids group in our local mx club with 10 kids on 50 and 65 ages 7 to 11. Focus is riding position and general technique to increase speed safely. The group is a little mixed with some that are more beginners and some that are faster and have started to race. Its really fun but I would like some new inspiration on good and fun drills/excersises to add to the "program". Do you have any to share?

It's a little limiting with a larger group. For example the figure 8 is hard to do. Long instructions doesn't work so well either 😁

Thanks//




Sign up for the moto academy. AJ and Jett have a bunch of good drills they have put together.
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cwel11
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cwel11 8/8/2022 5:42pm
8/8/2022 5:42pm
Brad460 wrote:
My 7 yr old son watches motocross videos (he likes the Deagan’s on YouTube) then he goes out and mimics what he sees in the videos...
My 7 yr old son watches motocross videos (he likes the Deagan’s on YouTube) then he goes out and mimics what he sees in the videos. He will do this all day long..watch videos then ride and repeat.

Chad Reed is strict with his kids riding technique and so I’ll have him watch his kids ride.

I like what Ryno has to say- balls of your feet on the pegs, stand up, back straight, hips rolled back..been showing him those videos too..

If I tell him he won’t listen, if he sees a video of someone else telling him to do it he will..

His riding has been getting better.
This is how my son learned a lot as well
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dsmith
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dsmith 8/8/2022 5:50pm
8/8/2022 5:50pm
Do a buncha gate drops....
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asax771
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asax771 8/9/2022 1:08pm
8/9/2022 1:08pm
Rickyisms wrote:
Some things that my pops did that contributed to building really good technique for me were -Take off the rear brake pedal and ride 10 minutes...
Some things that my pops did that contributed to building really good technique for me were

-Take off the rear brake pedal and ride 10 minutes at 60-70%
-Take off the seat and try to do 3-4 laps smoothly
-Took the clutch lever off for a couple minutes to focus more on what gear I was in vs finger banging the clutch
-10 minutes around the track without taking your feet off the pegs

We would usually do all those once a week on one day, we were fortunate enough to have our own track so it was easy to remove and install the parts on our own time. I really sucked with gripping with my legs because I never really grasped how to do it and where the control comes from, until my dad put my bike on the stand, got in the attack position and started rocking the bike side to side with his legs, it’s hard to explain over text but the visualization of seeing just how much you can do with your legs really put it in perspective.

Every time I chased “speed”, I rode shittier, tenser, and usually ended up tucking the front end. When I go out for a moto and tell myself to focus on just corner speed, or roll speed into a corner, or trying to stay “loose” I’m almost always faster than when I go out for some sprint laps.
Thanks man, yes I think I will do one of the classes with some part removals. A good excersise for the parents also. Agree as well with the speed.. That is the risk with mx and similar sports, anyone can gain a lot of speed but the challenge is to have it under control. And that is the goal for these kids
asax771
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asax771 8/9/2022 1:15pm
8/9/2022 1:15pm
Falcon wrote:
You don't need the figure 8 drill; you can just have them do circles around two cones. Spread them far enough apart that all the riders...
You don't need the figure 8 drill; you can just have them do circles around two cones. Spread them far enough apart that all the riders can get in the circle and do left- hand turns first. Then, turn them around and make them do right-handers. If they are good enough, get them to try it feet-up (that will mesh nicely with the "new" fad of feet-up riding demonstrated by Eli Tomac.) Obvisouly, have them focus on the proper form while cornering: head over the bars, elbows up, balls of feet, etc.

Another great drill I like to show young riders is how to turn the throttle like a doorknob. It's a valuable safety skill, because it helps prevent whiskey throttle.

Thank you, yes to do circles instead is a good way. Just have to find the max amount of riders in one circle to avoid a traffic jam.

How to turn the throttle is great, I have talked about it but feel now that I should push it a little more. Unfortunately in EU it's more common with a lever type door opener device so I have to find an analogy they understand.
asax771
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asax771 8/9/2022 1:16pm
8/9/2022 1:16pm
NITRODOG wrote:
Ask the older ones to help out the younger, send them all out on the track, sit back, enjoy, and watch them learn......
Work smarter not harder. I like that
Falcon
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Falcon 8/9/2022 1:20pm
8/9/2022 1:20pm
Falcon wrote:
You don't need the figure 8 drill; you can just have them do circles around two cones. Spread them far enough apart that all the riders...
You don't need the figure 8 drill; you can just have them do circles around two cones. Spread them far enough apart that all the riders can get in the circle and do left- hand turns first. Then, turn them around and make them do right-handers. If they are good enough, get them to try it feet-up (that will mesh nicely with the "new" fad of feet-up riding demonstrated by Eli Tomac.) Obvisouly, have them focus on the proper form while cornering: head over the bars, elbows up, balls of feet, etc.

Another great drill I like to show young riders is how to turn the throttle like a doorknob. It's a valuable safety skill, because it helps prevent whiskey throttle.

asax771 wrote:
Thank you, yes to do circles instead is a good way. Just have to find the max amount of riders in one circle to avoid a...
Thank you, yes to do circles instead is a good way. Just have to find the max amount of riders in one circle to avoid a traffic jam.

How to turn the throttle is great, I have talked about it but feel now that I should push it a little more. Unfortunately in EU it's more common with a lever type door opener device so I have to find an analogy they understand.
A screwdriver, then. Wink Cool
profeshenal125 8/9/2022 3:52pm
8/9/2022 3:52pm
Teach them how to hold a line. I find railing whoops in 4th wo 10 inches from a barb wire fence the best way to learn the hold the line technique.
4
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soggy
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soggy 8/9/2022 5:02pm
8/9/2022 5:02pm
profeshenal125 wrote:
Teach them how to hold a line. I find railing whoops in 4th wo 10 inches from a barb wire fence the best way to learn...
Teach them how to hold a line. I find railing whoops in 4th wo 10 inches from a barb wire fence the best way to learn the hold the line technique.
Lmao
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183Matt
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183Matt 8/9/2022 10:16pm
8/9/2022 10:16pm
One handed riding drill. Have them ride around the track with their left hand off the bar, at a reduced pace. Makes them learn to squeeze the bike with their knees and ankles.

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