Coaching: Tips to help athletes pull under the bar?

[Drew Barquist]

I have an athlete who has the hardest time pulling themselves under the bar in the clean, snatch, as well as snatch balance once the weight gets at all heavy. Anyone have any good tips/drills/cues to help this issue?

It seems to be a fear thing, and I've been having her practice cleans and snatches from the high hang at lighter weight, but it hasn't seemed to improve a lot.

[Greg Everett]

Load heavy on snatch push press and overhead squat and do more reps at lighter weights w the snatch balance - weight that allows the athlete to receive low for 2-3 reps/set. Also high-hang and tall snatches (or block)

Likewise, load heavy on front squat, but do high-hang and tall cleans at weights that allow the athlete to get under to the depth you want.

Basically ingrain the movement of pulling down low and strengthen the receiving position so you're working it from both ends.

Check out my column in this month's performance menu (issue 89) about this also.