For lowering the bar before standing all the way up in a push jerk, which correction is recommended?

• A. Cue the athlete to keep the bar overhead until hips and knees are fully extended.
• B. Abort the lift and re-grip the bar.
• C. Use a tactile cue: hold your hand over the athlete's head and instruct him or her to hit the hand before lowering the bar.
• D. Lower the bar by bending the wrists first.

Answer: (C)

Using a tactile cue provides immediate, external feedback to control movement timing in the push jerk. By placing your hand over the athlete’s head, you create a clear barrier that the lifter must contact before lowering the bar. The instruction to “hit the hand” prompts them to finish the lockout with hips and knees extended and the bar stabilized overhead, ensuring the bar isn’t dropped too soon and that the load remains in a safe, controlled position. This kind of physical cue helps reinforce proper sequencing and stability, reducing the risk of letting the bar down prematurely or losing balance. Other options rely more on verbal cues, risk unsafe wrist motion, or require aborting the lift, making the tactile cue the most reliable method to correct this specific issue.