Bmx is already behind all other forms of cycling so banning clips is a step backwards. It is the coaching that is failing. I am yet to see a coach who teaches correct pedaling. Forget all the other things if correct pedal stroke is not taught at the beginning then it is often forgotten. The use of clips can help in this area.
You are absolutely correct Hearnie, I notice correct pedaling is rarely taught by BMX coaches, and if is bought up it's a 3 minute thing then on to something else and never mentioned again.
Clips definitely help kids "get" the correct technical rotation. Removing clips is obviously a backward step.
There is a lack of information amongst BMX'ers about clipless pedals.
Problem is that those at the top of the BMX administrative chain don't understand clips and only hear of the negatives, and these mostly come from parents who have never ridden competitively and don't understand the mechanics of clipless pedals.
How many of the BMX administrators have actually ridden BMX or any other form of cycling for that matter.
I hear a few old school BMX'ers talking about the benefits of riding flats but after a bit of dialogue their argument always breaks down.
In my case I have ridden for over 30 years and know the positives and negatives of using clipless pedals.
I see around 50 kids riding BMX every month who have been using clips from around 5/6 years of age and I'm not aware of any of them developing any problems related to riding on clips.
With clipless pedals you "pedal in circles" using your hamstrings to lift through the back half of the pedal stroke and your quadriceps to push through the front half.
On platform pedals, nearly all of your power comes from pushing through the front half of the stroke. Your simply mashing down on only a portion of the pedaling cycle. This wastes energy because it's not being optimally used.
You convert much more power into the drive train when your connected with clips.
An efficient spin is simply not possible without a binding between the shoe and pedal. An efficient spin allows a faster, smoother ride at lower intensity so you get greater yield from the energy expended.
Clips are safer, a smoother ride at lower intensity results in much less chance of any type of stress or injury.
A kid who has ever crashed after losing contact with the pedal and slipping a foot to the ground during a ride does not have to be told about the benefits of a secure binding with the pedal.
This especially applies to BMX riders who can literally get bounced off the pedals riding a technical straight or landing a jump. We see that occur at every gate session and during racing. It's so easy to slip off a pedal and take out the riders next to you.
Ogro, banning clips isn't the answer, this has nothing to do with clips, the bum-forward habit is simply that, a bad habit, developed not from riding clips but laziness, you see them doing the exact same thing when riding flats ... a little bit of coaching teaching them the proper technique will get them out of that habit.
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Clipping in is responsible for the injuries of more children , young people and 
.