Abstract: High stress soft rock is a kind of engineering soft rock that has low intensity and strong theology in high stress area.The deformation characteristics demonstrated by boring in soft rock are very different from in hard rock.Rigid gap flexible layer support plays an important role in releasing roadway deformation energy effectively and controlling roadway deformation in the support of soft rock roadway in high stress area.The mechanism of rigid gap flexible layer support is researched in depth by analyzing the coupling relationship between rigid and flexible layers and interaction of support and surrounding rock in rigid gap flexible layer support.According to above,the choice of materials and parameters in rigid gap flexible layer support is discussed in detail at last,which provides a reasonable design method reference for rigid gap flexible layer support of soft rock roadway in high stress area.