Gymnastics

Forward Roll

Start in a squat position with hands in front. Tuck your head to your knees and chin to your chest. Raise your bottom. Start to roll. The back of your head or the top part of your shoulders are the only parts that touch the mat. Stay in a ball. End in the same position you start.

1. Cues: Squat down, chin on your chest, raise your bottom and roll. Finish like you started in a squat position.
2. Problem Areas: Not staying in a ball Putting or driving their head into the mat Rolling off to the side Knees coming away from the chest while coming up from the roll.
3. Tips: Keep their head on their knees from start to finish. Have them look back through their legs at the person behind them or hold your hand behind them to look at. Use an incline or a wedge mat to help them stay in a ball and get up. Use the hands to give a little extra push when coming up.




Backward Roll



To start have children sit on the edge of a mat in a tuck position, with hands held so palms are towards the ceiling and thumbs towards their ears. Get them to rock backwards staying in a tuck position and whop their hands on the mat like they are smashing potatoes, pumpkins or tomatoes. When they can do this have them do it again and try to go over.

Then have them try to go over and land on their feet in a squat position.

When they can do all of the above with no problems, then they may squat down as in a forward roll.

Remind them to hold their hands like they are carring a tray (palms are facing the ceiling). Stay in a tuck position and begin to roll backwards. When the weight is on your shoulders and you are starting to go over you must push hard with your hands. Put the feet down first and continue to push the head and upper body off of the mat. Cues: Squat down, chin on your chest, and roll while bringing your hands into position. Push hard with the hands. Finish like you started in a squat position. Problem Areas: You may not get your hands back fast enough. You may not be rolling fast enough. Hands not pushing you away from the mat. Rolling off to one side. Landing on the knees rather than the feet. Tips: Keep your head on your knees from start to finish. Land on your feet, drop your bottom at the same time you are pushing with your hands. Anything backwards is unnatural and can be a little scary to some children. Be patient. Use an incline or a wedge mat to help them stay in a ball, roll quickly and get up. Sit on the edge of the incline with the feet touching the floor, elbows on the knees, head down and hands in the right position. Then roll.










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