basic gymnastics
description
The Basic Gymnastics unit focuses on introducing students to various ways to move their bodies. It requires a great deal of strength and overall body coordination. Lessons are categorized by rolls, jumps, balances, and weight transfers. The class reviews how to properly spot a partner by helping them perform any of the skills mentioned above. Students are usually split into pairs and share a mat throughout class. Partners change each day so that the students gain experience working with different people.
As the unit progresses, and the students become more comfortable controlling their bodies, the skills become more complex. After learning the rolls, the lessons begin to focus on jumping and landing with soft feet. This requires landing on the balls of the feet while bending the knees. It helps limit the amount of impact on the joints. Balancing on 4, 3, 2, and 1 comes next. Once all of the previously mentioned skills are learned with proficiency, the class moves on to combining some of them to begin attempting handstands, headstands, and cartwheels. These are more advance weight transfers that require the ability to balance and successfully move body parts throughout different planes. This is one of the more exciting units for the Primes Division.
As the unit progresses, and the students become more comfortable controlling their bodies, the skills become more complex. After learning the rolls, the lessons begin to focus on jumping and landing with soft feet. This requires landing on the balls of the feet while bending the knees. It helps limit the amount of impact on the joints. Balancing on 4, 3, 2, and 1 comes next. Once all of the previously mentioned skills are learned with proficiency, the class moves on to combining some of them to begin attempting handstands, headstands, and cartwheels. These are more advance weight transfers that require the ability to balance and successfully move body parts throughout different planes. This is one of the more exciting units for the Primes Division.
learning objectives
- Know and be able to demonstrate the various types of rolls: egg, log, forward, backward, shoulder, safety, rocker
- Know and be able to demonstrate the various types of jumps: tuck, seat kicker, straddle, pike, spin
- Know how 'center of gravity' and 'base of support' affect balancing
- Demonstrate the variety of balances on the ground, raised mats, and a balance beam
- Consistently land in an 'S' shape after jumping to ensure less force is applied on the joints
- Begin practicing handstands, headstands, and cartwheels
- Learn how to properly spot a partner during a variety of movements