I spent the past couple weeks gathering together the various sections I wanted to include in this short report
about Progressions, or more accurately, this list of gymnastics skills.
As I went over the “progressions” I realized that in fact this list of skills was mostly just a guideline, because on
several occasions I had detoured from "progressions" I had listed.
When confronted with gymnasts of differing abilities, I tend to rearrange the progressions to suit the needs of
the
individual child.
For instance, I sometimes teach a back handspring before I teach a back walkover.
Why?
Because the two skills are significantly different. A back handspring is meant to cover a larger distance
horizontally with increasing speed and power. A back walkover emphasizes flexibility and very little horizontal
movement.
Many recreational gymnasts who claim to be doing back handsprings are really doing fast back walkovers. (If
you can actually see a moment when both hands and feet are clear of the floor then you can call it a back
handspring.)
I find that by teaching the back handspring first to some children (those with abnormal shoulder or back
flexibility) I actually help them in their overall training on tumbling and floor exercise skills.
Don’t get me wrong, for many recreational gymnasts learning a back walkover first is fine. In fact, for many of
them, teaching a back walkover first is essential. It’s just that when I teach and I recognize a child has the ability
to step outside the “normal” progressions, I will usually allow that child to do so.
Is this good or bad?
I think it is neither, it just is. I have found by talking to several different coaches that they feel a skill should be
taught in a specific way each time.
However, like diet books, there seem to be several progressional recipes that are good for your program. As
long as you are acting in a reasonable and prudent manner, keeping the child’s safety the foremost concern,
teach the skills in the manner and progression that works for you...
about Progressions, or more accurately, this list of gymnastics skills.
As I went over the “progressions” I realized that in fact this list of skills was mostly just a guideline, because on
several occasions I had detoured from "progressions" I had listed.
When confronted with gymnasts of differing abilities, I tend to rearrange the progressions to suit the needs of
the
individual child.
For instance, I sometimes teach a back handspring before I teach a back walkover.
Why?
Because the two skills are significantly different. A back handspring is meant to cover a larger distance
horizontally with increasing speed and power. A back walkover emphasizes flexibility and very little horizontal
movement.
Many recreational gymnasts who claim to be doing back handsprings are really doing fast back walkovers. (If
you can actually see a moment when both hands and feet are clear of the floor then you can call it a back
handspring.)
I find that by teaching the back handspring first to some children (those with abnormal shoulder or back
flexibility) I actually help them in their overall training on tumbling and floor exercise skills.
Don’t get me wrong, for many recreational gymnasts learning a back walkover first is fine. In fact, for many of
them, teaching a back walkover first is essential. It’s just that when I teach and I recognize a child has the ability
to step outside the “normal” progressions, I will usually allow that child to do so.
Is this good or bad?
I think it is neither, it just is. I have found by talking to several different coaches that they feel a skill should be
taught in a specific way each time.
However, like diet books, there seem to be several progressional recipes that are good for your program. As
long as you are acting in a reasonable and prudent manner, keeping the child’s safety the foremost concern,
teach the skills in the manner and progression that works for you...
| Excerpt from the Introduction to: Gymnastics Progressions. |
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| $15.00 (PDF only.) |
