This page is not designed to be a substitute for British Gymnastics Qualifications. It is essential for the safety of your gymnasts and yourself to be fully qualified in the skills you are coaching. If in doubt, check with your club's Head Coach or Manager, or British Gymnastics coach education.
Any information below is in NO WAY meant to be a substitute for an appropriately qualified gymnastics coach, but is meant to support coaches in skills they are currently qualified for, or skills at the level they are currently working towards with a mentor following attendance on a British Gymnastics course at the correct level. Coaches must only coach moves unsupervised for skills they hold current qualifications for.
At all times an appropriate risk assessment must be a part of the coaching process. As well as environment and apparatus, the risk assessment must include the age, ability/limitation, learning stage, and consolidation of learning and body preparation for each skill, for each child/young person.
Hazel Colton can accept no responsibility for any accidents resulting from the support offered here on this website - gymnastics is an inherently risky sport and you must make the appropriate risk assessments, and take the necessary safety precautions before using any of the information read from this site; by reading these articles you are agreeing that any information used is entirely at your own risk and with an appropriately qualified gymnastics coach in attendance.
Any information below is in NO WAY meant to be a substitute for an appropriately qualified gymnastics coach, but is meant to support coaches in skills they are currently qualified for, or skills at the level they are currently working towards with a mentor following attendance on a British Gymnastics course at the correct level. Coaches must only coach moves unsupervised for skills they hold current qualifications for.
At all times an appropriate risk assessment must be a part of the coaching process. As well as environment and apparatus, the risk assessment must include the age, ability/limitation, learning stage, and consolidation of learning and body preparation for each skill, for each child/young person.
Hazel Colton can accept no responsibility for any accidents resulting from the support offered here on this website - gymnastics is an inherently risky sport and you must make the appropriate risk assessments, and take the necessary safety precautions before using any of the information read from this site; by reading these articles you are agreeing that any information used is entirely at your own risk and with an appropriately qualified gymnastics coach in attendance.
Coaching and teaching specific skills
Developing the handstand - a one-page aid memoir for handstand preparations. Preparation for the handstand follows a suitable amount of conditioning to take the body weight on the hands; do not attempt any of the preps until this conditioning has been properly consolidated and only then with an appropriately qualified coach or teacher.
Taking weight on the hands requires strength in the hands, arms and shoulders, and flexibility in the wrists. It is vital that this strength and flexibility is built up over time, to allow the correct amount of control for skills such as forward rolls and handstands. Begin with basic preps like front support and caterpillar walks, (starting in front support, walking the feet in until the hips are high in the air, then walking the hands forwards to resume a front support position.)
Taking weight on the hands requires strength in the hands, arms and shoulders, and flexibility in the wrists. It is vital that this strength and flexibility is built up over time, to allow the correct amount of control for skills such as forward rolls and handstands. Begin with basic preps like front support and caterpillar walks, (starting in front support, walking the feet in until the hips are high in the air, then walking the hands forwards to resume a front support position.)
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The Handstand - an article written by Hazel Colton regarding the handstand in gymnastics and how to develop it.
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Developing the Backward Walkover - A one pager with a few preparations for backward walkovers.
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Fizzy Kids Game
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A game to motivate development children to train during the holidays. Just a simple initiative that may be ideal for those who find a list of exercises uninspiring for holiday breaks, I try to remember they are still children, even if they are training as potentially higher level athletes.
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| fizzy_kids_game.pdf |
Holiday Colouring
Again, another initiative to motivate training for holidays, colouring in with conditioning instructions. Complete the exercise before colouring in a part of the picture . . . instruct the children to warm up and general stretch before beginning their colouring and exercises.
The Dragon and Lion are harder, with the truck, biker and 'Conditioning_butterfly' more medium. Lightening MacQueen and the 'Butterfly_Conditioning' is easier. Some pictures will need therapy/resistance bands to complete some exercises.
The Dragon and Lion are harder, with the truck, biker and 'Conditioning_butterfly' more medium. Lightening MacQueen and the 'Butterfly_Conditioning' is easier. Some pictures will need therapy/resistance bands to complete some exercises.
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Of course, we can argue that these stages are important for learning gymnastics at any level of participation, but with more compromises for recreational participation (within safe boundaries); focusing on enjoyment of participation and achievement over competitive performance.
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Split Stretches
A few basic and advanced stretches to help you improve your splits.
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