Supervision

• Constant visual supervision is required when students are attempting difficult moves for the first time on an apparatus.
• On-site supervision is recommended following initial skill instruction and after all safety concerns have been emphasized.

NB: The Kids CanMove program promoted a non-spotting approach. Skills which require spotting should be left out of school gymnastics classes.

Instructional Considerations

• For Pre-Kindergarten/ECS Program students, emphasize landing on feet only because young children may try to land on knees or knees and hands.
• Activities should be based on skills that are taught, e.g., take-offs and landings from beat board to mat before beat board to box horse/vault.
• Spring landings and rotations (long axis) should be considered safe activities.
• Students must be instructed on safety related to gymnastics and associated apparatus prior to use.
• Emphasize teaching the fundamentals of agility, balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility.
• A teacher that is spotting on an apparatus is not providing adequate supervision to the rest of the class. Teachers should be free to observe the entire class to ensure that students display proper and safe conduct.
• The single most important gymnastic skill is the ability to fall and land safely.
• Encourage students to work within their own comfort zone.
• Teach students to be aware of personal and general space for activities space, and to watch for others at all times.

Skills that should not be performed:

• Inverted skills, without support. No saltos (flips).
• Hanging on bars without hand support. No hanging by knees only.
• Inverted skills from a springing device. No dive rolls from a mini trampoline.
• Vaults using mini trampolines.
• No headstands, very minimal time on heads is recommended.

Equipment/Facilities

• Gymnastics mats must be placed in designated landing area.
• Manufactured take-off board with carpeted top and non-skid feet should be used, e.g., Speith-Anderson, Laurentian, AAI, etc.