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

• Hanging inversions should be done under direct supervision of the teacher and a 30.5 cm to 60.9 cm (12 in. to 24 in.) landing mat must be in place.
• Inversion skills must be done so that a student hangs no higher than 1½ m (5 ft.) above the mat.
• For Pre-Kindergarten/ECS Program students, inversion skills must be done at a height that hands can reach the mat while hanging.
• Students should not overcrowd the activity area.
• Teacher should adjust equipment to appropriate height of students and appropriate to activity being performed.
• Where a horizontal ladder or bars are at chest height, child may climb on top.
• When horizontal ladder or bars are above chest height of student, e.g., stretch height, only hanging and traveling under the bar are permitted. Traveling on top is not permitted.
• Students should not jump from anything higher than their own shoulder height.
• Horizontal ladders and bars of trestles should not be approached from the side as trestles could slide sideways.

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

• Equipment set-up and adjustment should be done under teacher direction.
• Teacher should check clamps and feet of trestles and the wall lever and floor pins of wall climber to ensure climber is secure. This should be done daily to check for defective parts.
• Sleeves of clothing should not be so long as to interfere with grip on climber.