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 1.5 m (5 ft.) above the mat.
• Students must be instructed on safety related to gymnastics and associated apparatus prior to use.
• Support swing skills should not be done on parallel bars above chest height of student.
• The single most important gymnastic skill is the ability to fall and land safely.
• Encourage students to work within their own comfort zone.

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

• Gymnastic mats should be used for floor work, tumbling and landing on feet from a controlled height.
• General utility mats should be placed to designate landing area.
• Equipment should be properly secured to floor/ceiling.
• Teacher should ensure sufficient space between each apparatus to allow free movement and sufficient space to dismount.
• Equipment height should be appropriate for students, i.e., hanging activities at stretch height maximum, support activities on top of bars at shoulder height.
• If equipment cannot be sufficiently lowered, teacher should place additional mats under equipment to achieve desired height.