For Beginners: 2-3.5 years
Backward Roll
Learning to use the momentum when rocking and rolling backwards is key to a successful backward roll. The fall back to a roll is the most frightening part to learn for preschool children. Backward rolls on incline surfaces create speed, making it easier to do the roll. Parents must lift all the body weight off the child’s neck and head. Children are encouraged to lift their own legs up using their tummy muscles.
Teach the child to put their hands behind their head when rocking backwards. This position helps support the neck while keeping the chin tucked in.
For Intermediate-Advanced: 3.5 to 5 years
Backward Activities:
It is important for the children to experience falling, rocking and rolling backwards safely. It is natural for preschool children to try to stop the backward motion, as they are scared to fall or rock backwards. Setting up multiple jumping or rocking backwards stations will help the children learn to feel more comfortable in this movement.
A child’s center of gravity is high and the upper body strength is not quite developed, making a backward roll skill one of the most difficult skills to teach a preschool child.
Backward Roll:
Learning to use the momentum when rocking and rolling backwards is key to a successful backward roll. When first introducing backward rolls into your gymnastics lesson plans, it is important to teach the child to put their hands behind their head at the start of the skill. This position makes it difficult for the children to take their hands away, reaching backwards stopping the momentum of the roll. This is also the safest and strongest position, protecting and supporting their head and neck.
The backward roll is broken down into many steps, which should be practiced repeatedly before attempting the whole skill on a flat surface. These steps are:
•The tucked, straddle or pike body position with chin tucked in.
• Proper hand placement before and after the skill
• Momentum and speed. (Rocking and rolls on steep inclines and mats)
• Leg lifts.
• The momentary support and push off their hands in the rotation.
• The proper body positions at the end of the roll.
A teaching hint when first teaching a backward roll is to use inclines to rock and roll. This creates speed making it easier for beginners to roll. Cue words: “Hands up, chin down, toes up, roll fast and finish in a front support (Push).”
