How to Teach a Child a Backward Roll
In gymnastics, one of the first tumbling moves to learn is the backward roll. Although your student may be familiar with the forward somersault, doing one in reverse takes a little more courage and practice. With patience, you can teach a child to perform a backward roll quickly and with confidence.
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Instructions
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Learn to do one yourself. Until you have firsthand knowledge of tumbling and gymnastics, you cannot teach them to someone else. By learning to do tumbling moves in correct form, you will fully appreciate what it takes to do them correctly without injury.
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Consider the age of your student. Explain the somersault at the child's level of understanding. A teen can follow a detailed description of form, balance and center of gravity, whereas a four year old cannot.
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Ensure the child has mastered the forward roll. It teaches simple form and torque and gives a taste of the 'butterflies' that accompany this type of gymnastic move. The forward somersault is the natural predecessor of the backward roll.
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Ask the child to sit on a gymnastic mat with knees tucked to the chest. Lower the chin to the chest. Place hands on either side of the head, palms up, just above the ears.
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Tell the child to rock backward and forward, remaining in the tucked position. As the child gains confidence, have him rock harder until he can rock far enough back for his palms to touch the mat. When he's comfortable, have him slightly change his starting position. Instead of remaining seated, get him into the appropriate tuck while balanced on his feet. Repeat the rocking procedure from the new starting point until he is ready for a break.
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Take a short break, then ask him to rock back harder than ever in an effort to flip over. Remind him to keep his hands in place, as protection for the head and neck. Instruct him to push strongly with his hands when they touch the mat in order to complete the backward roll. If necessary, gently ease him over using his hips as a handhold.
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Instruct the child to practice the backward roll several times. As she gains confidence, allow her to begin the move with hands starting on the mat-quickly bringing them up by her ears as she begins to rock backward. With practice, she will improve in both form and speed until she no longer requires your assistance.
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Tips & Warnings
Help fearful children by placing one hand across the legs and another behind the head. This simple spotting technique gives added confidence.
If the child is unafraid, yet having difficulty mastering the backward somersault, she may need more torque. Try having her rock back faster. If she's 'slamming' into the floor, She's arching her back. Remind her to lean forward, keeping her body tucked into a ball.
To avoid injury, the child must remain in proper form. The chin always stays tucked to the chest, knees drawn up and hands in place to protect the head and neck.
