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Step 1
Start by standing straight on the mat. Practice gymnastic moves on a safe surface such as a spring floor.
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Step 2
Jump slightly to build momentum and proceed to sit and roll backwards. Instruct the child to hold her arms horizontally in front of her when beginning the back extension roll and to avoid placing them on the floor behind her as she lowers herself.
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Step 3
Teach the gymnast to push hard with both hands, on either side of her head as her head clears the floor, lifting herself, vertically, into a handstand.
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Step 4
Spot the child by grabbing her ankles as she rolls and pulling her up to her hands.
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Step 5
Split the legs, keeping them straight and step down and out of the handstand, immediately lifting the arms in a finished position, hands turned outwards.
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Step 6
Instruct the child to perform a straight-arm roll as soon as she can perform a back extension roll by pushing with her hands. In competition, straight arms are required. There is a penalty for bending and pushing.
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Step 7
Show the gymnast the correct arm and hand position before she begins the roll. Her arms should extend directly in front of her, straight, with fingers turned inwards and palms facing away from her. Her arms should not alter from this position as she rolls, except to rotate above her head in order to make contact with the mat.
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Step 8
Smack the mat very hard with straight arms to perform the snap-up required in competition. Combined with the momentum from the roll, this will bring the gymnast to a vertical headstand. Watch a flash animation showing the correct arm and body position (See Resources).
