How to Teach Preschool Gymnastics

Originating with the Greeks, gymnastics is a sport that requires a great amount of flexibility, physical fitness, coordination, and training. Successful gymnasts study and practice from early childhood to learn how to maneuver their bodies to do extraordinary things. A quarter turn the wrong way, 20 feet in the air, can mean the difference between a perfect landing and a serious injury, between winning and losing a competition. The quadrennial Summer Olympic Games are the main competitive venue to display the many disciplines that can be called gymnastics. Training young gymnasts can be a daunting task, especially since you are hopefully building the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of technical excellence and good sportsmanship. On top of this, as a coach, you must consider that your students are young, and many of them are testing the waters to see if they will like gymnastics. Therefore, elements of fun and teamwork should always be included in the lessons; a more disciplined approach can be used for older students. In this free instructional video series, learn the basics of teaching gymnastics to preschoolers, including a variety of events they’ll need to know to build fundamental physical skills like balance and hand-to-eye coordination. See examples of easy exercises you can do with your students as well.