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ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS AT SCHOOL – HOW TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS TO TRAIN IT?
2025-02-25
Artistic gymnastics can support the all-round physical development of children and young people. However, its introduction into the school curriculum requires adequate preparation of the gymnasium. Find out what must be included to help students catch the bug of this demanding but rewarding sport.
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS – WHAT IS IT EXACTLY?
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline whose roots go back to the ancient games. Its modern form was born in what is now Germany and the Czech Republic. It is currently a challenging Olympic competition. Thanks to its spectacular nature, it attracts many fans and fills the stands in sports halls.
Artistic gymnastics consists of several competitions – 'graceful' exercises performed by athletes for a maximum of several dozen seconds. These are different for men and women, as determined by the rules of the International Gymnastics Federation.
Women training in sports gymnastics at official competitions compete in the following events:
• vault, i.e. jumping over a vaulting horse (also called a tongue or a table);
• uneven handrails, i.e. exercises on bars positioned almost 2 m apart;
• balance beam, i.e. exercises done on a wooden beam that is 5 m long, 10 cm wide and positioned 1.25 cm above the ground;
• floor exercise, i.e. on a 14x14 m gymnastics floor.
Men also perform bar and still rings exercises during the competition. In their case, uneven handrails are replaced by even ones.
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS – WHAT SKILLS IT IMPROVES AND HOW IT DEVELOPS THE BODY?
During artistic gymnastics training, children and adolescents can improve:
• muscular strength – especially in the upper body, i.e. arms and the torso;
• motor coordination – when performing complex sequences of movements on gymnastic equipment;
• balance – thanks to balance beam exercises;
• flexibility – muscles and joints are stretched during gymnastic training, and the body becomes more limber and agile.
Artistic gymnastics training also increases children and adolescents' confidence and teaches them how to concentrate. Performing technically complex exercises requires strong focus.
How can students' interest in PE lessons be stimulated? Find out here: 5 ideas on how to add variety to gymnastics at school.
WHO CAN PRACTICE ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS?
Even preschool kids can practice artistic gymnastics. However, it is advisable not to have the first training sessions until the child turns 5. Age-appropriate sports activities for schoolchildren or preschoolers are an excellent addition to curricular physical education lessons.
Contrary to what one might expect, artistic gymnastics is not only for the select few or for children with particular sporting talents. Exercising with instruments or floor exercises are a way to add variety to the physical education curriculum and a way of spending time, e.g. in a school sports club.
PREPARING A GYMNASTICS TRAINING ROOM AT SCHOOL?
A school gym does not need all the equipment used by Olympic athletes to be turned into a place well suited for gymnastics training. However, it should always be equipped with a suitable and safe floor.
Therefore, when furnishing a gymnastics room, it is essential to include a gymnastics support mat. The thicker it is, the better it will protect students from injuries.
ANTI-SLIP GYMNASTIC/SUPPORT MAT 200X120X20CM made of flexible polyurethane rebound foam.
In addition to its length, this mat has two more advantages. These are a non-slip underside and specially designed corners, making it easy to carry.
The mat is essential so that students can improve their muscular strength during bar exercises among other things. For sports gymnastics training in the school hall, a ladder-mounted model will suffice.
FOLDING GYMNASTIC BAR, MOUNTED ON A LADDER – up to the max. load of 120 kg.
This gymnastic bar has movable arms, so you can adjust its distance from the net. It has a beech wood finish that reduces hand slippage.
A balance beam is a compulsory piece of gymnastics equipment.
LOW BALANCE BEAM, LENGTH 3.0 M on short legs.
This low balance beam is made of solid coniferous glulam. To make exercising on it easier and safer, care has been taken to provide it with a non-slip finish.
A pommel horse is one of the favourite pieces of gymnastic equipment for young people interested in artistic gymnastics.
SYNTHETIC LEATHER–COVERED POMMEL HORSE WITH HANDLES on an adjustable base
This piece of equipment is not used in the Olympic Games these days, but it helps prepare young people for demanding bar exercises. Pommel horse training strengthens the muscles of the arms and torso.
Find out how to teach young people a gymnastic exercise they don't like – read here: Jumping over a pommel horse – how can children and young people be taught to do it?
During artistic gymnastics training, you can use equipment that is easily found in most classrooms, such as the ladders, a pommel horse and even a bench turned upside down. However, the more professional equipment a trainer or teacher has at his or her disposal, the more interesting and varied the classes will be.