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JUMPING OVER A GYMNASTIC HORSE - HOW SHOULD CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE BE TOUGHT TO DO IT?
2024-09-27
Jumping over a gymnastic horse may, but does not have to be a nightmare for students. It depends on the teacher and how he or she prepares the children to perform this fearsome exercise. How do you teach students to jump over a gymnastic horse? And what gym equipment will make it possible to perform this exercise correctly? Here is the explanation!
WHY ARE STUDENTS TOUGHT TO JUMP OVER A GYMNASTIC HORSE?
Jumping over a gymnastic horse is not a teacher’s idea. This exercise is designed to help students improve their physical fitness and overcome their own mental barriers. This easiest, basic gymnastic jump:
• develops jumping ability - this exercise can be performed with or without a springboard (easier version). In both cases, however, the student must jump vigorously to bounce high and jump over the obstacle,
• shapes motor coordination - in order to accelerate, bounce and jump over the gymnastic horse, it is important for the legs, arms and entire torso to work together,
• can boost the student’s confidence - doing an exercise correctly, which seems very difficult at first, greatly encourages the child. For this to happen, the teacher must also work on the emotional attitude of the students. The teacher should motivate children and young people and appreciate their smallest successes when learning to jump over the gymnastic horse.
JUMPING OVER A GYMNASTIC HORSE - THE TECHNIQUE. HOW SHOULD THIS EXERCISE BE PERFORMED CORRECTLY?
The correct jump over a gymnastic horse consists of several stages. To perform this exercise correctly, the student must:
1. run fast and jump on the springboard with both feet and then bounce off the string board strongly;
2. when bouncing off the springboard, move the arms upwards;
3. jump on the gymnastic horse and bounce off it with the arms, while spreading straight legs as wide as possible - in a position resembling a Turkish split;
4. land in a half squat with the legs together.
JUMPING OVER A GYMNASTIC HORSE - THE TEACHING METHODOLOGY. PREPARATION FOR THE EXERCISE
A teacher who wants to teach his students to jump over a gymnastic horse cannot throw them in at the deep end. Children and young people need time during physical education classes to improve their speed and jumping ability. To this end, the teacher should offer a suitable set of exercises to the students during class.
How do you encourage children to participate in gymnastics activities? Read the article: 5 ideas on how to add variety to gymnastics at school.
Learning to jump over a gymnastic horse - bouncing off the ground
Such exercises can be done in pairs. Students can bounce off the ground by resting their hands on their classmates’ shoulders. It is also a good idea to familiarise children with the gymnastic horse beforehand. This can be done by performing an exercise in which pupils bounce off the springboard. Children jump on it with their hands resting on the gymnastic horse, but do not jump over the horse.
Learning to land after bouncing off the gymnastic horse
An ordinary gym bench will work well for the exercise aimed to perfect the technique of landing from the gymnastic horse.
GYM BENCH, 2.0 M LONG - WOODEN BASE - essential gym equipment.
This wooden gymnastics bench will be useful for practising jumping off the gymnastic horse. To do this, the student must step onto it, then bounce high off it and jump to a half squat on the floor. Once the children have mastered this exercise, it can be made a little more difficult. The advanced version involves bouncing off the bench, doing a leg spread in the air and then landing in a half-squat position.
Learning to bounce off the gymnastic horse - exercises to improve arm strength
To strengthen the arms and prepare them for bouncing off the gymnastic horse, it is a good idea to use a ladder-mounted mat during physical education classes.
LADDER-MOUNTED ANTI-SLIP GYMNASTIC MAT made of lightweight and rigid foam.
This mat can be used to perform the exercise that involves bouncing off as hard as possible with the hands on the foam. It has a non-slip surface, which minimises the risk of the child slipping. At the same time, the soft polyurethane foam provides a soft landing for students who happen to bounce too hard off the mat and fall.
Are you buying equipment for your gymnasium? Be sure to read this article: How do you choose gymnastic mats for a school?
WHAT GYMNASTIC HORSE SHOULD BE USED IN SCHOOLS?
The school gym should have a gymnastic horse with adjustable legs and one that can be easily 'brought' from the storage room.
GYMNASTIC HORSE COVERED WITH SYNTHETIC LEATHER - ideal for school exercises.
This gymnastic horse has legs that allow it to be adjusted in height from 90 to 140 cm, in 5 cm increments. This design allows for a gradual increase in the difficulty of the exercise. Physical education teachers will also appreciate the wheels on its legs. They make it easier to bring this heavy gym equipment from the storage room to the gym.
Although students usually flinch at the very thought of jumping over a gymnastic horse, this exercise should not be eliminated from physical education classes. For children to rise to this challenge, they need to be well prepared for it. The gym must also be equipped with a gymnastic horse that can be really low at the beginning - this will not discourage students from jumping.