Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills / Edition 1

by Debby Mitchell, Barbara Davis, Raim Lopez

Overview

Now you can teach or coach gymnastics—even if you don't have a gymnastics background—and ensure that every child learns and succeeds.

Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills is a hands-on guide that provides you with a strong foundation in exploratory gymnastic skills as well as formal gymnastic skills and helps you bridge the gap between the two approaches.

A unique feature of Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills is the use of specific verbal cues for different learning styles. You'll get “kinder” cues appropriate for young learners, plus cues that address these learning styles:

- logical/mathematical
- visual/spatial
- bodily/kinesthetic
- musical/rhythmical
- verbal/linguistic

The book covers these essential teaching topics:

- Foundational positions and movements that form the building blocks for all gymnastics skills
- How fundamental skills fit together to make complex movements and sequences
- Common errors in gymnastics skills and how to correct them
- Hard-to-find safety information, including injury prevention and tips for spotting

This well-organized book also covers skill progressions and lead-ups for floor, beam, springboard/vault, and bars. Each skill includes practical information you can use for individual or small-group work at stations: a complete description, common errors, spotting information and checklists.

Additional special features include the following:

- A movement chart, in each chapter, outlines the skill progressions
- Sequential illustrations clarify skill sequences and progressions
- A skillfinder chart makes it easy to find skill descriptions based on level of difficulty

Learn how to deliver effective and safe gymnastics instruction in an educational setting, no matter what your experience or comfort level. Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills is a great way to get started in teaching gymnastics, build students' confidence, and introduce fun programs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736001243
Publisher:	Human Kinetics Publishers
Publication date:	05/20/2002
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Debby Mitchell, EdD, has been teaching physical education since 1978 and gymnastics since 1987. She is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, where she is helping to develop a new undergraduate degree program in sport and fitness.

Mitchell is a national leader in technology integration. The video laser disk for gymnastics that she developed over a decade ago was the inspiration for this book. She frequently does presentations at state and national conferences on integrating technology into education.

Raim Lopez, MA, has taught gymnastics since 1981. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida and a fitness specialist who promotes and sells individualized fitness programs. Previously, he taught health and fitness at the elementary school level.

In 1992, Lopez received an award for the Most Innovative Physical Education Program in Florida from the Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. In 2001, he won the Disney “Teacherrific” Award.

Barbara Davis has been coaching and teaching gymnastics for 20 years. She is coauthor and national clinician with USA Gymnastics' Kinder Accreditation for Teachers (KAT). She has been a clinician for USA Gymnastics since 1984 at state, regional, and national congresses. She has presented twice at the International Scientific Congress at the world championships. She was the technical writer for the text and developer of the verbal learning cues for specific learning styles.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Gymnastics Basics: Teaching Safely, Teaching Well
Safety First
Teaching Effectively

Chapter 2 Exploratory Gymnastics
Exploring Body Awareness
Exploring Body Positions
Exploring Balance and Flexibility
Exploring Support Skills
Exploring Locomotor Skills
Exploring Turns
Exploring Twisting Rotations
Exploring Sideward Tumbling
Exploration and Lead-Ups for Apparatus
Exploring the Vault Approach
Exploring Bars
Combinations and Routines

Chapter 3 Foundational Positions and Movements
Body Awareness Terminology
Basic Body Positions
Foundational Body Positions
Foundational Positions for Legs and Arms
Foundational Balances
Foundational Support
Locomotor Skills: Alternating Foot Patterns
Locomotor Skills
Locomotor Skills: Landing on One Foot
Rotational Movements: Turns

Chapter 4 Floor Exercise
Balance Skills
Support Skills
Inverted Supports
Locomotor Skills: Alternating Foot Patterns
Locomotor Skills: Jumps
Locomotor Skills: Landing on One Foot
Rotational Movements
Horizontal Circular Rotations: Rolls
Forward and Backward Rolls
Sideward Rotational Movements
Medial Circular Rotations: Round-Off
Horizontal Circular Movements: Back Walkover
Horizontal Circular Movements: Front Walkover
Horizontal Circular Movements: Handspring
Combinations and Routines

Chapter 5 Balance Beam
Hand Placements for Balance Beam
Approaches to Balance Beam
Basic Body Positions and Balances
Support Positions
Inverted Supports: Handstands
Mounts
Locomotor Skills: Alternating Foot Patterns
Locomotor Skills: Two-Foot Jumps
Locomotor Skills: One-Foot Jumps
Dismounts
Longitudinal Rotations: Turns
Sideward Rotations: Cartwheel
Horizontal Circular Movements

Chapter 6 Springboard and Vault
Vault Approach and Springboard Skills
Vault Skills on Floor and Folded Mats
Front Handspring Vault
Vault Technique
Vaults

Chapter 7 Bars
Grip Positions
Hangs From Bars
Inverted Hangs
Supports
Mounts
Suspended and Swinging Skills
Dismounts
Rotational Movements

Interviews

Current and future grade 6-12 physical education teachers; recreational gymnastics instructors; gymnastics club owners, instructors, and coaches; college and university gymnastics activity instructors; serious gymnasts and their parents.

Editorial Reviews

This manual provides guidance on gymnastics instruction for physical education teachers. The authors explore different teaching strategies, body awareness, and the foundational movements and postures, then describe the basic skills of floor exercise, balance beam, springboard and vault, and bars. Black and white drawings illustrate correct body positions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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