This article was originally published in TheGymPress May 2008 Issue.
Article by Valentin Uzunov. Article has been revised to be more accurate, with better illustrations
Abstract
The front tuck somersault is a fundamental skill taught early on in a gymnast’s career. Mistakes in the teaching process will have long lasting consequences as engrained errors will be hard to fix, and will also lead to poor skill transfer. The common approach to teaching the somersault is usually through a trial and error approach, with little time spent on shaping or working the intricate details to the skill. In this article the understand – teach model is used to analyze the front tuck somersault. From this analysis a series of drills are used for teaching the somersault with focus on the critical phases. The critical phases for the front somersault, like any somersault, are the approach, take-off, rotation, and landing. Its is believed that its advantageous to teach each phase separately, so that the gymnast can gain appreciation for the importance of each phase, and understand the correct sequence of events. Once all phases are understood and learned they are combined to train the front somersault. The focus is on transferring a front somersault from a rebound surface to the floor. Careful and progressive progression is ideal, in order for the gymnast to be able to transfer the correct technique from one apparatus to the other.
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