Skill: Headstand

Family:Rationale:

Inverted Skillsa low-to-ground skill, develops balance

Chart number: 8 -20a ©2000, PENultimateI Can Do Gymnastics! Activity Cards - produced by PENultimate - Phone: (864) 268-7740

SKILL: HeadstandSafetySTEP I Instructions Teachin2 Hints

I I ItThemeand Variations: More than wecan possibly mention here (Tip -ups, Forearm stands, etc)! Maybein our next book.

o••o

Start in a Tripod

If you can,raiseyour feet up from yourknees and hold them in front ofyour tummy.

Slowly raise legs toahoUow-bodyposition. Voila! You are doing aheadstand!

If you can,come back to a tripod andback to a frog.

1. It will not go this smoothly.2. Master the Tripod.4. After they have mastered the Tri-

pod they may then try to (slowly)extend ·their leg$into tbe head-stand. Have them do it half wayflrst andthen sloWlyproceedonto,tb~ .headstand (3.weeks!)

5~ When,tbeycannotsee their feet. ttiey:are about to fall onto theirbacks!

Safety: Some children will. '.

dothis immediately! Mostwill needseveral monthsto learn it. Take yourtime!

Spotting: Standon their sideand grasp an ankle dur-ing the headstand. Dur-ing the tripod you maywish to hold their hips.