Gymnastics Rolls
There are a variety of different rolls that can be taught to help children develop coordination, body awareness, spatial awareness, core strength, and confidence in moving through space. They introduce children to controlled rotation and are often used as a building block for more advanced gymnastics skills. Gymnastic rolls can be introduced safely in the early years, with children usually developing fluency and control by Year 2 for the pencil roll and Year 4 for the forward roll.
Teaching cues
Pencil Roll
- Stretch your arms and legs out 'like a tall pencil'.
- Squeeze your body tight to stay straight.
- Roll slowly while keeping your body strong and straight.
- Pretend you're a pencil rolling across the floor.
Forward Roll
- Start in a standing position with arms planted firmly on the mat/wedge in front of you.
- Tuck your chin into your chest to protect your neck.
- Roll onto your shoulders, not the top of your head.
- Keep your body rounded like a rock throughout the roll.
- Push from your feet as you move into the roll.
- Stand up without using your hands at the end of the roll.
Teaching strategies
Pencil Roll
- Practice lying still in the pencil position before rolling
- Mark a line on the floor and challenge children to roll along it
- Try pencil rolling down a soft incline (e.g., a wedge mat)
- Use imagery: “Can you roll like a pencil across the page?”
Forward Roll
- Start by practicing tucking into a small ball and rocking forward and backward (rock & roll)
- Use a wedge or gentle slope to support momentum through the roll
- Guide children with one-on-one instruction, using hands-on support if necessary
- Practice forward rolls down a padded incline (e.g., a wedge mat)
- Use chalk to mark where children need to place their hands on the mat
- Focus on tucking the chin and keeping the body rounded
- Ensure children understand the safety rule: roll on shoulders, not on the head
Pencil Roll
- Add challenges like holding the pencil shape for 3 seconds before rolling
- Incorporate pencil rolling into obstacle courses or relays
- Use music and freeze cues (e.g. freeze in pencil shape)
- Add balance challenges: pencil roll, then hold a balance shape
Forward Roll
- Encourage children to roll and stand up without using hands
- Introduce paired mirroring or synchronised forward rolls
- Focus on fluency, body control and finish position
Pencil Roll
- Combine with other movements (e.g. rock & roll, forward roll)
- Try pencil rolling in different directions (forward, backward, diagonal)
- Work in pairs: "can you pencil roll side-by-side or mirror each other?"
Forward Roll
- Sequence forward rolls into a gymnastics routine with balances and jumps
- Roll into different positions (e.g., forward roll into a front support position or dish position)
- Integrate forward rolls into partner challenges or gymnastics games
Skill criteria
Pencil Roll
- Arms stretched straight above the head and legs straight
- Body stays tight and aligned (no bending at knees or hips)
- Rolls smoothly in a straight line
- Controlled start and stop
Forward Roll
- Start in a stable standing or squat position
- Hands placed firmly on the mat, shoulder-width apart
- Chin tucked to chest throughout the roll
- Body stays rounded through the spine, avoiding flat back
- Rolls smoothly over the shoulders
- Uses momentum and core strength to return to standing position
- Stands up with control, ideally without using hands
Common errors
Pencil Roll
- Arms and legs not squeezed tight
- Bending at hips or knees
- Not rolling in a straight line
Forward Roll
- Head touches the mat (chin not tucked)
- Rolling on the neck instead of shoulders
- Hands placed too wide or too narrow
- Body too flat – lacks rounding
- Pushing too hard or not hard enough from the feet (making it difficult to stand up at the end of the forward roll)
