Rear Support
Rear support can be introduced in Year 1 or Year 2 and mastered by Year 4. It builds strength and control in the upper body and core, which are essential for more advanced gymnastics skills and movement sequences.
Teaching cues
- Lift your hips high: Imagine you’re trying to make a straight line from your head to your toes.
- Hands under shoulders, flat on the floor.
- Stretch your legs out straight and point your toes.
- Keep your body straight. 'Stay tall and strong like a bridge, with no bending'.
Teaching strategies
- Start by practicing the position with feet on the floor, gradually lifting the hips as strength increases.
- Have children use a visual aid (like a straight line or marker) to align their body.
- Encourage children to focus on keeping their hips high and body straight.
- Increase hold time, aiming for 10-15 seconds per attempt.
- Encourage children to keep their arms straight and legs fully extended.
- Have children practice transitioning from rear support to other positions, such as front support or side support.
- Introduce movements such as leg lifts or arm reaches to challenge balance and stability.
- Children should be able to hold rear support for 20-30 seconds with correct body alignment.
- Encourage more dynamic movements, such as reaching one arm or leg off the floor without losing balance.
- Integrate sear support into a movement sequence, such as transitioning from rear support to front support and side side support.
- Incorporate rear support into more complex gymnastics routines.
Skill criteria
- Body is in a straight line from head to toes.
- Hands placed directly under the shoulders with fingers spread wide for support.
- Hips lifted high, with no sagging or arching.
- Legs straight and toes pointed for full body extension.
- Core engaged to maintain stability and prevent collapsing at the hips.
Common errors
- Sagging hips – ensure the body is in a straight line with the hips lifted high.
- Arms bent – keep arms straight to support the body properly.
- Legs not straight – encourage children to extend their legs fully and point their toes.
- Leaning backward or forward – maintain a straight line from head to toes without shifting the weight too much in any direction.
