Tuck Jump
The tuck jump is a gymnastics skill that develops power, coordination and body control in the air. It involves jumping vertically and bringing the knees up towards the chest. The tuck jump challenges children to generate enough height for the knee tuck and then return to a controlled landing position. It can be introduced in Year 3 and Year 4, and further developed throughout the upper primary years. Mastering this skill builds the foundation for more advanced gymnastics skills and dismounts that require strong, controlled landings.
Teaching cues
- Bend and swing: bend your knees and swing your arms back.
- Jump and tuck: jump up high and tuck your knees to your chest.
- Motorbike landing: land softly with bent knees and arms in front to balance.
Teaching strategies
- Start by practicing small jumps and lifting knees slightly.
- Use visual prompts or hands-on cues, such as "can you tap your knees mid-jump" to encourage the tuck.
- Practice jumping on the spot, then gradually increase height of jump.
- Place a soft object (like a foam block) on the ground for children to jump and "tuck over" as a visual cue.
- Practice in front of mirrors or with peer feedback to check for knee height and body posture.
- Include tuck jumps in gymnastics movement sequences or floor routines.
- Introduce run-ups or jumps from a low height (e.g., low box, step or beam) while maintaining tuck form.
- Introduce variations like double tuck jumps or combining tuck with turn elements.
Skill criteria
- Knees tuck up high towards the chest.
- Arms swing to increase power and height in the jump.
- Controlled, soft landing with knees bent and balanced posture.
Common errors
- Not lifting knees high enough into the tuck.
- Arms not coordinated – not swinging or flailing mid-air.
- Losing balance or control on landing.
- Jumping forward instead of vertically.
