Gymnastics
Gymnastics at Lindfield is fun, exciting, challenging and develops sports skills for life. In Early Stage 1 the boys explore how their bodies move in different scenarios, and how patterns of movement can be put together. They achieve this through experimentation, group balances, rotations such as forward rolls and bar hangs, as well as control and strength off the very exciting mini trampoline!
In Stage 1 it is taken a step further with more apparatus used such as the beam, the beat board and the crash mats. Boys are encouraged to challenge themselves in a variety of movements and statics through circuits that test their ability to balance, show body control through forward rolls and start to complete very difficult rotations such as cartwheels and bunny hops.
Stage 2 take the concepts of body control, strength and flexibility and puts them into practice through a range of balances, rolls and jumps. Cartwheels are completed on boxes to assist and challenge all boys and the mini tramp is used as a tool for control, strength and precision. Boys are encouraged to move around a circuit that allows them to identify weakness and develop ways to improve through repetitive, fun activities.
The year 5 and 6 boys in Stage 3 take the elements used in stage 2 to a level of transition where they are able to seamlessly move from one movement to another in a routine-type sequence. This is achieved through circuits that combine movements, rolls, jumps and rotations together. Movements such as cartwheels, round-offs, handstands, dive forward rolls and the like are put together to form these routines.
Mark Caulfield
Sports Master
