Learning Backward Rolls: Practice Cards for Physical Education

These exercise cards guide children and young people step by step through the backward roll. At the beginning, the children can roll back and forth on the round part of their backs. Then they move on to progressions over a vaulting bench, box, and springboard, until finally the full backward roll on gymnastics mats is up next. Thanks to the clear presentation, the exercises can be carried out without lengthy explanations in physical education classes and club sports.

This is included in the material

• Technique cards for the backward roll with starting position, rolling movement, and end position – in the basic form and as an advanced variant with straight legs
• Exercise cards for the individual learning steps, each with equipment, setup, and a sequence of images with short movement characteristics, for individual exercises also with instructions for the assisting person
• Instructions for implementation with examples of using the cards in physical education classes
• Safety instructions on warming up, suitable surface, support, and gradual progression

Tips for using the material

• First show the movement: Before the exercises, the technique cards are useful so that the learners get an idea of the movement. Alternatively, a person who already masters the backward roll or the teacher can demonstrate it.
• Open station work: The exercises can be set up next to each other. The learners decide for themselves what to start with and move on to the next exercise after completing one. Those who already know the backward roll can help the others as a "coach".
• Partner work: The cards can be laid out in order or hung on the wall. In pairs or threes, the learners can complete the exercises one after another, give each other tips, and provide assistance with the information on the cards.
• Frontal instruction in small learning groups: The teacher can demonstrate each exercise using the card and have the learners imitate it under guidance, exercise by exercise, until as many as possible master the basic sequence of the backward roll.

These competencies are promoted

• Movement sequence of the backward roll from the starting position through the rolling to standing up from the crouch
• Round back by bringing the chin and thighs to the chest
• Arm usage by placing the hands next to the head and actively pushing off
• Helping each other through tips and assistance in partner work and as a "coach" in station work

Organizational notes

Depending on the exercise, gymnastics mats, a soft floor mat, a vaulting bench, a small box, or a springboard are needed; exactly what is needed is stated on each exercise card.

Further exercise series are available for the forward roll, the spring roll, the headstand, and the handstand.