Cartwheel on the Line: Hand and Foot Prints

A cartwheel progression along a line on the floor with marked prints: foot, hand, hand, foot. The visual guide helps students understand the order of supports and rotate in the right plane.

How to play

1. Tape a straight line and hand and foot prints on each mat (3 min).
2. Side bunny hop: hands on the line, feet hop together from one side to the other (5 min).
3. Half cartwheel: hands on the prints, land on the other side with bent legs (6 min).
4. Cartwheel with straighter, higher legs, following the prints (7 min).
5. Line test: the partner checks that hands and feet land on the tape (4 min).

Rules

• Go to whichever side you prefer, always looking at your hands.
• Arms straight beside the ears at the start.
• At least 2 m between lines.
• Observers stand behind, never on the line.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wrist injury: side hops on fists, or observes with a sheet.
• Low vision: raised tape line and a partner clapping where the hands go.
• Hesitant students: cartwheel over a low gym bench with hands on top of it.

Learning goals

• Follow the foot-hand-hand-foot order.
• Rotate in one plane without leaving the line.
• Watch and give one correction to a partner.

Equipment for a class of 25

• rolls of tape: 4
• mats: 10
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

Painter's tape peels off easily and leaves no marks. Typical mistake: looking ahead instead of at the hands; ask them to look at the first hand print.

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