Cartwheel: Phase-by-Phase Slow-Motion Analysis

Students film their cartwheels and analyze them frame by frame, breaking them into four technical phases. Based on the error they spot, they choose a specific corrective drill with a hip spotter.

How to play

1. Review the cartwheel along a tape line on the floor: hand, hand, foot, foot on the line (5 min).
2. Go over the phase sheet: setup with arms up and lead leg forward, first hand placement, passing through vertical with legs apart and landing facing back toward the start (3 min).
3. Groups of five at five stations: each student films 3 cartwheels from the front, in line with the tape (8 min).
4. Slow-motion analysis: freeze each phase and note one strength and one error, marking the error on the image (8 min).
5. Corrective drill chosen to match the error, with a spotter behind guiding the hips with crossed arms (6 min).

Rules

• The person filming stays off the mat, at least 10 feet away.
• Cartwheels always go along the line, never toward another station.
• The analysis is about technique, not the person: describe what you see.
• Videos are deleted at the end of the session.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wrist injury: acts as analyst and video lead with the phase sheet.
• Hearing impairment: the sheet has a photo of each phase and feedback is given by pointing at the image.
• Anxiety about being watched: can choose to have only the teacher and partner see their video.

Learning goals

• Identify the technical phases of the cartwheel.
• Use video to spot one's own and others' errors.
• Choose a corrective drill that fits the error spotted.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 10
• tablets or phones: 5
• worksheets: 25
• colored tape: 2

Teacher tip

Many free camera apps let you step frame by frame; test one before class. The most common errors are placing both hands at once and not getting the hips over the shoulders.

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