Routine à la Carte: Gymnastics Element Cards

Pairs build a gymnastics routine from five elements drawn at random from a deck of cards. The challenge is not the elements, which they already know, but inventing smooth transitions to link them without stopping.

How to play

1. Introduce the deck: cards for rolls, balances, jumps, turns and cartwheels, each with a basic and an advanced level (3 min).
2. Each pair draws 5 cards, including at least one roll and one balance, and may swap one for another from the pile (2 min).
3. Design the transitions: the routine must flow with no pauses over 2 seconds; partners rehearse and spot each other (12 min).
4. Each pair shows its routine to another pair, who check the card order and note where it stops (6 min).
5. Fix the flagged transitions and perform a second time (7 min).

Rules

• Each student picks the level for each card based on what they can do safely.
• Inverted skills and backward rolls are spotted, as in the progression sessions.
• Each pair stays in its own mat area and does not move into others'.
• A card can be swapped if the element feels unsafe for someone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the deck includes adapted cards such as wheelchair spins, seated balances and arm-powered movement.
• Autism: can look through the deck beforehand to know which types of elements may come up.
• Wrist injury: cards with hand support are replaced with one-foot balances and jumps.

Learning goals

• Compose a continuous gymnastics routine from known elements.
• Create original transitions between different elements.
• Give and receive useful feedback on the flow of a composition.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 15
• worksheets: 30

Teacher tip

Make the deck once and laminate it: it will last several years. The best transitions usually come from changing level, direction or support.

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