Spotted Cartwheel: Hip Support from Behind

Learning the cartwheel with the classic spot from a partner standing behind and holding the hips with crossed arms. Students work on passing through vertical, hand-and-foot alignment and the spotter's responsibility.

How to play

1. Groups of three in mat lanes with a cone at the end of each lane. Demonstrate the spot in 2 minutes: the spotter stands behind, crosses arms and grips the performer's waist.
2. Setup (3 minutes): each performer picks their strong side and stands sideways to the cone, arms up in a star shape.
3. Spotted cartwheel (6 minutes): the performer places hand, hand, foot, foot in a straight line while the spotter guides the hips to vertical and down; 4 tries, then rotate.
4. The third member observes whether hands and feet land in line and the legs pass straight overhead.
5. Reduced spot (4 minutes): the spotter only touches the hips at vertical and lets go on the way down.
6. Three-minute wrap-up: each group shows a cartwheel with a reduced spot.

Rules

• The spotter crosses arms first so they uncross naturally during the turn.
• Lanes are at least 6 feet apart.
• One cartwheel per lane at a time; wait until the previous one finishes.
• Warm up wrists and shoulders well before starting.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be the observer, or practice alternating hand placement in a sideways crawl.
• Hearing impairment: use a tap on the waist from the spotter as the go signal.
• Weaker arms: do sideways bunny hops over a line before the cartwheel.

Learning goals

• Perform a spotted cartwheel through vertical.
• Apply a hip spot safely.
• Observe a partner's hand-and-foot alignment.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 10
• cones: 5

Teacher tip

If the spotter does not cross arms before starting, their arms get tangled in the turn. Insist on looking at the hands as they land: it improves the cartwheel more than anything.

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