Spotting School: Grips, Stance and Clear Calls

A hands-on workshop on spotting simple acrobatic skills: where to stand, where to grip and how to communicate. Without reliable spotters you can't progress in school gymnastics.

How to play

1. The three spotting principles: stay close, at the level of the center of mass, and move with your partner; demo with a student (5 min).
2. Station 1, forward roll: hand on the back of the neck and on the hip to guide the roll (6 min).
3. Station 2, cartwheel: spotter behind, crossed hands at the waist to guide the turn (6 min).
4. Station 3, handstand: thigh catch with the call 'ready-up-down' (6 min).
5. Spotter test: each trio picks a station and the teacher checks stance, grip and calls on the card; finish with the most common mistakes (7 min).

Rules

• The performer doesn't move until the spotter says 'ready.'
• Grip firm areas (waist, thigh, shoulder), never wrists, ankles or clothing.
• Only spot simple, familiar skills.
• If the spotter hesitates, stop and repeat slowly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: grade the spotter test with the card.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: pair the call with a tap on the shoulder.
• Big size differences: form trios of similar height or spot in pairs.

Learning goals

• Learn the basic principles of spotting.
• Use safe grips and stances.
• Communicate clearly during a skill.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 10
• role cards: 10
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

Use the same calls in every gymnastics lesson of the year. The classic mistake is a spotter who only watches: hands should be ready before the partner moves.

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