Gymnastics

Gymnastics has featured in the School Games since 2013 and has seen over 280,000 participants. The Key Step activity was produced for primary school competitions and features floor, vault, and body management elements within it.

Gymnastics competitions within School Games allows participants new to gymnastics the opportunity to try different disciplines through the three key areas. The resources can be used by both School Games Organisers and teachers to learn routines and sequencing.

Find out more about how to run gymnastics formats.

Equipment needed

• Hoops
• Benches
• A spacious environment, with study support available (e.g. walls)
• Apparatus
• Soft mats
• Box vaults / agility tables
• Ribbons
• Trampolines
  

A brief history of gymnastics

Gymnastics has its roots in Ancient Greece, where it was used as a method to train both the body and the mind. Over time, it focused less on strict disciplines and instead became a method to allow for individual expression.

Gymnastics gained an audience in the United States when the first gymnasium opened in Massachusetts in 1825. By1896, gymnastics had become widespread enough to be incorporated into the Olympics, where it has been included in every Games since then.

Today, gymnastics remains one the most popular Olympic sports. The United States are the highest ranking country currently competing within the Games, with a total of 117 medals. Great Britain are ranked 20th with 16 medals overall.