Fun Games for Gymnastics Practice
Summer is here! Many gymnasts are out of school and spending their days practicing in the gym. Running the same practice over and over can get a bit dull and unexciting, though. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of fun gymnastics games you can play with your whole team during practice this summer!
Coaches, these games are great ways to condition your team and let them practice important basic skills, while still having fun!
Wheelbarrow Workout
This exercise is a fun and easy way to condition your team. Have your team split up into pairs. One gymnast is the “wheelbarrow”, and the other is the “walker”. The “walker” will hold the “wheelbarrow’s” feet, while the “wheelbarrow” walks on her hands facing the floor. Have your team line up on one side of the floor (you could use cones or other place markers to signify the starting line). As the pairs move across the floor, the “walker” will call out “push-up!” to her partner, who then has to stop moving and do a push-up. Continue like this across the floor, then have the gymnasts swap and head back.
To bring out competitive spirits, make it a race! Use cones or other place markers to signal a push-up spot. As the gymnasts race across the floor, the “walker” must let her teammate know when to stop and push up. The first team to finish all the push-ups and cross the finish line wins!
Coach Says
This is a fun twist on the popular game Simon Says. Have your team line up on one end of the floor. The goal is to reach the other side of the floor. Gymnasts must listen to “Coach Says…” and then complete the skill or task asked of them. If they move without hearing “Coach Says”, they have to go back to the beginning.
This game is fun for all ages. Simply adjust the skill level and play area to match the age and level of your gymnasts.
Talent Show
Let your gymnasts show off their hard work this summer! Divide your gymnasts into teams of 2-4. Give the teams 10-15 minutes to come up with their own skill routine. Then have the teams perform their routine for each other. Gymnasts then vote on which team they thought had the best routine (but not themselves!).
You could also make this a full event. Dedicate a few minutes of each practice to letting the teams learn and rehearse their routines, then invite their parents to come watch a full-on talent show at the end of the summer!
Skills Board Game
Draw a skill path (like a board game path) on a whiteboard. Then label each side of a foam block with a number (like dice). Use small, colorful magnets like game pieces on the whiteboard. Have each gymnast take turns rolling the dice and moving their magnet along the board. Once they land on a space, they must successfully complete that skill. Otherwise, they move back 2 spaces!
The first gymnast to reach the end of the path wins!
Bean Bag Beam
A simple and fun way to improve balance, especially for younger gymnasts, is to play bean bag toss on the beam. Have 2 gymnasts start close to each other at the center of the beam. After each successful toss, they take a step back until they reach the end of the beam.
Make it a competition! Whichever team can reach the ends of the beam first, or the last team standing on their beam, wins!
Beam Switch
Start with 2 gymnasts on opposite ends of the beam. They must each walk to the other end of the beam. Figuring out how to switch in the middle without falling off is fun for the gymnasts playing… and those watching!
Balancing Act
This is a great team-building exercise that also helps gymnasts improve their balance. Have the whole team stand in front of a beam. One at a time, the gymnasts must get on the beam, until the whole team is on the beam. After each success, shorten the amount of beam the team can use. The gymnasts can be on the beam however they’d like to be able to fit every gymnast. Teamwork and communication are extremely important during this game!
Too many gymnasts on your team to fit on one beam? Divide them into 2 mini-teams and have them compete to see who can fit their team into the smallest space!
Let us know what you think of this list! Do you have any fun games you play in your gym? Let us know in the comments!
