Gymnasticsal Gymnastics

1804 Words4 Pages

Within the essay, research has been collected to discuss formal and educational gymnastics. Reference to the national curriculum; old, current and new are used to justify why it is important to have physical education in the curriculum. Discussion about the 2007 and 2014 curriculums effect on gymnastics and why some teachers do teach gymnastic and others don’t.
The joy of mastering one’s body weight and taking “head over heels” is a unique movement sensation that all children have a right to experience as part of their formal education. This is a quote from Lynda Nilges and is a perfect description of what educational gymnastics is like. It allows children to develop skills through natural and expressive actions within their limits and at their own pace. Formal or fundamental gymnastics on the other hand is more traditional and structured, as it follows a more activity/skills specific approach.
Traditional/ formal gymnastics is described as a series of stunts that are presented to students in a more formal and developmentally appropriate manner. With this type of gymnastics the focus is placed on skills and sequences performed on the major, traditional pieces of equipment of beams, bars, floor etc. and all students regardless of body shape and/or skills level are judged and held to the same standard. Educational gymnastics on the other hand, allows every child to self-test or create movements that defy gravity to enhance components such as flexibility, balance, coordination and strength. Whereas formal gymnastics is more competition based and educational gymnastics emphasises upon success and skills achievement by every individual student.
According to Benn and Benn (2007) gymnastics is at the heart of physical education (PE) as i...

... middle of paper ...

...

Reference list:

Association for Physical Education. Advice on the New 2014 National Curriculum. http://www.afpe.org.uk/advice-on-new-national-curriculum. [accessed 21/03/14]

Benn, B. and Benn, T. (2000) 'Gymnastics - the debate re-opened, teaching gymnastics skills' British Journal of Teaching Physical Education. 31 (1) pp. 35-38.

Benn, B. Benn, T. and Maude, P. (2007) A Practical Guide to Teaching Gymnastics. Leeds: Coachwise Limited.

Mitchell, D. Davis, B. and Lopez, R. (2002) Teaching Fundamental gymnastics skills. Leeds : Human Kinetics.

Nilges, N. (2000) Teaching Educational Gymnastics. Columbia: University of South Carolina.
White, J. (2004) Rethinking the School Curriculum: Values, Aims and Purposes. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

Waters, M. (2013) The new secondary curriculum. What has Changed and why? London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Open Document