Foundational Skills

Basic Body Positions

Straight Body, Stretch Body, or Lay Out Position

The straight body position may be found in the start, middle, or end position of a skill. It is one of the most important positions to learn and it is very important to train gymnasts to have a tight straight body stressing that the abdomen and buttocks should be tight with the chest lifted.

  • The Straight Body is a basic position in which there is no flexion at the hips or knees. Feet may be parallel or turned out (45 degrees).
  • It is a called a Stretched Body Position when the body is straight and the arms are over the head.
  • The straight or stretched body position may also be called a layout.
  • In the straight body position there is one straight line from head to feet and in the stretched body position there is one straight line from fingers to feet.

Verbal/Linguistic

Stand with straight legs together and straight arms overhead.
The abdominals are tight and the ribcage is lifted.
The weight is forward on the front of the feet.
All muscles are engaged.

Visual/Spatial

Make a straight line with the body from hands to feet
Pelvic bones are directly over the balls of the feet
Head position is neutral


Logical/Mathematical

Make a straight line with the body
Keep hips and shoulder square

Bodily/Kinesthetic

Feel weight forward on front of feet
Feel abdominal and buttock muscles tight
Feel feet and legs together
Feel arms straight and above head
Feel upper arms touching the sides of the head
Feel torso tight in front and in back
Feel rib cage lifted
Feel center line of the body going from fingers through the feet

Naturalist

Make the shape of a strong tree trunk

Common Errors

Loose, saggy body
Weight back on the heels
Legs apart
Back arched
Head not in line with the body
Loose abdominal and buttock muscles

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Variations of Straight Body
  • Variations with a straight line or a slight curve in the body include the hollow and arch.
  • Other variations of a straight body include the initiation lunge, finish lunge (salute), stride, and gymnastics point (tendu) where there is some flexion of one knee or the legs are straight but separated with one foot in front of the other. These skills are mostly used to begin or end a skill and often help give momentum or assist in balance.
  • A salute is not considered a body position. It is used to present or finish a skill. In the salute the body position is usually a arch or finishing lunge with the arms overhead. The shoulders are pressed down and are in a backward diagonal (oblique).

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