Floor Skills

Foundation Skills for Rolls

Students need experiences with rolling and body positioning to build a foundation and prepare for forward and backward rolls. Some of the foundational rolls are the Straight Roll (Log and Pencil), Side (Egg) Roll, and the Back Rocker.

Straight Roll (Log and Pencil)

Lay on the floor with you body straight and your the arms by the body.
For a pencil roll the arms are straight overhead with arms by ears.
Roll sideways down the mat.
Keep body in a straight line.
Keep abdomen and buttocks tight.
See the floor, then see the ceiling each time you roll.

Rhythem

1
Back

2
Front

3
Back

4
Front

Assist

Help hold hands (if pencil roll) or feet together during the roll
Place bean bag between the elbows and knees and squeeze

Other Challenges

Try to roll with your arms straight over your head (pencil roll).
Try to roll with your hands and feet lifted off the floor.
Try to roll up the incline mat.
Try a roll with beanbags between your knees and ankles.

Side Tuck (Egg) Roll

Lay on the floor and bring your knees up in tuck.
Hold your knees tight and roll sideward down the mat.
For a challenge, roll onto back opening legs in straddle, close back to tuck for the prone part of the roll.

Back Rocker

Lay in tuck.
Keep a firm grip on knees.
Rock back and forth sequentially through the spine.
Keep the back rounded.