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Colorado School of Elite Athletes

Gymnastics at CSEA

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Age-Based Skill Progression
 
Ages 5-6

Goal: Solid fundamentals, body awareness, basic strength & flexibility

Bars:

  • Pullover, back hip circle
  • Cast to horizontal
  • Glide swing
  • Tap swings
  • Beginning to learn kip drills

Beam:

  • Relevé walks, arabesques
  • Straight jumps, tuck jumps
  • Basic handstand, lever drills
  • Cartwheel on low beam

Vault:

  • Straight jump onto mat stack
  • Handstand flat back
  • Basic running technique

Floor:

  • Forward/backward rolls
  • Handstands, bridges
  • Cartwheel, round-off
  • Strong basic shapes (hollow, arch)
Ages 7-8

Goal: Level 3-4 USAG skills, intro to more powerful basics

Bars:

  • Kip drills, glide kips
  • Cast to above horizontal
  • Back hip circle, front hip circle
  • Mill circle, squat-on

Beam:

  • Cartwheel, handstand
  • Jump series (tuck jump, split jump)
  • High releve walks, turns
  • Begin split leaps, basic dismounts (cartwheel/side handstand off)

Vault:

  • Strong handstand flat back
  • Start front handspring drills
  • Focused sprint technique

Floor:

  • Round-off, back walkover/front walkover
  • Handstand hold, bridge kickover
  • Strong splits, leaps
  • Back handspring drills
Ages 9-10

Goal: Levels 5-7; foundation for optional skills.

Bars:

  • Clear hip circle to horizontal
  • Long hang kip, cast to handstand drills
  • Back squat-on, underswing dismount
  • Begin flyaway drills
  • Tap swings with shaping

Beam:

  • Solid cartwheel & handstand
  • Split jump, split leap at 120°
  • Back walkover/front walkover
  • Back handspring drills
  • Handstand dismount

Vault:

  • Front handspring vault
  • Strong block off table
  • Running speed development

Floor:

  • Back handspring, back tuck
  • Front handspring, front tuck
  • Connected passes: Round-off BHS
  • Strong leaps & turns (split leaps ~120°)
Ages 11-12

Goal:  Levels 8-9, optional routines, clean basics with power & flexibility

Bars:

  • Kip cast handstand
  • Clear hip to handstand
  • Flyaway dismount (layout/piked)
  • Giant swing introduction
  • Toe-on, free-hip circle drills

Beam:

  • Back handspring step-out
  • Back walkover-back handspring series
  • Split leaps to 180°
  • Full turn, switch leap drills
  • Side aerial drills

Vault:

  • Front handspring vault with amplitude
  • Tsukahara drills
  • Yurchenko timer drills (round-off entry)

Floor:

  • Round-off BHS layout
  • Front tuck-front pike combos
  • Full twists introduction
  • Switch leap to 180°, turning leaps
  • Strong artistry & dance
Additional Key Elements:
  • Conditioning: Core, leg, and upper body strength consistently built at all stages.
  • Flexibility: Daily splits, bridges, shoulder flexibility, and active flexibility drills.
  • Mental skills: Visualization, focus, pressure sets from a young age.
  • Injury prevention: Proper progressions, rest, cross-training.