PREFACE

For many years there has been a need for a book on gymnastics that could be used by persons who are not specialists. Physical education majors need a source book that indicates in detail how a given stunt should be performed, and how the performer can be protected against injury. Similarly, gymnastics teachers and coaches who have specialized need a source of infor­mation on apparatus they have not worked. There are so many events in gymnastics, that coaches need a reference book. Perhaps equally important is the vast number of boys who have no teacher, and yet do have the desire to learn. These boys need a reference book to help them obtain a con­structive introduction to competitive gymnastics.

This book presents stunts in a suggested learning sequence, and each event or apparatus is presented independently. It is recommended that all students master the tumbling and double stunts through the front handspring before attempting other apparatus work. The sections on tumbling, double work, and trampoline will be of interest to both boys and girls; however, the heavy apparatus work is intended for boys.

No lesson plans as such have been included because the stunts are presented in a recom­mended sequence. It should be mentioned that all stunts should be practiced until performance is of consistent quality before they can be considered learned. To do a stunt successfully once does not constitute mastery of the stunt.

One of the major problems encountered in writing this book has been deciding where to stop. There are many ways of describing any given exercise, but only one could be presented since it was felt that the presentation should be brief. Then the selection of stunts to be included was, of course, a never ending problem. The prime consideration in selection was to include those stunts that make a definite contribution to the development of a competitive gymnast. It is hoped that this book will make it possible for more boys to progress from beginners to competi­tors in gymnastics.

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