When good basics are absent, our gymnastics building cannot rise very high. Gymnasts will have limited skill and combination acquisition if they have not mastered the basics. When basics are poor, the gymnastics building falls down or becomes unsafe. When basics are limited in scope, excellent work usually happens sporadically. For example the gymnast may have one good event, or parts of events are good, or one day the skill is here, the next two days it is not.
Basics are vitally important to success in all levels of gymnastics.
For higher level gymnasts, skills like giants of all types, double tucks, and Tsukahara or Yurchenko layouts are basics. When Basics must also be practiced in varied combinations, during the general and events warm-up periods, conditioning, dance class, as well as other specific sessions. For program Levels 1-7, since time is limited per week, coaches must be more creative, efficient and inspirational to provide an adequate basics foundation program. Where Basics can be practiced outside on the grass or track, floor, mat, tumble strip or trak, trampoline, bars, low bar, parallettes, beam, dance area or room, or at special stations. Practicing basics is no fun.