Junior Squad Programme

Junior Squad Training Guide

A clear guide showing what Junior Squad gymnasts should be working towards across apparatus, with a Level 9-style floor routine direction.

JS

What this programme is for

This programme gives coaches and gymnasts a clear direction. Each apparatus has priority skills that should guide the majority of squad training.

There is still room for fun, variety and exploration, but the main aim is to make the important skills consistent, clean, repeatable and ready to use.

Coaches should explain what they are looking for, what the goal is today, and what the gymnast is working towards by the end of the term.

Must = main priority Build = next goal Bonus = extra challenge Tap i for goals
AT

Air Track

Acro basics and routine skills

Air track should build the shapes, confidence and repeatable basics needed for floor routines.

Handstand forward roll Straight arms and controlled stand-up
A Must
Backward roll to front support Straight arms into strong front support
B Must
Round-off Straight legs and strong rebound
B Must
Backward walkover Alternative routine acro option
B Build
Front handspring Block and rebound shape
B Build
Front somersault Bonus challenge
C Bonus
TR

Trampoline

Confidence, rotation and shapes

Trampoline should support safe confidence with rotation while keeping shapes disciplined.

Front somersault Clean tuck and controlled landing
C Must
Back somersault Tall set and tight shape
C Build
Barani Bonus twist progression
C Bonus
FX

Floor Skills

Dance, balance and routine elements

These skills should be trained in isolation first, then placed into routine order.

Chassé cat leap Routine leap into mixed series
A Must
One-handed cartwheel Routine B acro option
B Must
Full turn jump Jump requirement
B Must
Full spin Spin requirement
B Must
V-sit Routine balance / additional skill
B Must
Shoulder stand Routine balance skill
A Must
UB

Bars

Support, circling and dismount

Bars should build a simple, clean structure with confident support and safe dismount work.

Circle up Pull into front support
A Must
Back hip circle Close to bar and controlled support
A Must
Squat on Transition skill before undershoot
A Build
Undershoot Dismount progression
A Build
BB

Beam

Confidence, balance and shapes

Beam should build confidence, posture, safe acro basics and controlled dance skills.

Mini handstand Safe confidence skill
Must
Cat leap Dance skill
A Must
Half spin Beam spin requirement
A Must
Cartwheel Beam acro progression
A Build
Straddle jump dismount Beam dismount option
B Build
Junior Squad floor routine direction: a Level 9-style routine using A and B skills, with a clear jump, leap, B non-flighted acro and B spin.
FX

Junior Squad Floor Routine

Level 9-style routine structure
1

Chassé Cat Leap to One-Handed Cartwheel

A + B · Leap into non-flighted acro connection.

2

Full Turn Jump

B · Jump requirement.

3

Backward Roll to Front Support

B · Main B non-flighted acro requirement.

4

Handstand Forward Roll or Backward Walkover

A or B · Additional acro option depending on gymnast readiness.

5

Full Spin

B · Spin requirement.

6

V-Sit

B · Balance / additional skill.

7

Shoulder Stand

A · Balance / additional skill.

Counted skills 8 skills if the opening connection counts as two separate skills.
Level style A and B skills only, in line with a Level 9-style routine direction.
Key CRs Jump, leap, B non-flighted acro and B spin are all covered.
Training note Skills should be clean in isolation before connecting them in routine order.
VT

Junior Squad Vault

Vault direction
Arm swing entry Vault approach and take-off rhythm
Must
Handspring over block Main vault preparation
Must
Handspring on full vault Longer-term build
Build
✓

Coach Notes

How to use the programme
Keep direction clear Use the skill list as the main training direction, not a random checklist.
Train in isolation Routine skills should be trained individually before being connected.
Do not tick too early A skill is not ready just because it happened once by luck.
Make goals obvious Tell the gymnast what the skill is, what you are looking for and what the next goal is.