Recreational / Coaching programme
Rec Programme
A clear apparatus-by-apparatus guide for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced recreational classes, with example setups, expected skills and highlighted targets.
Programme guide How the programme works Class levels, example setups and the skills to prioritise.
Use the programme as the main guide
The programme does not need to be copied as an identical lesson plan every week, but the skills, progressions and overall class structure should remain recognisable.
Open the relevant class level
Each apparatus has Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced sections. Open a section for its setup notes, example circuits and skills. The class selector lets you view one level across all apparatus.
Keep the setup notes with the circuit
Use the notes for the selected level when choosing the setup. They explain group size, station choices and where coach support is required. Gold Target labels identify the priority skills for each level and apparatus.
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, organised by apparatus.
These are the priority skills for each level and apparatus. Put the most time and energy into these skills and aim to get the children in your group able to perform them.
Air Track
Rolls and travelling acro down a clear track. Intermediate and Advanced groups may finish selected circuits at the white block.
Class levels
Beginner One or two simple stations
Beginner setup: with a small group of around three or four gymnasts, using one station can make the group easier to organise and supervise. If the group is settled and able to work independently, the two-station examples below can be used.
Example Circuits
Adapt to group size01 Circuit 1 Core
- Station 1
- Forward roll down the slope
- Station 2 With Coach
- Backward roll on the floor
02 Circuit 2 Core
- Station 1
- Mini handstands
- Station 2 With Coach
- Backward roll down the slope
03 Circuit 3 Progression
- Station 1
- Forward roll with straight arms
- Station 2 With Coach
- Handstand held with support
Beginner Air Track Skills
Intermediate Roll progressions and travelling acro
Three stations are not required. With a smaller group, using two stations may give the coach better focus and control while allowing gymnasts to work together rather than being unnecessarily separated.
The white block is an optional ending to one Air Track circuit. It should only be used when the coach is positioned to provide the required support.
Example Circuits
Adapt to group size01 Circuit 1 Core
- Start
- Backward roll to straddle stand
- Middle
- Forward roll to straddle stand
- End
- Cartwheel
02 Circuit 2 Progression
- Start
- Backward roll to front support
- Middle
- Handstand forward roll or handspring preparation
- White Block With Coach
- Supported round-off or handspring
Intermediate Air Track Skills
Advanced Advanced rolls, aerials and somersault work
Three stations are not required. With a smaller group, using two stations may give the coach better focus and control while allowing gymnasts to work together rather than being unnecessarily separated.
The white block should be used as the supported ending to one full-track circuit rather than as a separate white-block-only rotation.
Example Circuits
Two examples01 Circuit 1 Core
- Start
- Backward roll with straight arms
- Middle
- Handstand forward roll with straight arms
- End
- Round-off straight jump
02 Circuit 2 Progression
- Start
- Backward roll to handstand
- Middle
- Aerial or handstand forward roll progression
- White Block With Coach
- Supported round-off or handspring
Advanced Air Track Skills
Trampoline
Beginners use one side only. Intermediate and Advanced groups may use both sides when the coach can safely supervise both groups.
Class levels
Beginner One side only, one gymnast at a time
Beginner Trampoline: use one side of the trampoline only, with a maximum of four gymnasts working one at a time. Do not split Beginners across both trampolines.
Session structure
Work through the skills below one at a time. Give each gymnast a few attempts at the current skill before moving on. Continue through the list, then return to earlier skills if the group gets through everything quickly. On later rounds, each gymnast can simply have fewer attempts on each skill so everyone keeps moving.
Beginner Trampoline Skills
Intermediate One or two trampoline sides
If there are only four gymnasts, keep the group together on one trampoline rather than separating them unnecessarily.
If both trampoline sides are used, the coach should position themselves on the side nearest the door where they can supervise both groups and clearly call instructions across to the second side. If supervising both sides does not feel sufficiently safe or controlled, use one trampoline only.
Example Setups
One or two sides01 Setup 1 Small Group
- Four Gymnasts
- Keep everyone together on one trampoline and work through the Intermediate skills.
02 Setup 2 Two Sides
- Door Side With Coach
- Dive forward rolls onto a mini mat and back drops.
- Second Side
- Pike jumps, straddle jumps, seat-drop work and swivel-hips progressions.
Intermediate Trampoline Skills
Advanced Front and supported back somersaults
Example Circuits
Advanced skills01 Circuit 1 Core
- Trampoline 1
- Front somersaults onto suitable matting
- Trampoline 2
- Back-somersault shaping drills
02 Circuit 2 Supported
- Trampoline 1
- Front somersault with controlled landing
- Trampoline 2 With Coach
- Supported back somersault
Advanced Trampoline Skills
Vault
Main Vault and Mini Vault work should be chosen to suit the level and group size. The coach should remain at the skill requiring the most support.
Class levels
Beginner Simple coach-led Vault setups
Beginner setup: use one clear Vault setup at a time rather than splitting the group into separate Vault circuits.
Example Setups
One setup at a time01 Setup 1 Core
- Springboard
- Straight jump off the springboard, landing in fix
02 Setup 2 Core
- Mini Vault
- Squat onto the Mini Vault
03 Setup 3 Progression
- Main Vault
- Squat onto the Main Vault
Beginner Vault Skills
Intermediate Forward rolls and headspring preparation
Example Setups
Main and Mini Vault01 Setup 1 Core
- Main Vault
- Squat onto the Main Vault
- Mini Vault
- Forward roll over the Mini Vault
02 Setup 2 Core
- Main Vault
- Squat on, forward roll off the Main Vault
- Mini Vault
- Forward rolls over the Mini Vault
03 Setup 3 Progression
- Main Vault With Coach
- Squat on, then headspring off the Main Vault
- Mini Vault
- Headsprings over the Mini Vault
Intermediate Vault Skills
Advanced Handspring, half-on and somersault work
Example Setups
Advanced Vault01 Setup 1 Core
- Main Vault
- Headsprings over the Main Vault
- Mini Vault
- Arm-swing preparation
02 Setup 2 Core
- Main Vault With Coach
- Handspring over the full vault
- Crash Mat
- Handstand flatbacks onto a crash mat with the Mini Vault removed
03 Setup 3 Progression
- Main Vault
- Half-on over the full vault
- Mini Vault With Coach
- Front somersault over the Mini Vault
Advanced Vault Skills
Floor & Bars
Floor work can be used alongside coach-supported bars, with the exact structure adjusted to suit the size and behaviour of the group.
Class levels
Beginner Coach-led bars with a clear waiting area
Beginner setup: keep the group together at the bars. Gymnasts should have a clear place to sit and wait between turns.
Example Setup
Whole group at bars01 Setup 1 Bars Setup
- Waiting Area
- Gymnasts sit on a clearly marked line, mat or block and wait for their turn one at a time.
- Low Bar With Coach
- Supported shapes, circle-ups and circle-downs.
- High Bar
- After the low bar, the gymnast moves to the high bar to hang while the next gymnast works with the coach. Provide a suitable block or step so the bar can be reached safely.
- Return
- When finished on the high bar, the gymnast returns to the waiting area ready for another turn.
Beginner Floor & Bars Skills
Intermediate Floor group and supported bars
Example Setup
Two groups01 Setup 1 Simple Setup
- Floor Group
- Choose a skill from the Intermediate floor skill list that the gymnasts can safely work on independently.
- Bars Group
- Gymnasts wait at the bars and take turns one at a time with the coach.
- Swap
- Once everyone has had their bar turns, swap the groups.
Intermediate Floor & Bars Skills
Advanced Advanced floor and supported high bar
Example Circuits
Advanced floor and bars01 Circuit 1 Core
- Floor Station 1
- Walkovers
- Floor Station 2
- Round-off straight jump
- High Bar With Coach
- Pull-ups, supported circle-up on the high bar and circle-down
02 Circuit 2 Core
- Floor Station 1
- Full spin
- Floor Station 2
- Handstand held for three seconds
- Bars With Coach
- Casts to back hip circle
03 Circuit 3 Progression
- Floor Station 1
- Cat leap full turn
- Floor Station 2
- Headstand in pike, push to handstand
- Bars With Coach
- Squat-ons with support and undershoots
Advanced Floor & Bars Skills
Beam
Confidence and control should be built progressively from floor beam to low beam and high beam.
Class levels
Beginner Low beam and coach-led high beam
Beginner setup: use two stations only per circuit.
Example Circuits
Two stations01 Circuit 1 Core
- Low Beam
- Bunny hops along the top
- High Beam With Coach
- Walking across with support
02 Circuit 2 Core
- Low Beam
- Leg kicks along the beam
- High Beam With Coach
- Mini straight jumps along the beam with coach support
03 Circuit 3 Progression
- Low Beam
- Straight jumps along the beam
- High Beam With Coach
- Leg kicks along the beam
Beginner Beam Skills
Intermediate Low and high beam, with floor beam optional
Intermediate groups do not need to use all three beams. Using just the low beam and high beam is completely appropriate, particularly with a smaller group. The floor beam can be added when it improves the setup rather than simply creating an unnecessary extra station.
Example Circuits
Two or three beams01 Circuit 1 Core
- Floor Beam
- Cartwheels
- Low Beam
- Handstands
- High Beam With Coach
- Tuck jumps or handstands
02 Circuit 2 Progression
- Low Beam
- Handstands with improved control
- High Beam With Coach
- Handstands, tuck jumps or round-off dismounts
Intermediate Beam Skills
Advanced Acro, turns and advanced dismounts
Example Circuits
Advanced beam01 Circuit 1 Core
- Floor Beam
- Backward walkovers
- Low Beam
- Cartwheels followed by half-turn jumps
- High Beam With Coach
- Handstands followed by front handspring dismounts
02 Circuit 2 Progression
- Floor Beam
- Handstand forward rolls or backward walkovers
- Low Beam
- Cartwheel into half-turn jump
- High Beam With Coach
- Handstand or half spin into chosen dismount
Advanced Beam Skills
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