Improving technique in athletics and gymnastics
Small technical corrections often make a bigger difference than raw effort — good technique lets your fitness actually count.
Part of your national curriculum
- Technique and performance: Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports, such as athletics and gymnastics
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports, such as athletics and gymnastics
Key learning points
- • Breaking skills into phases
- • Athletics technique
- • Gymnastics technique
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Improving technique in athletics and gymnastics
Small technical corrections often make a bigger difference than raw effort — good technique lets your fitness actually count.
In a nutshell
Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports, such as athletics and gymnastics
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Breaking skills into phases
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Breaking skills into phases
Complex movements are easier to improve when broken into phases: for a sprint start, that means the set position, the drive phase and acceleration. Working on one phase at a time makes weaknesses easier to spot and fix.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Athletics technique
In throwing events like javelin or shot put, technique (the run-up, transfer of weight, release angle) matters as much as strength. A better technique with the same strength can add significant distance.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Gymnastics technique
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Gymnastics technique
Gymnastics rewards control and shape: pointed toes, straight lines and controlled landings score higher than raw height or speed. Repetition with feedback, ideally filmed and reviewed, helps refine these fine details.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Complex movements are easier to ____ when broken into phases: for a sprint start, that means the set position, the drive phase and acceleration.
In throwing events like javelin or shot put, ____ (the run-up, transfer of weight, release angle) matters as much as strength.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Rising onto the toes at the ankle joint is an example of which lever class?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Improving technique in athletics and gymnastics
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Rising onto the toes at the ankle joint is an example of which lever class?
2. Bending the knees on landing reduces the force on the joints because it:
3. Which change increases stability?
4. When correcting technique, you should usually fix faults:
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Games
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Points this lesson
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Best run
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports, such as athletics and gymnastics