How to do a gymnastics back roll

This is an animated gymnastics tutorial for the back roll. Use the controls to pause, slow down and follow along with detailed step by step text instructions that match up with each movement. This instructional gymnastics video is incredibly in depth and a great guide for learning the back roll.

Gymnastic Back Roll

In this lesson you will learn how to do a gymnastic back roll. This instruction is for the most basic back roll variation, the back roll with bent elbows and bent knees. After learning this, you can try the back roll with extended arms, the back roll with extended legs and then the back roll to handstand. This is the first time you are moving backwards. For subsequent lessons (for example the back handspring instruction), it is very important that you learn to roll back straight and plant your hands synchronously. The back roll is a very easy, but essential gymnastics skill and should be part of your
warm up routine.

Trainer advice: Gymnastic Back Roll

* Learn the front roll before you try the back roll.
* Try the back roll on a very soft mat or a mattress first.
* If you are afraid of injuring you neck at the beginning, roll back half way and
learn how to push and support yourself with the hands.
* Roll back as straight as possible, don't bend your head to the side and plant your hands at the same time.
* After learning the back roll with bent elbows and knees (this instructions), you can try the back roll with extended arms and then with straight arms and legs.