Octagon Training Ideas

Suggestions from real coaches, instructors, and Mancino customers, responding to the Mancino E-Promotions Challenge Question:
"How do you use Octagons with Rec Kids?"

Winning Submission: Hope Adams of CCC,Duluth, GA writes...

"'Caterpillar Train: line up octagons largest to smallest. Kids lay in 'superman' position, coach holds their waist and rolls them across while octagons roll forward(they must be about 6 or 8 inches apart to start) ending with reach to floor and tuck and roll off last octagon. If positioned well at start, the caterpillar will roll fairly quickly and the skill acquired is a dive roll."

More Submissions

Robyn Robledo of Island Tumble, Coronado, CA writes:

"Car Crusher Somersaults! The 3-5 year olds love it! They do a forward roll over it, then lie on their backs and the instructor rolls the octagon over them, pretending it's a monster truck(all with car crushing sounds to go with it)."

David Cole of Top Flight Gymnastics, Crestview Hills, KY writes:

"We create a maze or 'mine field' of as many octagons as we can lay our hands on by standing them on their ends(all sizes and colors) in a fairly narrow and confined strip of the floor. The octagons are simply placed randomly to make it necessary for the kids to zigzag between the octagons while riding scooters on their bellies or buns from one end of the course to the other. Each run is timed so winners can be declared. Everyone with times under 30 seconds have to do only 6 push ups; everyone who took longer has to do half a dozen push ups."

Andre Yee of AcroSports, San Francisco, CA writes:

"I play a warm up game with my kids where they roll the mat back and forth. One team is on each side of the mat on the tumble strip and there is a cone placed at either end. One team is runners and one is rollers. The rollers roll the mat towards the runners until the runners touch their cone. Once the runners touch their cone they become the rollers and the rollers become runners. The object of the game is to not get touched by the octagon when you are a runner and to try and touch the other team with the mat if you are a roller. Some rules for the game are no going around the octagon and no touching the octagon with anything other than hands if you are a roller."

Cindy Finch of Gymnastics USA, Houston, TX writes:

"Lay them on their back and roll them over to their hands helping them keep their arms straight and pull their feet over to the floor. Also let them kick up to either a headstand or handstand and roll them over to their feet! Nothing new!"

Michelle Gaudette of Rio Gymnastics Center, Corrlaes, NM writes:

": I put them in a line with a cheese mat at both ends. The kids have to army crawl all the way to the end and then they do whatever type of skill given to them down the last cheese mat."

Melinda Lawrence of USA Sports, Hollister, CA writes:

"We like to use it in jumping off of the springboard and doing a diver roll over it onto the 8 inch mat."

Kathy Baumgardt of The Rec Room Gym, Indianapolis, IN writes:

"Put a folded panel mat in front and do round offs over the octagon without touching it. It is a great way to get the kids to block off on round offs."

Terry Veit-Harmening of EnVision Gymnastics, Eastampton, NJ writes:

"We play superman! We line up the octagons, from biggest to smallest on tumble track. The kids (school age, of course, and usually boys!) run and punch off the tumble track and roll in a superman position down the row of octagons! The faster and harder you go, the farther you can roll down the barrels."

Tyrone Shelton of Bishop chatard, Indianapolis, IN writes:

"Our Govenor is promoting a healthier Indiana, so the rec kids like to use them for conditioning exercises and abdominal exercises."

Alice Jacobs of Antigo Gymnastics, Antigo, WI writes:

"For preschool, we have a "circus week" theme once a year. One of the stations is at the kinder bar with either the smallest octagon or the next largest under the bar, rolling sideways. The students climb up onto the octagon and become a circus animal (their choice, of course) balancing back and forth. They love walking their feet on the octagon and their hands along the bar back and forth. After a few turns doing this, the older ones (4,5,6 yr. olds) can do a front support front turn over and land sitting on the end of the octagon."

Peggy Whitten of Peggy's Dance & Gymn., Haubstadt, IN writes:

"Back handsprings and front handsprings. Makes it so easy to spot and they can do hundreds of them."

Angi of Capitol City Cheer, Jefferson City, MO writes:

"Turn the Octagon vertical and place toes on the top - great for working shoulder strength in handstands. For the more advanced - add a handstand push up."

June Haas of Gymnastics Unlimited, West Seneca, NY writes:

"Putting 4 or 5 together to create a obstacle course - all different heights is the best!"

Jamie Boyd Hamilton of Red Cedar Gymnastics, Okemos, MI writes:

"There are too many! Cartwheels over, rolls over, kick overs, front and back handsprings on the floor and tramp, sitting on it while trying to balance for body control, push up holds with feet on it for cast drills, glides with toes on it for bars."

Joann Dolbeer of American Gymnastics, Chesterfield, MI writes:

"My favorite way to use the octagon is to teach front walkovers. It gives them the extra lift in their hips and makes the transition to the floor very easy!"

Gina Emery of Lorie-Lu, Philadelphia, PA writes:

"Setting up an obstacle course."

Merlene Beech of Creative Dance & Gym, Moss Point, MS writes:

"The student places their feet on the edge of the octagon and walk on their hands away from the octagon until just before their feet come off of the octagon then they walk their hands backwards. This helps to hold them in a push up position."