How to Teach a Cartwheel: Step by Step for Coaches & Parents
The cartwheel is where real gymnastics shapes begin — straight arms, straight legs, hips over shoulders. Teach it sloppy and it holds a kid back for years. Here’s how to build a cartwheel that actually looks like one.
Start with the handstand, not the cartwheel
A cartwheel is a handstand that passes through sideways. If the handstand is banana-shaped, the cartwheel will be too. Get a straight, tight handstand against the wall first — it’s the fastest way to a good cartwheel.
Hand-hand-foot-foot
Teach the rhythm out loud: hand, hand, foot, foot, in a straight line. Use a line on the floor or a folded mat as a “river” they can’t step in. Lunge, reach long, kick the back leg to vertical, and step down one foot at a time.
The drills
- Cartwheel over a line — keeps hands and feet tracking straight.
- Cartwheel off a low panel mat — extra height teaches the kick to vertical.
- Bear-crawl to lunge — builds the straight-arm support.
Full setups on the cartwheel drills page.
Fixing a low, bent cartwheel
Bent arms? Back up to handstand strength. Low hips? The back-leg kick is lazy — cue “kick the ceiling.” Crooked? Slow it down on a line. Speed hides mistakes; slow reps fix them.
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