How to teach a cartwheel on the beam: 13 drills

Name: Cartwheel Beam 1
Uploaded: 2026-02-06
Description: Teach the cartwheel on beam by making the floor cartwheel straight on a line first, then moving to a low beam and finally the high beam. These 13 drills build hand and foot placement, a vertical pass through handstand and a controlled finish. They suit club coaches preparing beam routines in recreational and early competitive levels.

Teach the cartwheel on beam by making the floor cartwheel straight on a line first, then moving to a low beam and finally the high beam. These 13 drills build hand and foot placement, a vertical pass through handstand and a controlled finish. They suit club coaches preparing beam routines in recreational and early competitive levels.

13 video steps · beam

Step 1 of 13, free: Cartwheel Beam 1

The phases

Straight cartwheel on a line: hands and feet land on one line on the floor.
Handstand control: pass through vertical with open shoulders and straight legs.
Low beam: transfer the cartwheel to the ground beam with the same placement.
High beam: perform with control and finish in a lunge or stand facing the right way.

Before you start

The gymnast should do a straight cartwheel on the floor and a kick-up to handstand with control.

Common mistakes

Hands landing off the line: the gymnast falls sideways off the beam.
Piking through the middle: the cartwheel is not vertical and the landing is off balance.
Looking down at the feet when landing: the chest drops and balance is lost.
Rushing the finish: the gymnast wobbles or steps off.

Coaching cues

Hand, hand, foot, foot
Pass through handstand
Land and stand tall

All 13 steps

Frequently asked questions

When can a gymnast do a cartwheel on the high beam?

When the cartwheel is straight and controlled on a floor line and on a low beam, with hands and feet landing on one line. Moving up gradually keeps the gymnast confident.

Why does my gymnast fall off the beam during a cartwheel?

Usually the hands or feet land off the line, or the cartwheel is not vertical in the middle. Go back to a floor line and check placement before returning to the beam.

What is a Cartwheel on Beam? Read the glossary entry