How to teach the front tuck: 43 drills, step by step
You teach a front tuck by building a powerful hurdle and two-foot punch first, then a high arm set, a fast tight tuck and an early open to land. This series breaks the skill into those parts on floor. It is for coaches of women's and men's gymnasts moving from rolls and jumps to their first forward salto.
43 video steps · floor, floor-men
Step 1 of 43, free: Front Tuck 1
The phases
- Run and hurdle: arrive at the take-off with speed and a long, low hurdle.
- Punch: rebound off both feet with straight legs and a tight body, not a deep knee bend.
- Set: drive the arms and chest up to get height before rotating.
- Tuck and rotate: pull the knees to the chest quickly to speed up rotation.
- Open and land: open out early, spot the floor and land with control.
Before you start
The gymnast should have a solid forward roll, a strong straight jump with good body tension, a two-foot rebound from a hurdle and safe landing technique.
Common mistakes
- Throwing the head and chest forward at take-off: the gymnast loses height and under-rotates.
- Deep knee bend on the punch: rebound energy is lost and the salto is low.
- Loose or open tuck: rotation is slow and the landing is short.
- Opening too late: the gymnast over-rotates or lands sitting back.
Coaching cues
- Punch the floor
- Chest up, then tuck
- Grab your shins
- Open and spot the floor
All 43 steps
- Front Tuck 1
- Front Tuck 2
- Front Tuck 3
- Front Tuck 4
- Front Tuck 5
- Front Tuck 6
- Front Tuck 7
- Front Tuck 8
- Front Tuck 9
- Front Tuck 10
- Front Tuck 11
- Front Tuck 12
- Front Tuck 13
- Front Tuck 14
- Front Tuck 15
- Front Tuck 16
- Front Tuck 17
- Front Tuck 18
- Front Tuck 19
- Front Tuck 20
- Front Tuck 21
- Front Tuck 22
- Front Tuck 23
- Front Tuck 24
- Front Tuck 25
- Front Tuck 26
- Front Tuck 27
- Front Tuck 28
- Front Tuck 29
- Front Tuck 30
- Front Tuck 31
- Front Tuck 32
- Front Tuck 33
- Front Tuck 34
- Front Tuck 35
- Front Tuck 36
- Front Tuck 37
- Front Tuck 38
- Front Tuck 39
- Front Tuck 40
- Front Tuck 41
- Front Tuck 42
- Front Tuck 43
Frequently asked questions
What should a gymnast master before learning a front tuck?
A good forward roll, a tight straight jump, a strong hurdle and punch, and safe landings. Many coaches also use trampoline, tumble track or a raised surface first so the gymnast learns rotation with more air time.
Why does my gymnast land short on the front tuck?
Usually the take-off is the problem: leaning forward, a deep knee bend or no arm set. Fix height first, then a faster, tighter tuck. Drills that isolate the punch often help more than repeating the full salto.
Is a front tuck harder than a back tuck?
Many gymnasts find the front tuck harder because they land without seeing the floor early and rotation must come from a good punch. It varies per gymnast, so use progressions for both rather than assuming one order.
What is a Front Tuck? Read the glossary entry