What level do gymnasts learn a Front Handspring?

Gymnasts usually learn a Front Handspring between Levels 4 and 5. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.

How long does it take to learn a Front Handspring?

About 4 weeks once a Handstand and a Roundoff are solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Handstand, the whole progression adds up to about 12 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.

What should my gymnast learn before a Front Handspring?

Handstand and Roundoff come directly before it. The full progression is Handstand, then Cartwheel, then Roundoff, then Front Handspring.

What are the most common deductions on a Front Handspring?

The ones to watch for are Bent Arms (usually about 0.1), Pike in Body (up to 0.20), Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.

How to do a Front Handspring

A Front Handspring is a tumbling skill on floor exercise that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 4 and 5, once a Handstand and a Roundoff are solid.

Also called: front hand spring.

Quick facts

Apparatus	Floor Exercise
Typical level (estimate)	Levels 4-5
Difficulty (Stickd rating)	4/10
Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate)	About 4 weeks
Whole progression (estimate)	About 12 weeks from a Handstand
Fear factor (Stickd rating)	2/5

Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.

What to learn before a Front Handspring

Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Front Handspring.

Handstand (Levels 1-2)
Cartwheel (Level 2)
Roundoff (Level 3)

Step-by-step progression

The path to a Front Handspring has 4 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.

1
Handstand
Learn a Handstand until it is solid, usually between Levels 1 and 2. About 3 weeks (estimate).
2
Cartwheel
Learn a Cartwheel until it is solid, usually around Level 2. About 2 weeks (estimate).
3
Roundoff
Learn a Roundoff until it is solid, usually around Level 3. About 3 weeks (estimate).
4
Front Handspring
Learn a Front Handspring. Allow about 4 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).

Drills that build a Front Handspring

Technique focus areas: Landing.

What good form looks like

Forward spring with forward weight transfer to hands then feet.

shoulders: open
elbows: straight
wrists: extended
hips: extended

Common deductions on a Front Handspring

Deduction	What it means	Typically
Bent Arms	Arms not fully extended when they should be straight	0.1
Pike in Body	Hip angle showing pike when straight position required	up to 0.20
Insufficient Amplitude	Not enough height or extension on jumps, leaps, or tumbling	up to 0.20
Body Alignment	Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean)	0.1
Shoulder Angle	Shoulders not open to 180 degrees in handstand positions	0.1

Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.

Skills a Front Handspring unlocks

Front Tuck (Floor Exercise, Levels 6-7)

Watch an example

Watch a Front Handspring tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

Frequently asked questions

What level do gymnasts learn a Front Handspring?: Gymnasts usually learn a Front Handspring between Levels 4 and 5. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
How long does it take to learn a Front Handspring?: About 4 weeks once a Handstand and a Roundoff are solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Handstand, the whole progression adds up to about 12 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
What should my gymnast learn before a Front Handspring?: Handstand and Roundoff come directly before it. The full progression is Handstand, then Cartwheel, then Roundoff, then Front Handspring.
What are the most common deductions on a Front Handspring?: The ones to watch for are Bent Arms (usually about 0.1), Pike in Body (up to 0.20), Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.