1. Drills
  2. Gymnastics
  3. Strength

Arch Hold

Hold a gentle arch on your belly to strengthen your back, glutes and shoulders.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Lie on your belly with arms by your ears.

Core: As written. Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Ages
7 and up
Time
6 min
Players
Just you
Space
Small room
Bring
Mat
Level · skill
Beginner · Strength

The steps

How it works

  1. Lie on your belly with arms by your ears.
  2. Lift your arms, chest and legs a little off the floor.
  3. Keep your legs together and toes pointed.
  4. Hold 15 to 30 seconds. Do 4 holds.

Coaching point

Long and gentle, not a big bend.

Safety: Lift only a little. Stop if your back pinches. Pain in your lower back, worse when you bend back, is never normal: stop and tell a parent or coach. Keep back bends few and gentle.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Gym follow-the-leader: one person leads a movement and the group copies. Swap the leader each time.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (slower or smaller), Core (as written), More (one extra twist). Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Story

You are an explorer crossing the gym like a jungle.

My best

Beat your own count

Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free gymnastics week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.