1. Drills
  2. Gymnastics
  3. Tumbling & Vault

Lunge to T-Lever

Practice the lunge and lever that start and finish every cartwheel and round-off, with no flipping.

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

Set up

Stand in a lunge with arms by your ears.

Core: Your usual skill. Move up only with your coach’s OK.

Ages
11 and up
Time
8 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Floor
Level · skill
Developing · Tumbling & Vault

The steps

How it works

  1. Stand in a lunge with arms by your ears.
  2. Tip forward into a T shape, one leg lifted behind you, body flat.
  3. Hold 2 seconds and come back to the lunge.
  4. Do 8 per leg.

Coaching point

Arms, body and leg in one line.

Safety: Stay on your feet; the cartwheel itself is only in a gym with a qualified coach and mats. Stop if your standing knee hurts.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Skill-card game: pick a card with a skill you already know and show it with your coach nearby. The pair collects five clean skills together.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (a shape or roll), Core (your usual skill), More (a clean skill with a stuck landing). Move up only with your coach’s OK.

Story

You are a circus star performing your favorite act.

My best

Beat your own count

Move up only with your coach’s OK. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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