Wall bars exercises
In physical education at school the wall bars exercises come second as most useful practices, right after free exercises, although they should be used only by those pupils who have previous practice involving hand tools and free exercises. In that case this equipment of Swedish origin is suitable for versatile use.
The wall bars exercises are the most powerful among preparatory exercises. They are especially efficient for the shoulder, arm, and torso muscles, but they can be used to improve mobility, strengthen almost every part of the body and to develop the correct posture. The wall bars are commonly used in gymnastics movement teaching materials to implement various tracking practices. The wall bars practices are mostly individual although they can be performed in pairs and as group tasks.
When exercising with children, we demand that overhands grip be used for holding the bars as this mode is the safest.
It is best if each student gets a single wall ladder. If not, than two small children can be placed at one gymnastics ladder, while bigger children will carry out their exercises in groups (2-3). Taking a position at the wall bars is done while walking or running. If we are working in groups, we set them up in place or as the groups develop. The waiting groups watch the others "work" (they can be seated on a bench) or they carry out similar tasks to those on the wall bars, but without the equipment, or they can independently carry out known additional tasks. It is important that a description of the tasks be addressed to everyone and the exchanges should happen quickly and smoothly. The pupils can carry out 2-3 tasks at the same time and then change place, or they can also practice in a ‘constructing’ manner. (Group A carries out practice 1 and 2, change, group B carries out practice 1 and 2, then practice 3, change, group A carries out practice 3, then practice 4, change, etc.)
If we work in several groups, the session leader should take a position between two / three groups, on the side - "outside the changeover zone" - so that they are readily visible to everyone. (Metzing 2010)
During the presentation it is important that the children should remain at a proper distance from the wall bars to see the presented exercises.
Small children should not be allowed to jump off the wall bars. Bigger children, after having been taught the technique of jumping off, may jump off but only from the permitted height.
Before class it is essential to check the condition of the wall bars, as for example broken bars can cause serious injury.
The wall bars exercises can be combined with hand tool or bench exercises, thus increasing the effectiveness of the exercise and making it more diversified.
In compiling the exercises, let us also make sure that exercises involving jumping, propping and hanging alternate with one another.
When giving instruction in technical language we need to determine the position of the pupil in relation to the tool. (Front, rear, left or right position respectively, or a transverse position), instead of support or grip, (at head height, at hip height, or at the fifth degree), the pupil’s distance from the wall bars (in steps, meters or at arm's length) (Table 20)