Brilliant Basics | The Gymnast Development Framework

Scottish Gymnastics is paving the way for success with a game-changing framework that empowers gymnasts to reach their full potential at every level.

Brilliant Basics is a gymnast development framework with a dedicated platform hosting educational resources, tools and a library of videos. It guides coaches, gymnasts, parents and carers through the gymnastics journey from the basics to brilliance. Our aim is to help gymnasts enjoy learning and achieve their potential at every level, so they thrive in gymnastics and beyond.

We have designed the framework with technical specialists and experts in their relative fields to

• encourage gymnasts of all ages and abilities to co-create their journey and know how they can get better
• increase coaches’ confidence in delivering the right things in the right way
• involve parents in the journey and help them understand how they can support their child

What you will find

The Brilliant Basics blueprint outlines the development journey and considerations for each stage. It allows gymnasts to learn fundamental skills and behaviours so they can progress when they are ready to do so.

The behavioural and physical blueprints cover the critical elements of developing gymnasts holistically. This allows them to be physically and mentally comfortable and prepared to learn new skills.

The technical blueprint explores the basic gymnastics skills at each level of the pathway. It starts with the fundamental skills, with videos taking you through each, showing key coaching points, common faults, and progressions. These cover eight gymnastics disciplines: men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, acrobatics, rhythmic, trampoline, double mini-trampoline, tumbling and TeamGym.

Scottish Gymnastics head of sport Sam Hendrikson said:

“We understand that gymnastics is a complex sport. The whole framework is agile so you can use the tools and key information to support any situation. It is about helping the key people in a gymnast’s development to have quality conversations.

“We want to nurture gymnastics and life skills so gymnasts feel a sense of belonging, integrity, challenge, support, progress, and achievement at every level of participation. The learning platform is called mybrilliantbasics.com for a reason. You can access the support at the time you need it – it is your journey.

“We have launched with almost 180 resources focusing on fundamental, behavioural and physical skills. We’ll add new content quarterly so that in a year, there will be over 1000 videos, factsheets, and podcasts.”

How to access Brilliant Basics

The Brilliant Basics framework is built to fuel your gymnastics journey. With the Brilliant Basics dashboard, you can track progress, explore new skills, and unlock fresh challenges. This platform grows with you, with new content rolling out over the next 12 months (and beyond!).

As a Brilliant Basics member, you’ll be the first to access exclusive content, exciting opportunities, and a world-class library of 1,000+ gymnastics resources by the end of the first year. More than just a learning tool, this evolving platform is your go-to training companion – designed to support your development every step of the way.

Scottish Gymnastics members can take advantage of a whopping 80% discount to access mybrilliantbasics.com. That means, it costs £5 per month, or you can choose to subscribe for a year at the further discounted price of £50. You simply enter your Scottish Gymnastics membership number into the ‘coupon’ section on the checkout page and the 80% will be applied. A non-member subscription costs £25 per month or £250 per year, meaning you have two months free on us.

You can access the fully responsive site on your laptop, tablet or phone. Simply save the URL to your phone’s homepage, and then just tap the icon to open the platform, find what you need, when you need it.

Although subscribers can access all the content, Brilliant Basics is not a coaching programme. The platform allows you find and revisit different skills or support when you need it. Gymnasts should only learn skills in a recognised gymnastics environment with a coach. They should not be encouraged to train skills out with their physical readiness to minimise risk of injury. Coaches must not coach beyond their qualification or coaching award, unless directly supervised by a more qualified coach.

What you say about Brilliant Basics

As a gymnast:

James Hall, Olympian gymnast:

“I like how clear the information is laid out and I really like that Brilliant Basics covers the behavioural tools and support. 

“I could talk till the cows come home about the behavioural side of gymnastics. As an athlete you go from school to training, then you finish school and straight to full-time gymnastics. You miss that opportunity for development. We never really worked on the behavioural side – perhaps the information was there but I did not know how to find it.  

“The Brilliant Basics behavioural blueprint and tools are key for gymnasts, coaches and parents at any level, especially those aspiring to compete at international level.” 

Annie Pickstock, floor and vault gymnast and youth forum member:

“I think all gymnasts will find the site easy to navigate and it will be a fantastic resource to use at all levels.”

As a coach:

John Humphries, recreational and competitive coach:

“I think for coaches, Brilliant Basics has absolutely delivered. To me, the term Brilliant Basics has always been around standardising the delivery of quality, safe coaching, and clear progressions for everyone within the gymnastics community. This new platform provides this, providing accessible resources and helping to build confidence for coaches at all levels, anywhere in the country.”

Paul Greaves, coach to Olympic medal winning trampoline gymnast Bryony Page:

“It’s phenomenal. Coaches go on courses and learn so much at each level, but you can only retain so much information and as tutors and educators we only have a limited time to share lots of information. You cannot go into the details of posture or foot placement. This resource is absolutely phenomenal and definitely needed. There is no doubt there is a demand for this type of resource, not only for coaches but also educators and tutors.

“It can be a place for coaches to go to remind them ahead of coaching that skill and upskilling themselves aligned with their coaching qualification.”

As a parent:

Wendy Gillie, TeamGym mum:

“As a parent you want to bring your child on in any sport, understanding how you can support them, or deal with a tricky situation. If you haven’t been involved in gymnastics as a gymnast, you do not understand how the pathway works. Sometimes you do not know what your child is working on. It’s like school, you only find out if there’s an issue! So often you’re not brought along on the journey. 

“Coaches don’t always have the time to speak to every parent after training which is understandable. Brilliant Basics could help the parent know what skills they’re working on and how or if we can help. It looks really useful and will provide an understanding, enabling me to support the coaches and my child.”