Objective of the study was to improve the methodology of flexibility development at the initial stage of training of junior rhythmic gymnasts aged 5-6 years through the application of the stretching game elements. Methods and structure of the study. The study was carried out at the premises of the municipal budgetary institution "Sports School No. 1" of the Elabuga municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan. Sampled for the study were the 5-6 year-old girls engaged in rhythmic gymnastics. The Experimental and Control Groups were made, homogeneous in terms of physical development indices, 15 subjects each. Physical exercises to determine the level of development of flexibility were selected as tests. The new flexibility building stretching game model for beginner 5-6 year old rhythmic gymnasts was tested beneficial as verified by the Experimental group progress test rates being higher than in the Control Group in every test save for the front splits test. It should be emphasized that the Experimental group showed much higher interest in the trainings facilitated by the animals-mimicking stretching games - that were noted to greatly encourage the trainees. The new stretching game model may be recommended for application in the flexibility trainings of the beginner rhythmic gymnastics groups.
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