An oldie, but a goodie.
Keith Russell, current President of the FIG Scientific Commission, wrote this decades ago. Advocating to keep some kind of gymnastics in school Physical Education. A losing battle, I fear.
… The most useful aspect of the “Activity of Gymnastics” is the principle that you teach a student to control their own body in a variety of situations; while doing various locomotor activities: swinging, springing off hands and feet, balancing, landing etc and while on the ground, off the ground, right side up, upside down etc. …
It seems quite reasonable to assume that if students can first control and manoeuvre their own bodies with a fairly high degree of skill then they can subsequently better control and manoeuvre themselves PLUS an implement (bat, stick, racket) or themselves plus a projectile (ball, discus etc). Likewise, they could then better control themselves in various mediums (water, snow, etc), or better handle themselves PLUS an opponent. …
Keith also developed the Up Down All Around lesson plans, the best school gymnastics resource anywhere.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 