Gymnastics can be about competition, but it doesn't have to be. The American public's most common form of exposure to the sport of gymnastics is via televised championship meets or the Olympics, which may give the impression the sport is all about competition.
The reality is that gymnastics is a great "gateway" sport, that is, it prepares any child for a higher level of participation in many activities because of the confidence developed and body awareness attained - both attributes of gymnastics training.
There are also different levels of competition that don't have to lead to Olympic competition or years of grueling training. By that, I mean that routines developed by USA Gymnastics can be used by AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), YMCA, school, and recreational programs without the emphasis on competition for competition's sake but for learning how to perform, learning to enjoy the competitive experience, and learning how to express oneself through movement.
Recovery from a fall
Another great benefit of gymnastics training is an increased awareness of the body in activity making recovery from falls or strategic changes in body position easier to accomplish.
Many gymnastics skills have a takeoff phase, the skill performance, and a landing phase. The takeoff and the skill performance are usually a lot of fun, but the key to enjoyment of the sport is learning to land safely to prevent injury. Safe landings motivate additional attempts by the athlete, which in turn allow experience through practice, along with feedback from the coach, to modify the skill and achieve ultimate success in performance.
During the introduction to a skill, the gymnast will have the advantage of plenty of mats, soft foam-filled pits, and an instructor to physically guide (spot) him/her through the proper performance of the skill. As competence and confidence increase, the gymnast will learn to perform the skill without the aid from an instructor or training devices.
Crossover to other sports
The spatial awareness gained in gymnastics has a crossover to other sports. For instance, a soccer player runs for the ball and is blindsided by another player. Instead of the typical reaction of sticking out a straight arm when falling, the athlete with gymnastics training will know how to roll through the fall and possibly be right back up on his/her feet with no injury.
The benefits are obvious in sports that have similarities to gymnastics like acrobatics, trampolining, diving, and dance.
Ready to save the world
Competition is definitely a need for some athletes. However, many gymnastics programs are bowing to financial pressure and provide gymnastics training programs that meet two or three times a week for the gymnastics enthusiast who simply enjoys participating in the sport and the challenge of learning a new skill.
As a basic level of movement education, gymnastics is an excellent start and gateway sport for many other activities.
Besides, what would happen if a radioactive spider bit your child and he/she had no gymnastics training? His or her superhero career would be very short indeed. Enroll your child in gymnastics now and let them learn what it feels like to fly.
Rik Feeney is the author of the "Gymnastics Journal & Meet Survival Guide" and several books on the sport of gymnastics as well as the new "Cheerleading: Conditioning for Back Handspring & Tumbling Success!" available online at: http://www.GymnasticsTrainingTips.com
Rik is also a Self-Publishing Coach, consulting with authors to write, publish and promote books, and develop web sites. He has done several talks at writing events throughout Florida and is finishing his new book, "Writing for Fun, Fame, & Fortune." Email Rik at coachrik@aol.com
Laws Of Attraction In Action
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