The World of Gymnastics

Coaches are very important when it comes to finding a new gymnastics academy. Make sure you know as much about the coach as possible; their background, accomplishments, and knowledge. It is very important you also agree with their coaching styles.

Gymnastics coaches are going to be a big part of your gymnast’s life. Depending on how much your gymnast works out, they may be around their coaches anywhere from an hour a week to forty hours a week. For this reason you want to make sure they are a good role model and moral influence for you child. You don’t want you child to be around someone that has a bad background or history. Make sure the gymnastics academy you are checking out requires background checks for all their employees.

If you are paying good money for you child to do gymnastics you should expect the gymnastics center to provide good coaches. Think about it, the coaches are the main component when it comes to the success of your gymnast. The coaches are the ones who teach your gymnasts routines and skills. There are two ways they can teach them, the right way or the wrong way. Make sure they are a successful coach by looking at their experience, history, credentials and accomplishments.

Make sure you like the style of coaching your new coaches’ use. Some are more laid back and let things slide and let the gymnasts slack off. Other coaches are very rigid and harsh and get all over the gymnasts case for every mistake. Then there is the happy medium, these coaches are tough but not too tough were the gymnast can’t have any fun at practice. You need to decided which type of coach you gymnast will work better with. A parent also needs to decide if they think it is okay if a coach yells and curses if he/she is not satisfied with the gymnasts’ performance. If you get a coach that is too laid back your gymnast may walk all over them and not succeed.  Let me tell you, if a gymnast has a coach that has a lazy coaching style the gymnast will take full advantage of it; this is not a pretty sight when a gymnast runs the class.

Each gymnast is different; some like to be spotted while others hate it. This is how coaches can be too. Some coaches will never touch a gymnast while others will spot them on every skill. I think that a coach should spot some but not all the time where the gymnast becomes reliant on the coach for everything. Make sure you pick a gymnastics academy where your gymnast will feel comfortable when it comes to the spotting style. If you gymnast needs spot to get over their fears, don’t send them to a gymnastics center where they will never be spotted and vise versa. Again this is one of those things where the best is a happy medium. A coach should spot if the gymnast feels unsafe but once the gymnast can attempt the skill themselves the coach needs to make them do it without spot. You do not want the gymnast to become reliant on the coach for everything. They need to get confidence and attempt things by themselves time to time.

I have seen many gymnastics coaches in my life and a coach who possesses a little bit of each of these coaching styles seam to get trough to the gymnast much better. A gymnastics coach has to remember how easily children get burnt out, so mix it up from time to time.

What are some things you look for when finding a new gymnastics academy? Finding a great gymnastics center can be a very hard and rigorous task. Just think, your child’s gymnastics success is based on the gymnastic center you choose. This can puts a great amount of pressure and responsibility on the parents. Here are some tips and guidelines that are very important to look for when selecting a new gymnastics academy. Using these tips will help you pick the best gymnastics academy that suites you and your gymnast.

First, what does the gymnastics academy have to offer inside its facility? What I mean by this is, do they have all the equipment and extra training equipment for the gymnasts to use?  Do they training tools things other than the balance beam, uneven bars, vault table, and floor exercise? Does the gymnastics center have a pit, tumble track, trampoline, strap bar, harness, etc.? Is this gymnastics facility set up where you can use these training tools to the fullest? These are all important things to look for when selecting a gymnastics academy.

Training tools are very important for gymnasts. Not only do training tools allow the gymnasts to get the correct feel for the skill they are working on but training tools also make it much safer for the gymnast; they allow gymnasts to take fewer falls without getting hurt. Once they get the hang of a new skill with training equipment, they will be ready to perfect it without these tools.

Make sure all the equipment in the gymnastics center is USAG regulation. This will allow gymnasts to practice on what one day they will compete on. Plus, regulation equipment is much safer, durable and the right size.

Look around and observe the setup of the gymnastics academy; make sure it is set up safely. Meaning the vault doesn’t have a concrete wall in front of it. Or the floor exercise doesn’t have glass mirrors against it. The beam must also have gymnastics mats not only under it but also all around it. If there are more then one set of uneven bars they must be spaced away from each other so the gymnast doesn’t dismount and hit the other set. Leaving gymnastics mats lying around can also be very unsafe. There are countless ways a gymnastics facility can keep their gym safer. When it comes to safety make sure the gym you choose goes the extra mile because the safety and well being of your gymnast should be their top priority.

Gymnastics can be a very safe sport as long as the gymnastics academy practices safety by offering the proper apparatuses, set up, and training equipment. The gymnastics center is responsible for providing a safe environment for your little gymnastics no matter what age or skill level he or she may be. Safety is the most important quality a gym should possess, so make sure they strive for the safety of your child twenty four seven.

Uneven Bars

Uneven bars are one of four gymnastics apparatuses. Gymnastics uneven bars are only used and competed in women’s gymnastics. Bars are by far the hardest event for the majority of all women gymnasts; bars take a great amount of upper body and core strength.

Uneven bars have a frame made out of steel or metal that provides immense strength, support and stability for gymnasts of all sizes and skill levels. The actual bars on a set of bars are made out of fiberglass with a wood covering. These materials combined give the bars vast flexibility; allowing the bars to move with the gymnasts body and not break. The outside wood covering is rough enough that the gymnast won’t slip off continuously, but not too rough were it will tare up their hands.

Each uneven bar is about one and a half inches wide and about eight feet long. The height of both bars on the top and bottom are adjustable. The width of gymnastics uneven bars is also adjustable. Meaning the top and bottom bar can be spread apart from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and eighty centimeters. Each gymnast may have a different bar setting depending on their power, strength, jump, and height.

All gymnasts up to level five will only use and compete on the low uneven bar. Gymnasts that are levels five and up are required to jump from the low bar to the high bar. Once you get to level eight you have to switch back and forth between the high and low uneven bars. Every gymnast in America has the same bar routine until they become a level seven. Once they are a level 7 they will have their very own unique bar routine to compete.

On score sheets at gymnastics competitions or gymnastics meets, the uneven bars are abbreviated as UB so you won’t get it confused with the balance beam (BB).

When practicing or competing on the uneven bars many gymnast wear grips. Grips are made out of heavy duty leather. Grips cover your palms to help stop you from getting rips or tares on you hands. They are also designed to help you grip the bar better which will lower the chances of pealing (slipping) off.

First things first, when you get new gymnastics hand grips you must break them in before you jump up on the uneven bars and attempt your hard skills and tricks. Some grips are harder to break in than others do to the thickness and stiffness of the leather. There are several different ways to break grips in. First, when your gymnastics grips are not in use, roll them as if they were around the bar. This will allow them to take the shape of the gymnastics bar. Second, put the grips on, mount the bars and do simple skills only. That way you will have a much less chance of peeling off. My advice would be to stay on the low gymnastics bar only until you get use to them.

When you first put gymnastics grips on, the finger holes are always too tight. DO NOT cut the finger holes or force the holes wider by stretching them to try to make them fit. This will only make your grips un-wearable, and you would have to cough up more money to buy another new pair. All you have to do is roll up a little piece of sand paper and sand the inside of the holes until they fit snugly. Another tip, do not let other girls wear your gymnastics grips. It can stretch the finger holes out were you can no longer wear your new grips without them slipping around.

Once you get your grips broke in and wear them on a regular basis they may start to get slick. This is due to the leather wearing down from each skill performed on the gymnastics uneven bars. To get them rough again you take a wire grip brush and brush the grips up and down until it starts to get rough again. You can keep doing this every time they get slick. Once they get too thin, you will need a new pair.

Many gymnasts store their gymnastics grips in bags. These bags are called grip bags. If you place your gymnastics grips in a grip bag after every bar rotation it will eliminate the amount of chalk that will get all over. Plus carrying your grip bag to the gymnastics bars and back is much easier then caring your gym bag around!

There is one question that many gymnasts, coaches, and parents ask; grips or no grips?

Gymnastics grips are extremely important for gymnasts, especially upper level gymnasts. Grips are a piece of leather that covers and protects the gymnast’s hands. they are only used for gymnastics uneven bars. Gymnastics grips are very important for several different reasons. They allow a gymnast to grasp the bar better which reduce the risk of peeling off (slipping off the bar). Gymnastics grips also protect the gymnast’s hands from getting many rips (calluses peeling off).

There are two different types of grips; dowel and palm. Palm grips only cover the gymnast’s palms, hence the name. They are mainly used for non competitive beginners that do not have hard bar skills. Dowel grips on the other hand, cover the palm and fingers; these are mainly used by higher level competitive gymnast that work swing and release skills.

Palm Grips

Dowel Grips

Gymnastics grips are usually secured by buckles or velcro around the gymnast’s wrists. Palm grips usually velcro around the wrist making it easier for younger kids to take them on and off. While dowel grips usually buckle. This makes them stronger and less likely to slip or come on done when performing harder skills on the gymnastics uneven bars. Usually each gymnast has their own preference, either velcro or buckles.

Not every gymnast wears grips. Some gymnasts like grips while others dislike them so much they refuse to wear them. Grips are not mandatory for gymnastics bars but can help in many ways. While some gymnasts believe they are a nuisance and just get in their way.

Usually kids don’t start wearing grips until they are doing harder swing and release skills on the gymnastics bars. While some gymnasts wear grips early on so they get use to them. The decisions of grips are usually up to the coach. He/she will decide if or if not the gymnast should wear them. If they decide they are needed, they will pick which kind, palm grip or dowel grips, based on your skill level.

There are many different grip sizes. So if you coach decides gymnastics grips are right for you he will measure your hand to make sure you get the correct grip size.

If you are going to start wearing gymnastics grips don’t forget to purchase wrist bands. Wrist bands will keep the grips from slipping up and down on your wrist. They also keep the gymnastics grips from rubbing and digging into one’s skin.

All about Women’s Gymnastics Balance Beam

In women’s gymnastics there are four apparatuses; the balance beam, vault table, floor exercise, and the uneven bars. Each of theses apparatuses have a different criteria and specific guidelines.

Women’s gymnastics balance beam is a very hard apparatus that is only used and competed by women. The balance beam takes a lot of concentration, balance and courage. The beam is a piece of equipment that is raised off the floor and is covered by tan leather to keep the gymnasts from slipping. The beam is sixteen feet four inches long and a mere four inches wide. Each gymnast is required to perform a routine on the beam without falling off. Beam is extremely hard because if a gymnast pauses in the slightest way during her routine the judges will deduct points from her score.

If a gymnast is at a compulsory level they have a specific choreographed routine they must compete. Every gymnast in America based on their level, will also compete the same exact routine (yes this does get a little boring if you are a coach or a judge). If the gymnast is an optional level they have their very own choreographed routine. Each women’s gymnastics balance beam routine has a specific time limit depending on the gymnast’s level. If the gymnast does not complete their routine within the time limit, they get a .10 deduction whether they go one second over or sixty seconds over. Every women’s gymnastic beam routine starts with a mount and ends with a dismount. Each beam routine is not performed to music but to silence, that way the gymnast can focus staying on the beam. Women’s gymnastics balance beam routines not only consist of many gymnastics skills but also a great amount of gymnastics dance.

Another important thing to know about beam is you may use a panel mat or spring board to mount if the beam is too high. The mat or spring board must be moved as soon as the gymnast mounts the beam or the gymnast will receive a deduction. On a score sheet women’s gymnastics balance beam is represented by the capital letters BB.

There are many different types of gymnastics, such as: women’s artistic, men’s artistic, acrobatic, rhythmic, trampoline, tumbling, and group. But women’s artistic gymnastics is the most common type. Artistic gymnastics is a very fun yet competitive sport that is known and practiced around the whole world. People who take or participate in gymnastics are called gymnasts.

Women’s artistic gymnastics consist of four events: the uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vaulting table. On each one of these events gymnasts have a timed routine. Every competitive gymnast only gets one chance to perform each routine, except for vault. On vault the gymnast gets two chances and the judges awards them the highest score out of the two vaults.

Women’s gymnastics includes children of all ages and ability. There are specific categories in gymnastics depending on a child’s skill level, not age. There is recreational gymnastics which includes mom and me, preschool, kindergarten, beginner, advanced beginner, and intermediate. Compulsory gymnastics which consists of levels one through six. There also is optional gymnastics which is comprised of levels seven through ten. The unique thing about artistic gymnastics is it takes many different abilities to be a good gymnast. Gymnastics takes strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, speed, power, agility, endurance, control, etc. Not only does gymnastics take a great amount of physical ability, but also takes just as much mental and psychological strength as well.

Artistic gymnastics is different then any other sport. Gymnastics is not only a team sport but it is also an individual sport. A gymnastics team receive a team total of points based on the highest three scores on each event. Gymnasts also receive an individual score, this score consist of the total points each gymnast receives on all four events. This means gymnasts not only compete against different teams but against their very own teammates.