Most of us had no idea what we were getting into when we first signed our child up for a rec gymnastics class. What we found once they started competing was an intense, year-round sport that challenges athletes physically, mentally, and emotionally. As soon as meet season ends the push for next level skills begins. There is no doubt it’s a demanding …
Having more than one gymnast in the family means managing multiple practice schedules, having the seats in your car covered in chalk, and your weekends devoted entirely to meets, but it could also mean dealing with sibling rivalry, especially if your gymnasts progress at different rates or have different levels of success. How can you …
Summertime is fast approaching, and when school is out what do most gymnasts dream of? More time in the gym, of course! No matter what level your child is there are multiple camp options and we’ve got a rundown of some of some of the most popular gymnastics camps around the country where your athlete …
Gymnastics truly is a sport where you can start here and go anywhere. Gymnastics teaches a tremendous amount of self-discipline and focus, and gymnasts develop strength, coordination, and the ability to accept feedback from coaches—all skills that easily transfer to another sport. So, if the time has come when your gymnast is considering retiring and …
Gymnastics is a tough sport and aches and pains often come with the territory, but how do you know when it’s something that can be treated with icing and ibuprofen, or when it’s time to take your child to see a doctor? Many gymnasts are used to training through discomfort and may even have a …
Your athlete spends many hours a week training in the gym, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into the sport they love. Maybe they’re the kind of kid who always hits routines in practice. They work hard, take corrections, and put in their best effort day after day in the gym. Then meet day rolls …
My son was born with a massive amount of physical energy. Always racing around, climbing onto furniture, swinging from countertops, or jumping off of something. My husband and I were eager to direct his energy into sports and off of the furniture, but for a long time nothing seemed to be the right fit. He …
In my previous column, I discussed an athlete’s center of mass (CoM), and the two types of momentum the athlete has: linear (associated with motion in a direction) and angular (associated with rotation). To quickly recap our last column: the athlete’s center of mass (CoM) is the average location of her mass. A force applied …
Gymnastics is an intense, sometimes crazy sport, and it can drive the best of us a little over the edge at times, but no one wants to be on the receiving end of listening to a crazy gym parent (CGP), and no one wants to discover that they are the crazy gym parent. Learn how …
Across the US, there are several different competitive gymnastics programs, but the two with the largest participation are the Xcel program, and the Developmental Program (formerly known as Junior Olympic, or JO), both run by USA Gymnastics (USAG). Parents new to competitive gymnastics often wonder which is the right path for their child, and while …