Coaches Games at practice

[GymnastPotterhead]

Are there any games you have used during practice to keep gymnasts motivated / help them get skills/ get over fear / work hard etc.?

Could be any event and any level (team/rec)

 

[Mthegymqueen]

For beam, we have a game called "pressure cooker", where each person does a skill on beam, and if they fall or wobble, they get pit blocks thrown at them (after they are done with the skill of course, not mid skill)

 

[GymnastPotterhead]

Our coach often comes up with games like snakes and ladders but beam themed (like the spaces could be stick 5 of your acro, first half no wobbles etc.)

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Ok, so I came up with a game once where they could do routine parts to earn points, and then they could spend those points to be able to work upgrade skills.

So like a particular skill or sequence from their routine might have a particular point value, but only if they can show it to me with less than .2 in deductions. Then once they have a certain number of points, they spend them to get, say, 5 attempts at their favorite upgrade skill.

They loved it, worked great. Probably would have worked better if I had physical tokens to use as points, might try that some time.

 

[GymCAMom]

I've seen end of practice handstand competitions where the winner calls the style of handstand to be completed next round. It's a huge boost to the end of practice between levels.

I've also seen a graduation game where girls are given a particular skill on beam and they must do it on all of the beams. If you fall, back of the line. There's eventually a final skill and then you receive free time.

 

[JBS]

Stickers.

 

[JustAGirlWhoLovesGym]

Mix up conditioning for the athletes. Maybe take them outside on a nice day to do running/cardio drills (tell them to bring tennis shoes beforehand!), or let them help choose the playlist that you workout to. Its not exactly a "game", but little things like this help gymnasts work harder/be happier about conditioning.