Preparing for Success in Gymnastics Competitions

If you look at the performance of elite athletes in gymnastics competitions, you’ll notice that they all exude stellar control, power, strength and balance. While they may seem to do this effortlessly, we know that they spend years perfecting their skills at a gymnastic center or with a private coach. If you or your child wants to experience the same type of success, there are some other qualities that are essential for them to develop.

Other characteristics that are integral for achieving success in gymnastics competitions include focus, precision, ambition and a positive attitude. Maneuvers and routines should be as precise as possible during competitions, with specific emphasis on landings, as a perfect routine can be significantly docked due to a bad one. Judges also look for extra steps, wobbling and other obvious mistakes when scoring each routine. To perform with impeccable precision requires intense focus and concentration, which benefits other aspects of life as well, from schoolwork and other sports to career.

Most coaches and instructors at a gymnastics center like to prepare their students for performance and competitions by focusing on strength, flexibility and attitude. While coaches can help their students develop these traits to an extent, when it comes to attitude, parents need to do their share to promote a positive, ambitious attitude. To do this, they should help their children create a positive outlook while focusing on the importance of sportsmanship, discipline and perseverance.

Last but not least, most coaches and instructors agree that to become an elite gymnast and even just to do well in this sport, students also need to build their stamina and endurance, while constantly improving balance, coordination and agility. The good news is, by helping children to develop all of the traits that help boost gymnastics performance, they will have the characteristics that they need to have success in all other sports and physical activities, and every other endeavor in life.

image: universe.byu.edu