Safety in the Gym
Monday April 7, 2008
 A gymnast performing a front flipPhoto © 2007 iStockphoto.com/Raoul Vernede |
Finding the right gym for yourself or your child and wearing the proper clothing for the sport can go a long ways toward injury prevention in beginner gymnasts.
Looking for more guidance? Safe USA has some additional safety tips, and gymnastics coach Brian Bakalar has a brief article about the safety of doing gymnastics in the home. Gymnastics Zone also has some very helpful information for both beginners and competitive gymnasts.
Doing gymnastics involves obvious risk, but there really is a lot that can be done to prevent injury. And the enjoyment and benefits most athletes get from gymnastics seems to far outweigh the risks.
What do you look for in a safe gym and coach?
Comments
The Today story raised a very important point. Be respectful of your child’s fears and pains. And be very cautious of a coach or instructor who wants the child to “work through the pain.” When she wants to make the team and gain the coach’s attention and admiration, it is very hard for a child to admit to fear or pain. It is the parent’s job to be vigilant.
One thing that I always look for is a good coach who won’t push the kid too hard, an cares most about them being healthy and happy, more than being a great gymnast. I’ve been lucky to find some great people coaching gymnastics.