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Gymnastic skills can be parlayed into other sports as well as into regular life
There are as many sports that use gymnastics skills as there are sports.
If a football player knows how to do a front roll
(somersault) or a back roll, he is going to avoid getting hurt when he is
tackled and thrown to the ground by his burly opponent. Gymnasts learn how to fall without getting
injured.
A platform diver or springboard diver, who executes gymnastic twists and turns
while in mid air, probably got his early start in gymnastics class where he
twirled, flipped and rolled on terra firm long before he stepped onto the high
dive.
Figure skaters, who contort themselves elegantly while gliding on ice on
one thin blade, probably did a tour of duty in gymnastics class, where they
learned balance as well as poise.
The aerial artists in Cirque de Soleil
certainly spent their time tumbling and back hand-springing before taking to the air,
and many dancers often have more than a passing acquaintance with gymnastics,
where they learned to jump, do splits and how to execute a cartwheel.
Think of the
agility and grace of ballet dancers, as well as their flexibility and balance.
Some of those characteristics may well have been learned in a gymnastics class.
Of course, cheerleaders, more times than not, have a strong background in
gymnastics.
Gymnastics teaches and improves coordination as well as
gives students confidence. A gymnast learns the fundamentals of movement, which
can be used in anything that she does in life. The first time a gymnast leaps
up onto the balance beam or takes her turn at the uneven bars, you know she has
to overcome fear and believe in herself. Learning to be confident in the gym
will transfer to other aspects of life, including any other type of
sport that she may play because there are many sports that use gymnastics skills.
Gymnastics improves ones flexibility, which is essential
in any kind of sport. Football players as well as basketball players and tennis
players need to be flexible. The more flexibility you have, the less likely you
are going to get injured. Gymnasts rule the kingdom when it comes to
flexibility.
Gymnasts acquire self discipline, which, like self
confidence, can be parlayed into all realms of their life, including other
sports. The gymnast works in a very controlled atmosphere, where there are many
rules that must be followed. Gymnasts develop a good work ethic and disciplined
minds. They learn to concentrate and focus, which comes in handy in all areas
of life and sports.
Doing gymnastics develops upper body strength as well as
leg strength, which is certainly useful in other sports, including running,
weight lifting, throwing and soccer. Even though gymnasts are tiny, pound for pound they
are among the strongest of all of the Olympic athletes.
Many gymnasts participate on teams and, as a consequence,
they learn how to be a team player as well as an individual athlete.
Engaging
in gymnastics builds determination because a gymnast is not going to get a feat
correct the first time. She must try, try and try again. Determination is the
key to playing any support successfully as well as to leading a successful
personal and business life. Gymnasts learn to overcome adversity and achieve
something that initially may have seemed physically impossible. A gymnast learns
cooperation, sportsmanship and how to listen and take instruction, all of which will benefit her when
she is playing other types of sports.
Gymnastics will help keep your child fit, which will make
it that much easier for him to play other sports.
Even if your child is not destined to be on a future Olympic team, gymnastics provides a wonderful foundation and teaches them physical and mental techniques that will serve them well in other sports arenas as well as in life.
Resources:
TCGymnastics.com: The benefits of gymnastics