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Building Skills for a Lifetime
gym·nas·tic [jim-nas-tik]
- adjective
Of or pertaining to physical exercises that develop and demonstrate strength, balance and agility, esp. such exercises performed mostly on special equipment.
Gymnastics is one of the most entertaining and challenging sports around. Imagine flipping on a piece of wood just under four inches wide, about four feet off the ground. Imagine swinging and turning around a circular bar only about an inch and a half in diameter. Gymnasts defy gravity and have awed and amazed us in the Olympics since 1928.
But gymnastics teaches more than just flips and handstands. Gymnastics builds skills for a lifetime—both physical and mental. Focus, discipline, teamwork, and confidence are just a few of the skills learned from being in gymnastics.
If you are looking for a sport (recreational or competitive) for your child, gymnastics is an excellent one to try. Kids can have a great time on the trampoline, swinging on the bars, and walking across the balance beam. And you never know—you could be raising the next Shawn Johnson or Paul Hamm!
In women’s gymnastics there are four events—vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. In men’s gymnastics there are six—floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Children can start gymnastics classes as early as age three in toddler classes, which usually teach such basics as forward rolls, walking across a low balance beam, and swinging on smaller, lower bars. As children get older and increase their skill level, they may have the option to be on a competitive team. Competitive teams usually start at Level 3 and go all the way up to Level 10.
Scholarships are offered by numerous colleges and universities across the U.S. for top-level gymnasts. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allows each Division I gymnastics program 6.3 scholarships for men and 12 for women (collegesportsscholarships.com). In addition, many Division II and III schools award gymnastics scholarships.
The BSU Women’s Division I Gymnastics Team was ranked 20th in the nation in 2009 by the NCAA. A member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the team’s competitive season begins in January and ends in late March. Check out broncosports.com for the latest news on BSU’s gymnastics team, which went to Salt Lake City in mid-April for the NCAA Regional Championships.
So how do you get your child in gymnastics? First, check out the local gymnastics or tumbling gyms (see sidebar). Call and find out what days they hold classes for your child’s age and skill level. You can always stop in and watch one of the classes before signing up. Find out what the cost is and if your child can have one “trial” class before committing to it. Finally, ask questions—what should your child wear, what should they bring, are you required to stay during the class, etc.
Although one of the most difficult sports, gymnastics is also one of the most enjoyable for both parents and kids. Even if you aren’t interested in competitive gymnastics, recreational classes are fun and still teach children important skills they can use for life.
Janelle DiOrio is a former Division I college gymnastics scholarship recipient and earned the MVP award her senior year.
Local Gymnastics & Tumbling Gyms
Bronco Elite Arts & Athletics
1187 W. River St., Boise
www.broncoelite.com (also in Caldwell)
Danik Gymnastics
1396 E. Iron Eagle Dr., Eagle
345 S. Adkins Wy., Meridian
www.danikgym.com
Gem State Gymnastics Academy
5420 W. State St., Boise
www.gemstategymnastics.com
Little Gym, The
3210 E. Chinden Blvd., Eagle
www.tlgeaglemeridianid.com
2337 S. Apple St., Boise
www.tlgboiseid.com
Meridian Academy of Gymnastics
1530 E. Commercial Dr., Meridian
www.maggymnastics.com
Tumble Time Gymnastics
1379 N. Cloverdale Rd., Boise
www.tumbletimegymnastics.com
Wings Center
1875 Century Way, Boise
www.wingscenter.com
For more information on gymnastics, check out intlgymnast.com or ncaa.org.
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