Be a Good Gymnast

Sometimes, it's hard to stay dedicated to a sport so that you can become good at it. However, letting your passion drive your dedication can really help you to improve your skills. Keeping your goals in sight is crucial to long-term success. To really excel as a gymnast, you have to be dedicated and this article explains some of the things to take into account.

Steps

Joining a Class

  1. Find a good class or team. If you are in high school, sign up for your school's gymnastics team. If you are younger you would have to join classes. If you are more advanced, you may be able to join a competitive gymnastics team.
  2. Be on time. Arrange a good schedule, and make sure you leave a good amount of time to get to your class.
  3. Work hard. Not just vault, floor, beam, bars. Also, work hard in the conditioning and stretching. But don't go too far, especially with the stretching.
  4. Ask your coach or instructor for tips. If you are in a group like most gymnasts, asks for tips that are most important to you. But if you have a private instructor/coach, ask them help for all skills, learn to deal with criticism, because most coaches don't mean to insult you.
    • Use the tips. Unless your coach is just a friend's parent, or a P.E. teacher, you should trust their tips. Coaches at gymnastics gyms, are qualified, and most competitive ones, have been through the 10 levels of gymnastics some are even elite gymnasts.

Goal Setting

  1. Be positive. Think that you can do a skill, that you are afraid to. Try to be positive at every single practice!
  2. Set goals for yourself to reach. Maybe it's something like getting better at double backs, or something like getting your leg higher in a scorpion. What ever it is, if you have a goal in mind, it makes it easier to achieve it.
  3. Be dedicated to gymnastics. Usually some people practice gymnastics for even four or five hours everyday, without their lessons. Typical gymnasts usually train for three to four hours, three times every week. If you wish to be a competitive gymnast the training hours will increase prior to an event. You must make sure that you are ready to commit to many training sessions that may affect your daily routine.

Adopting a Daily Exercise Routine

  1. Match your routine to your level of energy. If you don't have a lot of energy, exercise 2-3 days a week or on the days that you don't have gymnastics. If you feel stronger, do 6-7 days a week.
    • Give yourself time to rest and heal when you need it. Remember that if you are sick, skip this routine for about at least a week, unless it's just a cold.
  2. Warm up. Warm up with exercises like running 1/2 a mile, or just a few laps, jumping jacks, high knees and butt kickers, or lunges. Practice stretching and warming up at home before you begin. Your coach will usually pick up on who is the best at stretching out beforehand, and gain their respect. Take part in all coach-led exercises to show that you are committed to gymnastics.
  3. Do upper body workouts. Do different kinds of pushups like basic pushups, fist pushups, pushups with your elbows pointed inwards, knee pushups when you are tired, pushups with your legs higher, handstand pushups, and wall pushups if you are a beginner. You can even add 1-5 pound wrist weights to your pushups. Also try plank holds.
  4. Do lower body workouts. Jumps, candlestick-jumps, lunges again, v-hold, arch-hold, tuck ups/v ups, and/or candlestick holds could help. There are many healthy variations.
  5. Do full body workouts. Try burpees, frog jumps, and basically all exercise where you go to the ground and get back up then jump.
  6. Finish up with some other exercises. Do curl/sit ups, and wall sits.

Staying Motivated

  1. Set goals along the way. The only way to work towards mastering all your skills is to try, and practice, and try again. In every new skill you learn, you have to attempt it, so set goals to what skills you want to attempt at each practice.
  2. Create a check list of your goals. Check it off when you think you got the skill down. Example:
    • back handspring ()
    • front tuck ()
    • split jump ()
  3. Be willing to practice hundred percent. If you try your best and practice this all the time, you'll be a dedicated gymnast in no time! If you want to be a good gymnast, you need to commit to the sport. Sometimes you have to realize that you can't always hang out with your friends.
  4. Remember to stay fit and healthy. This is very important. Always have a healthy diet. This does not mean to stop eating, it means to eat less unhealthy junk food. Make sure that you eat a small energy snack before a long training session, otherwise you will find yourself running out of energy before the end of training.

Being Part of the Team

  1. Support others. At your lessons, be kind to your fellow gymnasts. Being kind to others will also make you a better gymnast and person. Do not argue with your coaches. You should respect your coach's position.
  2. Don't over-react to criticism. It's just something to improve on, a little tiny thing that you could work on to improve your gymnastics skills. Over-reacting will just make people think negatively of you. Take all points of criticism and use them to improve.
  3. Show up to classes on time. Showing up on time will help your coach know that you're reliable and that in future tournaments you'll definitely be there to compete. Also, remember your leotard and other equipment. This will prove that you are a commited and serious student

Tips

  • Do conditioning at home such as push ups, pull-ups, sit-ups jumping jacks, and other stretches and simple exercises.
  • Do some form of exercise every day so you don't lose your bendy and limberness.
  • Make sure to condition a lot : v-ups;push ups;squats;crunches etc.... General exercise is key and vital for flexibility.
  • Don't try stuff that you have a hard time on at the gym too early. Work towards a set goal, reward yourself and set a new one. In this way, your progress becomes more tangible. When you've reached a goal, any goal, tell your friends and family - they will be proud of you, no matter what.
  • On your backwards roll keep your arms straight as it will make it easier.

Warnings

  • While practicing at home, do not try anything that is too dangerous. For example, if you just got a new skill that day, don't try it once you get home. You will be tired and worn out. Take a nap or shower if needed.
  • Reserve at-home equipment use for lower-level (compulsory-level) skills. Higher-level skills are not safe to practice at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Leotard
  • Hand grips (optional)
  • Gymnastics clothes

Related Articles

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  • Be a Level 6 Gymnast in Australia
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  • Be a Gymnast and Get to the Olympics

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