Why Take Gymnastics???

Movement is the basis of every sport, and the sport of gymnastics trains the body how to move with precision.

The obvious physical benefits derived from gymnastics are strength, flexibility, speed, grace, and balance. Among the less obvious, but perhaps more important benefits which are intrinsic to gymnastics training, are self confidence, perseverance, discipline, and courage.

So, not only is gymnastics an exciting and beautiful competitive sport, it is also a training ground that helps each participant develop qualities necessary to become successful, healthy, well-adjusted individuals throughout their entire lives.

We believe gymnastics training is the most crucial aspect of physical education in a young person's life. So we offer programs designed for every age and for every ability.



TECHNIQUEan official publication of USA Gymnastics had an article in their March 99 issue covering the same question. The article was written by Wm A Sands, Ph.D. Motor Behavior Research Laboratory, Dept. of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Utah. He footnotes his article with 76 sources (of which I am not going to include at this time). It was a very good article and the following are exerpts from that article...if you get a chance, you should try to find the entire article someday.

Gymnastics is an activity of ancient origins and modern tensions. Most large and medium size cities and towns have a private gymnastics school or offer gymnastics activities via a park district, public school, Turners, Sokol, or YMCA. Media attention toward gymnastics has continued to grow, making gymnastics one of the tope television-audience draws. Gymnastics at the top levels continues to draw attention. It has developed a large and vigorous "fan" following, as well as and developed some controversy as it has undergone modern growing pains. Little information has been offered regarding the benefits of gymnastics to those who are headed for Olympic glory and those not destined to reach such levels....

What are the benefits of gymnastics?

Psycho-Social
Gymnasts tend to do very well in school. The College Gymnastics Association has kept track of men's gymnastics teams' average GPAs.....the GPA data shown [Dr. Sands provided a table to show the top 20 GPAs] indicates that gymnasts are serious about their education...Gymnastics is a unique and exciting way of going to college...

Gymnastics is a complex sport with many dramatic and subtle nuances. Educational experiences in gymnastics reach from physics to the appreciation of cultural diversity...

Gymnastics shares with other sports the opportunity to learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play, dedication, and so forth....

Gymnasts of even modest ability can compete in local, state, and regional level competitions. These competitions afford the opportunity for travel, meeting people of varied and diverse backgrounds, and seeing places that would normally be bypassed....

Education is perhaps the most important part of gymnastics. When an activitycan be naturally orchestrated to provide participants with unique and valuable experiences, it serves the participants more than any book, television show, or website....

Gymnastics provides a uniques and valuable social education and experience.....The male gymnast sometimes faces a misunderstanding relative to the masculinity of the sport, but experience has shown that other athletes realize how difficult gymnastics is and do not question that athleticism of the male gymnast....

Miscellaneous
Drug abuse in gymnastics, while not unknown, is extremely limited.... Perhaps fortunately, gymnasts do not enhance their performance by the typical anabolic steroids, stimulants, and other drugs that can assist other athletes for a short period. Gymnasts do not require an all-out strength or power--but power under control. Gymnasts do not require an all-out endurance--but endurance under control. When a drug interferes with control (as most do), their benefit to gymnasts is highly questionable.

Gymnastics has developed a Code of Ethics that is a position statement to which all members of USA Gymnastics must adhere.....

Dr Sands Concludes...
Gymnastics is a terrific sport for young people. Many people have grown up in and by gymnastics to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, business people, professors, police officers, nurses, scientists, and many others. Gymnastics provides an outstanding way for young people to test their mettle against themselves and others. Gymnastics can provide opportunities for physical development, character development, and education that are hard to find anywhere else....

Now that you know why, please go see when we offer our various gymnastics programs...



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