Safe Gymnastics for Everyone

Although it is a sport that celebrates strength, grace, and flexibility among all others, gymnastics can also cause harm and injury to its practitioners if athletes are not fully trained and prepared in its execution. If you are an avid gymnast or just starting to learn about the sport, here are some valuable tips you could follow to keep yourself and others safe and injury-free.

First of all, make sure that you are strong enough to handle the moves that you are practicing. It is much safer and much easier to make build adequate strength first to execute the skills you are trying to learn. If you have not developed the strength needed for gymnastics, you will never learn the moves and the skills, no matter how long or how hard you practice. As a matter of fact, building strength also makes you safer in potentially dangerous fall situations.

Next, you need to pay attention to what is going all around you. If there are other gymnasts practicing, being aware and paying attention to everyone and everything is a requisite, otherwise you and everybody else will start bumping, crashing, and landing onto each other. Also pay attention to what your coach is saying in order that you will learn faster, more efficiently, and keep yourself safe in the process.

With that said, also know where the most likely fall zones are, and avoid sitting or standing near them at all costs. Too often gymnasts waiting for their turn do not stay enough out of the way of other athletes who need adequate room to dismount . As a result, both athletes get injured. Also watch where you are walking. Nothing is more embarrassing and sometimes dangerous than falling over mats, into pits, over bar cables, etc.

If you need or want some space for practice, don’t hesitate to ask for one. Don’t wait until it’s too late or right before you have to fall or dismount. In the same breath, when you’re the one approaching an area, make sure you stop and look both ways first before you cross or enter. You’ll never know if a gymnast is headed your way if you don’t watch out. Check all your equipment to make sure that everything is set, sturdy, and stable. Handles and cables need to be tight enough so the equipment is safe for you to be on. Don’t assume the equipment is correctly set and tight. Check it and make sure firstNever assume that the equipment has been already checked; you must check it yourself and make sure.

Never do gymnastics when you’re the only person around. Gymnastics has its fair share of injury-prone moments; don’t become a statistic yourself. Work out only if there’s another person around to spot you, most preferably a professional coach or trainer. Spotting is an art and requires the knowledge, strength and experience of a gymnastics professional. Any error in judgement on your or their part could lead to you being involved and responsible for their potentially serious injury.

Azlan Irda is the co-founder of www.aboutballet.com, where you can get high-quality gymnastic mats and other gym equipment. Visit us for all your gymnastic equipment needs.

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