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. Build adequate strength first to make it easier and safer to carry out the skills you are trying to learn. If you are not strong enough, you won’t be able to do many gymnastics skills no matter how hard or how many times you try. 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. You also need to listen carefully to your coach so you understand exactly what they expect of you to learn efficiently and keep yourself safe.

With that said, make sure you also know where the potential 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 gymnasts who need adequate room to dismount or a place to fall. As a result, both athletes get injured. Also keep in mind that the floor needs your attention, too. Gymnastic mats, cables, pits; these and other obstacles are always in your way and can be found all over the place, so you need to watch your steps always.

If you need or want some space for practice, don’t hesitate to ask for one. You are the one most likely to know and remember if you need a spot or not and it will be too late if you attempt a skill you are not sure of and fall. In the same breath, when you’re the one approaching an area, you need to stop and look both ways before you cross or enter to make sure you are not in the way or going to get landed on. Make sure all equipment is set and sturdy before you begin to perform any skills on it. 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. Gymnasts should only work out when there is at least one other person around. Gymnastics has its fair share of injury-prone moments; don’t become a statistic yourself. By the same token, you should only let qualified gymnastics professionals spot you on skills you cannot do and need help with. Spotting is an art and requires the knowledge, strength and experience of a gymnastics professional. Asking other gymnasts to spot you could lead to errors in judgment that could result in serious injuries.

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

- Azlan Irda