Gymnastics Safety
As with all sports, safety in GYMNASTICS or GYMNASTICS SAFETY is often one of the main concerns for the parents of children just starting out.
“Will my child get hurt?”
“Is the environment safe?”
“Are they doing too much or too little conditioning?”
These are common questions/concerns we hear when the newbie parent enters the Gym Wizards world.
Your child’s safety is our main priority at Gym Wizards.
Safety is essential with our sport; from equipment checks, to proper conditioning and flexibility, and a well trained coach who knows children’s ages and stages of development and who can teach appropriate skill progressions in a step by step way- with a focus on good technique!
Here’s how we at Gym Wizards have made the safety of YOUR CHILD our Number One Priority!
WE PREPARE YOUR CHILD’S BODY LONG BEFORE THEY EXECUTE THE SKILLS
Gymnastics requires a lot of strength, flexibility, and conditioning which is why you see our Gym Wizards gymnasts training so hard.
To perform new skills AND PREVENT INJURY, the athletes have to do a number of body weight exercises and stretching to continue to progress safely.
For example, before our little ones attempt a a proper handstand, the shoulders, core and arms strength is well developed, so as to prevent back, shoulder or wrist injuries.
WE DEVELOP SKILLS STEP BY STEP
At Gym Wizards we use lots of progressions and drills to teach the skills.
Progressions are broken down steps to a bigger skill.
Using the step-by-step approach of teaching eliminates the major risk of injury. So for example, to learn a front somersault- there would be a few progression steps that need to be mastered before we allow the kids to “throw a front somersault”.
All our children know the rules: you may NOT attempt any skill you have not been prepared and trained for!
WE PUT EMPHASIS ON CORRECT TECHNIQUE
In addition to progressions, knowing the proper technique is necessary.
So when your child is doing a cartwheel- we are constantly on the lookout to make sure there is correct body alignment, straight spines, correct hand placement, focus on soft and controlled landings and so on. We are eve stricter with our mini trampoline- where we emphasise the correct landings over and over again!
WE HAVE SAFETY RULES- THAT YOUR CHILD KNOWS!
We have a few safety rules that are reinforced at EVERY lesson.
1. No one allowed on the trampoline unsupervised.
2. Listen when your coach talks.
3. Don’t push/touch anyone.
4. Only do what you’ve been trained for.
5. Keep your following distance [personal space] so there are no collisions.
GYM WIZARDS COACHES KNOW HOW TO “SPOT”
The staff at Gym Wizards are all trained individuals, with extensive knowledge in the sport. They regularly attend coaching clinics on spotting correctly [that means “catching” your kid as they attempt new moves].
Spotting is one of the MOST IMPORTANT ways to ensure the safety of your children- and here at gym Wizards we are GOOD at it!
WE ARE SAFETY CERTIFIED
All the staff at gym Wizards has First Aid, CPR, and Safety Teaching Certifications- that are current and up to date.
We know how to strap injuries, do CPR if necessary and how to handle any emergency that might come our way.
WE HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
The environment where a Gym Wizards child participates is top notch! We have ample soft “crash mats”, loads of colourful
teaching aids, smaller and bigger trampolines [according to the gymnasts size] and a small group size of only 10 children to one teacher.
We base each class on the ability of the child, giving them age/stage appropriate tasks to master. These key milestone successes create a positive learning environment and a child psychologically open to learning.
The warm learning environment creates the best conditions for learning gymnastics skills SAFELY.
The Gym Wizards coaches are trained to know when to push and when to hold back- when a child is ready to progress to do the more difficult new move- and when they need to take a step back and rather repeat the drills and progression steps a little longer before going for the big new move!
You can be sure that at Gym Wizards your child will not just learn gymnastics skills, they will learn them safely and correctly.
WE EMPHASIZE DISCIPLINE AND CONCENTRATION- working hard = having fun!
If your children are not paying attention, your class is too boring!
That’s what owner and founder Tania Williams emphasises over and over again at each staff meeting! When children are engaged and motivated, they do not go off task. And off task behaviour is the highest cause of injuries.
At Gym Wizards we strive to make our lessons energetic, fun and to constantly ENGAGE the children in their learning activities. Children start to learn that hard work [and learning] is the best fun you can have!
STEP BY STEP CURRICULUM
The Gym Wizards Scientific Six Step Tumble System is scientifically worked out so that each level is a building block- both physically and psychologically- for the next level. This makes the transitions to more and more difficult skills smooth and safe.
Children learn while they think they are playing!
