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Time
and again, people ask for my opinion on “home
gymnastics.”
Whether it be a backyard trampoline, a
balance beam, a mat, or just kids bouncing on the
bed, there are number of important pieces which
make up my answers.
Is
home gymnastics a good idea?
The answer is, “does it matter?”
I can say this because no matter how many
warnings go out, no matter how many times they are
told otherwise, kids are going to do their
gymnastics at home.
There simply isn’t a gymnast alive who
doesn’t do cartwheels on curbs or bar swings on
the swing set.
As coaches, we caution against home
practice, and teach the dangers of the “back
handspring,” and we even go so far as to forbid
many skills without a professional spotter.
But we aren’t so foolish as to believe
that these admonitions are followed all the time.
So whether home gymnastics is a good idea
or not doesn’t matter, because home gymnastics
is a way of life.
It will always be there, and we need to
determine a safe way for this to happen.
Parents
ask me about buying equipment, such as balance
beams and mats.
Certainly the gymnast will be safer if
there is a mat present, right?
Logically, the answer is “yes.”
But, will the mat give the gymnast false
confidence to perform skills that shouldn’t be
performed at home?
Probably, the answer is “yes” again.
If given a choice between a hard basement
floor and a softer mat, anyone would opt for the
mat. I
think that this instinct is right on.
I think home balance beams are fine.
Walking on a balance beam is certainly
safer than trying to walk across the top rail of a
fence! My
opinion is basically, if used properly, home
gymnastics equipment is a great asset to the
aspiring gymnast, as well as a good investment for
your child’s physical health.
The
home trampoline has become America’s big risk.
Whenever possible, I warn parents of the
dangers of the backyard trampoline.
Safety nets do NOT prevent injury.
Burying the trampoline so it is at ground
level also does NOT prevent injury.
Trampolines are dangerous.
They produce motion and height, and these
can produce unexpected motions.
This is when injuries occur.
The most important thing to remember is
this: having
more than on person on the trampoline is a sure
way to increase the risk of injury.
Two kids bouncing together will inevitably
cause trouble.
I liken trampolines to swimming pools.
The state requires a 4 foot fence to
surround any swimming pool, but has no such rule
for trampolines.
The state requires self closing gates and
doors for a pool, but not for trampolines.
And, of course, we would never let children
swim without adult supervision.
Can we say the same for trampolines?
In defense of the trampoline, though, is
this statement.
I myself grew up with a trampoline in the
back yard. Neither
I, nor any of my friends, neighbors, or siblings
were ever injured.
The
important thing to remember is that 99% of the
kids who do any gymnastics at home are perfectly
fine. But,
reasonably speaking, kids get hurt.
They skin knees, they fall down, they bump
heads, they even break bones.
We can’t stop this, and the literature
tells us that kids who never get hurt aren’t
challenging themselves, and aren’t physically
active enough.
We need to be prepared for an emergency,
should it occur, but never allow children to shy
away from physical exercise because of its
inherent dangers.
It also seems relevant to mention that home
gymnastics equipment does not replace the need for
a qualified instructor, and Gymnastics
Revolution does not promote any parent coaching
their child, or requiring the use of that home
equipment. In
another article, I will discuss the role of the
parent for the aspiring gymnast, but for now,
suffice it to say that gymnastics is a wonderful
part of many children’s lives, and that can and
should certainly extend to the home.
With
the proper safety standards, and a little good
judgment, we can minimize the risks, and maximize
the enjoyment of gymnastics. |
Tel: 203-798-8651