The gymnastics business is crazy stuff. Fun but crazy. Where else can you go to work and get paid to jump around on trampolines, tell young gymnasts that if they climb to the top of the rope, a little monkey may come out from the ceiling and ask for a peanut; and find yourself racing around the spring floor like a bear, bug, snake and whatever else you can think of to capture the attention and imagination of your charges. So much fun to be had!
Most people that own a gym or coach professionally have a tremendous passion for two things:
- Kids
- Gymnastics
The fun and games of early lessons need to continue through the competitive years for longevity. The sport becomes difficult, and few gymnasts make it past level seven. Sad. To change this, successful coaches and programs manage to keep it fun. Kids need to be allowed to debrief from the intense skill building competitive gymnastics requires. Built in games disguise speed, strength, and agility training.
I learned this lesson early from my husband. He has a way of making each lesson a game, a mini competition, a challenge, a dare, even a bribe! "I'll give you a quarter if you can cast to a handstand" -you cannot imagine what kids will do for a quarter! Once, he bet a competitive team gymnast: "I will kiss a pig if you can do that move." Guess what? He kissed a pig, in the gym with much fanfare. Compliments of a pig owner who happily supplied the poor victim for the kiss. We have pictures. The kids loved this! Guess what again? His teams always placed in the top three at State championships. Fun, did not take away from skill.
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