4 Supportive Tips for Parents New to Gymnastics
After seeing your kids flip around the house, you finally enrolled them into a gymnastics class. Hooray! Although your child is the one on the mat, you still have responsibilities as a gym parent. For advice, follow my four supportive tips for parents new to gymnastics.
Be Punctual
Do you know the old saying, “If you’re on time, you’re late?” I know it sounds like a contradiction but being on time is vital in the sports world. Whether it’s a practice or a gymnastic meet, punctuality is key! Please arrive on time and prepare your kids for the day’s activities. If your gymnast arrives late, they might miss warm-ups, team meetings, or important instructions.
Sometimes, you may have scheduling conflicts that affect arrival times. When things come up, communicate with your kid’s coach and find solutions to make up for missed gym time.
Always Encourage Your Kids
One way to encourage your child’s hobbies is to build their confidence. One instant confidence boost is giving words of encouragement. On the way to practice, I recommend telling your kid how proud you are of their dedication and hard work. Let them know that you support their hobby and that you’re always in the stands cheering them on. Gymnastics is a tough sport, and an awesome support system will significantly impact your child!
Purchase the Right Gear
Like every sport, kids must wear certain gear to participate in activities. In this case, gymnasts need fitted clothes to perform this sport. Your team’s coach should have direction on whether the team should wear a leotard, compression shorts, shirts, leggings, or footless tights. Since your kids are new, you probably won’t need beam shoes or other accessories, but the coach will let you know about additional gear.
Don’t Interfere With Coaching
Not interfering with coaching is a great supportive tip for parents new to gymnastics. I understand that y’all want the best for your kids, and you want to give coaches feedback. Try to refrain from interrupting practice or meets. The coaches are professionals, and they understand the sport. They’re following the best practices to ensure that your children progress (and do not injure themselves).