How to Become a Great Gymnast

Gymnastics is a tough sport. Doing well in the sport of gymnastics depends on a lot of things. There are many things that shape you into a great gymnast, but how good you become mostly depends on youself.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• will
• determination
• hopes/goals
• patience

1. Equipment is essential. Does your gym have the right equipment? Do you have pits? Mats? If not, then how do you expect to become great and do well? Yes, it is possible to progress with little equipment, but it is a real struggle.

2. 
   wrist gaurds

   Your own personal equipment is important too. Do you needs wrist gaurds? How about grips? Almost every successful gymnast that competes at the Optional or Elite level wears a pair of grips.

3. Determination: You have to be willing to fight through daily battles of fear, the temptation of cheating or being lazy, and falling. Are you willing to work through everything and anything to become what you are striving for?

4. Goals: If you don't have goals then how will you succeed? Set long term and short term goals. Map out what number level and what skill level you want to be at certain points in your life. Don't be unrealistic...If you are a level 5, don't plan on being a level 10 the following year. Goals help us become who want to be. Without them we cannot strive to be anything.

5. 

   The Ability to get over fear: Are you willing to do skills even though they are scary? Can you push yourself to do the skill again after you have suffered a scary fall or even possibly a break? If not, then you may burn out because of fear.

6. 

   Love for the sport: If you don't love gymnastics and you are just there for the socialization or because it is the cool thing to do, then you are on a useless road. Yes the friends in the gym are important, and they help shape who you are in the long run, but that should NOT be the only reason you are in the gym. You should want to be in gymnastics for gymnastics.

7. 
   push up hold

   Strength: This is not always easy to come by. Some people are born with ox-like strength, while others are not. A gymnast who wants to do well, especially females, must work extremely hard during conditioning. It might be beneficial to do out-of-gym conditioning also.

8. 
   Ring Jump-Flexible Skill

   Flexibility: You do not have to be a "Gumbi" in order to be a great gymnast, but you do have to be flexible enough to do certain skills. Some of the greatest gymnasts in the world could fold in half, yet some could hardly kick their legs to chin height. Working flexibility can also improve your artistry and reduce risk of injury.

9. Attend Practices: If you are not there, you will not learn.

Tips & Warnings

• DO YOUR BEST!

Resources

• Drills and Skills
• Gymnastics Coaching

[shaztheripper]

on 3/5/2009 Great tips for gymnasts and a great article all around.

[MicheleLTune]

on 12/30/2008 Wow, what a lot of useful information for becoming a great gymnast! Definitely worthy of 5*!

*smiles*
Michele

[katilynne]

on 12/29/2008 unfortunately that is an issue for a lot of families. it is a very sad situation. it blows my mind how expensive gym can be. thanks for the comments! :)

[sneedc]

on 12/29/2008 Though it's too late for me to do the whole gymnastics' gig; my 12 yr old wants to do it; but financial burdens hinder us from signing her up. It's a shame, but she can do volleyball and other sports at the Y and local rec leagues. Thanks for these tips, though, great article for young girls exploring their athletic interests.

[Rockney]

on 12/28/2008 Great tips on becoming a gymnast! 5*!