An Atmosphere of Positive Psychology
Although these are not necessarily in any particular order, we have put this one first because it may be the most difficult to find. Gymnasts, athletes, humans in general react best to positive reinforcement, enthusiasm and confidence building. If you find that, you will almost also certainly find all of the following.
Pits
For any successful high-level team program, pits are a virtual necessity. Most good coaches would not even consider coaching in a facility that didn't have pits. Parents should feel the same about putting their gymnasts into a facility without pits. Pits allow an extra degree of teaching, coaching and learning flexibility. Pits should be available for every event and apparatus type.
Trampolines
Trampolines are one of the most efficient training tools for gymnastics. They allow significant time saving advantages when doing skills like somersaults. Ideally, trampolines should be in the ground for extra safety. Training in a facility without or that doesn't use trampolines will result in a slower learning curve for tumbling skills.
Tumble Tramp and/or Power Tumbling Strip
A tumble tramp is a long trampoline for working tumbling skills and power tumbling strips are fiberglass rod or slat floors that provide more bounce and softer landings. Both of these allow longer training sessions of tumbling with less wear and tear on gymnasts' young bodies.
A High Level Competitive Team
This gives you the best indication of the level of coaching available in the gym. If there are not already Level 10 and Elite gymnasts in the gym, you rally have only a hope not a realistic expectation that your gymnast might reach those levels. High level team coaches will likely have trained the rest of the staff in their successful training techniques.
A Clean Facility
A clean facility says a lot about the type of organization that you are dealing with. Parents who are paying significant fees for training have a reasonable expectation that the surrounding sin which they are placing their child are much like their own home - clean.
A Very Organized Program
This is the best indication of whether a gym will have the organizational abilities required to put forth a top level team and gymnastics program. Missed deadlines, lateness and other similar organizational failings can result in missed competitive opportunities.
Sufficient Sets of Full Olympic and Training Equipment
Gymnasts require enough equipment that they will not have to waste valuable practice time waiting for equipment to open up for them to practice on. This means both enough equipment for other teammates and enough for any classes that are in the gym at the same time.
Sufficient Practice Time
While younger gymnasts should not train too much, there should be sufficient practice time available for gymnasts if they are to be competitive with other gyms and gymnasts. It is an unfair advantage if some teams are practicing more than your gymnast wants to and is able to.
An Effective Strength and Flexibility Program
All high level and successful gymnastics training programs have effective strength and flexibility programs. Effective gymnastics skill training and learning happens best if gymnasts are already strong enough and flexible enough to be able to perform the skills trying to be learned.
20 Books and Counting
John Howard is the author of 20 books and e-Books about gymnastics, gym design, gymnastics humor and cheerleading. More books are already on the way. He has 25 years experience and has coached State, Regional and National champion gymnasts and international competitors and cheerleaders at the National level in NCAA Division I.
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