What is USA Gymnastics?

https://usagym.org 

For those interested in competitive gymnastics, they must register through USA Gymnastics. This organization is the national governing body for gymnastics throughout the United States. They are also responsible for setting the rules and policies for the sport of gymnastics. Every competitive gymnast, coach, and judge is registered through USA Gymnastics. To bring awareness to this organization, USA Gymnastics hosts events throughout the United States in September called National Gymnastics Day. Many of the gyms help by encouraging their students to participate in their events. 

No only does USA Gymnastics organize events such as this, they also help gyms around the United States run their gymnastics competitions. They set the guidelines that everyone must follow in order to ensure a successful competition. Currently, USA Gymnastics is promoting an event that will take place on April 4. At this competition, six women will compete to determine the twelve teams that will be competing in Fort Worth, Texas in a few weeks.

For the younger competitive gymnasts, they also have competitions. Some of them are local and some can be further away if their parents decide they want to put the time and money into traveling. USA Gymnastics has both men and women compete in gymnastics. The younger gymnasts compete in smaller competitions, whereas the higher levels have the possibility to qualify for States, Regionals, and Nationals. USA Gymnastics is most involved in these three competitions. 

USA Gymnastics' main goal is to keep children active. They want students to have fun and be active while participating in a sport they love.

Welcome to the sport of gymnastics

4/2/2015
By: Crystal Hinnebusch

Gymnastics is one of the most difficult sports. It requires the athlete to have physical strength, flexibility, power, agility, determination and control to name a few. Even though gymnastics has all these important characteristics, any individual can participate in this sport. In many gyms throughout the United States, preschool, recreational, tumbling and team/competitive classes are available.

Preschool classes are to help children ages 3-6 develop physically and emotionally. For example, it helps them stay active and encourages a healthy lifestyle. In addition, gymnastics is also used for children who are physically or mentally disabled to give them the opportunity to be around other children his/her own age. For the younger children, ages 1-3, a parent is allowed to go into the gym with the child and help him/her through the class.

The next step above the preschool classes are the recreational classes. If children just want to have fun, be active and do gymnastics, these are the classes for them. Usually, these classes are one hour per week. They have instructors who are able to work with them and teach them basic gymnastics skills. Students who sign up for a recreational class use the Olympic gymnastics events (vault, bars, beam and floor exercise).

For those who are interested in tumbling classes, this class is specifically designed for them. The duration for this class is the same as a recreational class; however, they focus on trampoline, tumble track and floor time. Because they do not do bars and balance beam, they get more time to focus on their tumbling skills.

Those who are interested in taking their gymnastics to the next level may chose to do competitive gymnastics. These gymnasts compete levels 2-10. The gymnasts you see on television are elite gymnasts, which is above level 10. The lower levels practice two or three days a week for a few hours at a time. Once a gymnast gets into the higher levels, he/she might practice multiple hours a day and six or seven days a week.

This is a little bit of background for the sport of gymnastics. Check back soon for additional information.


Image: http://www.wilkeysgymnastics.com/gymnastics.jpg