Gymnastics Quiz

Doing the same sport year-round creates a breeding ground for injury.  Most overuse injuries can be prevented by having athletes take two to four months off per year, either doing another sport or just doing general fitness activities.

The mantra of no pain, no gain is extremely prevalent, and equally as dangerous.  Train athletes to listen to their bodies and communicate with parents and coaches to help reduce the risk of complicating injuries by ignoring pain.

Concussion education is especially important for both gymnasts and parents.  Reviewing the signs of a concussion should a pre-requisite prior to each year of gymnastics.

A coach should always be present and spotting, of course during practice, but especially when new, complex skills are being performed.

Wear and tear happens to all equipment, whether it is the larger pieces of apparatus, i.e. bars, rings, balance beam, or the personal protective equipment, such as wrist guards and hand grips.  For personal protective equipment, replace when padding begins to be worn, thins, or no longer fits well.