Get Ready to have a Great Gymnastics Practice Today!
Practicing is second nature to most gymnasts. It’s something you do almost every day, after all. It's important to make sure you're in the right frame of mind to make each practice a GREAT one! We've collected some tips and tricks for making each practice the best it can be:
Make sure you know the days and times that you practice.
This may seem obvious, but it’s incredibly important to know the days and times of your practices so that you can get the most out of your gym experience and present yourself as a bright and responsible gymnast. It's very disrespectful, and often against the rules, to come to gymnastics practice late. If you're late, you miss out on warming up and stretching with your team. And, some gyms will not allow a gymnast to attend practice if they're late because it is dangerous to work on bars or tumble without properly warming up. It's a good idea to try to get to practice 10-15 minutes early, so you can put your bag away, take off your shoes and any clothing other than your leotard, set your water bottle in an easy-to-reach spot, and start stretching on your own.
It's also important to track school days and note down important school assignment due dates so you don't forget to work on them between gym classes! If your life and schedule are organized, you can focus more on perfecting that new skill and less on remembering every assignment and how to finish it between practices. Think about buying or making a calendar so that you can keep track of your busy schedule.
Pack Early
Imagine getting to practice to realize that you haven’t packed your grips or a bottle of water! The day before practice, make sure that you have everything you need for practice in your gym bag. Here are a few suggestions: a bottle of water, a healthy snack, your grips, a spare leotard, and change of clothes, shorts, and hair ties. Also, if you wear your leotard to practice, lay it out on your bed or hang it on a chair the night before so that it is easy to find and put on quickly when you're rushing between school and the gym.
Fix hair/Remove jewelry/Remember deodorant.
You don’t want loose hair or a long necklace flying into your face while you’re flipping about. It could get in your way while tumbling or working on bars or vault, and can even lead to accidental falls and injuries. If you can't see where you're going, you could crash into someone or a heavy piece of equipment! Ouch!! Jewelry, especially necklaces and bracelets, can also get in the way and cause accidents and injuries if they get caught up while you're flipping on the bar or tumbling across the floor.
Before you go to practice, take off any necklaces, bracelets, rings, anklets, or earrings (an exception might be a simple, small stud earring, but you should always check with your coach to make sure). Fix your hair into a ponytail, braid, pigtails, or bun. Finally, remember to apply deodorant before leaving, and take some with you just in case you need to reapply on a water break.
EAT!
You MUST fuel your body properly to get the best performance out of it. Don't forget your water. Gymnastics requires hard work and lots of effort. It can be tiring, which means you need to fuel up your body before and after practice! Before you leave for practice, make sure to eat a light and healthy meal so that you have the energy to practice to your full potential.
Stretch and warm up.
As we mentioned earlier, stretching and warming up is very important for any sport, especially gymnastics. In order to be prepared for a rigorous practice, it’s important to stretch and warm up your body. Take 10 or 15 minutes before you leave for practice or while you’re waiting for practice to start to stretch your arms and legs and get your heart pumping. This will help you be even more prepared when you start your gymnastics practice.
Be safe and have fun during practice gymnasts! Do you have any tips for pre-practice preparation? Tell us in the comments below!
