An All Star Approach
Previously Posted on Boom 97.3 Radio’s Blog by Sarah Miller
Gymnastics. An activity of ancient origins and modern tensions. Media attention toward the sport has grown considerably over the past few decades, making gymnastics one of the top television-audience draws. While the sport has developed a vigorous fan following, it has also come under the microscope as a result of its modern-day growing pains. And these days, truth be told, the sport has a bit of a bad rap.
Scathing exposes have been written over the years about the coaching behind Olympic pixies like Olga Korbut and Mary Lou Retton. We’ve all heard the stories about the unrealistic and asinine judges, the spineless officials who nominally – at best – govern their sport, and the abnormally relentless coaches that exist out there.
Inside the pages of her book “Little Girls In Pretty Boxes”, Joan Ryan goes into detail about the struggle of young athletes who, with each passing year, appear to grow younger and smaller than the girls who came before them. She writes about debilitating injuries. And about starvation diets. You’ve heard it all before, I’m sure.
And, yes, despite any Herculean efforts put forth by these little silhouettes, there have been gymnasts over the years - like Kathy Johnson, Christy Henrich and Nadia Comaneci - who have fallen prey to disordered eating. And, while the prevalence of eating disorders in elite gymnasts may or may not be higher than it is in the general population, let’s try to remember that that doesn’t mean every gym on the planet is rife with athletes who have fallen victim to disordered eating.
In her book, “Chalked Up”, former U.S. National Gymnastics Champion, Jennifer Sey, claims that the road to this high level of achievement is paved with unhealthy perfectionism and immense pressure. She exposes the merciless coaching and aggressive parenting that has pushed – and continues to push – many young athletes far beyond their limits. A sport that, say, mangles with the mind.
But this is not the gymnastics that I know. Nor is it what we encourage of our athletes or coaches at All Star Sports Centre.
I hope you will join me here on a journey of gymnastics, as seen through the eyes of a former elite gymnast and platform diver...
Tucked away on Regan Road in Brampton, Ontario (in what some might suggest is an industrial corner of the city), sits 17,000 square feet of space that I now consider my “home away from home”. In the Gym Jungle upstairs, toddlers are introduced from the age of 10 months (and up!) to one of the most fabulous sports known to man.
I have always believed that the greatest thing we can give our children is the gift of self-confidence. Gymnastics - with all of its many small challenges offered in each class - builds a walloping amount of confidence in our kids. Forget the basics (like cartwheels) for just a second here, because it is in the building of self-confidence via this sport in particular that we manage to positively affect our children in major ways in all of the other activities throughout their lives.
Sometimes life is about repeating things that scare you to death; and it is in asking that you do these skills over and over again until they become second nature that you actually manage to tackle your fear and triumph over it. Gymnastics is about the things you learn along the way. Children have fun while building their strength, endurance, coordination, confidence, and self-esteem. And - if introduced at an early age - skills acquired in gymnastics can help kids to master other athletic activities, such as swimming, tennis, athletics (and lots more!) later in their lives.
At All Star Sports Centre, every coach I work with knows the importance associated with teaching young athletes – no matter what their age or level - how to believe and trust in themselves. All Star recognizes how essential it is to help kids feel good about themselves in all aspects of their lives - including school and family life. This is a different kind if gym. Unlike the other clubs I have coached at over the years, there is no “rotten underbelly” to this place. Plus, we have an adult coaching staff. And that’s what makes it the best option when it comes to choosing a gymnastics club for your child.
Gymnastics is one of the most comprehensive "lifestyle exercise programs" available to our kids today - incorporating strength, flexibility, speed, balance, coordination, power and discipline. With pediatric obesity at an epidemic level (13% of children and adolescents in the United States alone!) getting children away from the television or computer games and into the gym is a terrific first step toward a healthier lifestyle.
This is a sport meant to be enjoyed by everyone - for the process, not the end result. The success doesn't come from winning medals; it’s about the thrill of accomplishing something you thought you could never do. Gymnastics is about challenge. It’s about striving towards something that is not easy to attain. About rebounding from failure. About getting up off the mat and trying again. And again. And again.
Marva Collins once said “Success doesn't come to you...you go to it.” It is my belief that you will find it here: www.allstarsportscentre.com