Hangers&Hangers

I know that parents love to be involved.  Helping out at the gym , setting up a carpool or helping to run a competition is one thing but there comes a point when you have to let your child experience the sport in its entirety!  I am sure your child knows that gymnastics and cheerleading are activities that are important to both of you.  However, you must beware of the pitfalls of becoming over-involved.  You don’t  want to alter the relationships that naturally develop between the athletes, and between the coaches and athletes.

Try to remain the support mechanism for your child.  You are there to help ensure that they are learning the right lessons, there to help ensure that they are enjoying themselves.  But for the most part, avoid becoming a spokesperson for your child.  Avoid becoming your child’s lawyer.  Teach your child to deal with situations head on, and report on them later to a parent, rather than expect the parent to ”fix” whatever comes up.  Remember, most importantly, that you are the supporter of your CHILD and the sport belongs to them.   The competitions belong to your child.   The workouts and practices belong to your child.   The career belongs to your child.  You are an observer, a supporter, and their biggest fan!  Many parents blur the lines between supporting their athlete, and working to help their athlete’s career.

This brings up the concept of coaching at home.  In the world of, say, baseball, to play catch with your child, or to bring him or her to the batting cages is one thing.   But, to work on specific plays, or teach your child when to steal a base, is quite another.  Now, you have wandered from putting your child in a situation where he or she can work on skills, to a situation where you are teaching the skills.

Skill development is the responsibility of the coach.  In the world of gymnastics and cheerleading, the lines are even simpler.  If you find yourself telling your child that she is performing a skill incorrectly, or if you find yourself suggesting that your child take some time to practice at home, then you are coaching.  If you are spotting a skill in your living room, you have crossed the line.  If you find yourself coaching your child from the outside windows of the gym, then you have crossed the line.

One of the most important parts of dealing with an athlete, is accepting the program in which he or she is enrolled.  You wouldn’t  sign a child up for a math program, and then confuse her by telling her that things aren’t being taught right.  Similarly, at The Gym-Nest, you are in a program that stresses flexibility, strength, repetition, and basics.  It is important that you are in full understanding of that approach.  If a question arises, there is nothing wrong with telling your child to ask her coach why?

There is, however, a problem with telling your child that she is doing something the wrong way, or the program is wrong for her.  If you find yourself saying these sorts of things, you should evaluate our program, and decide if it is right for you and your daughter.  At the Gym-Nest emphasis is always made on effort vs. results.   Are you the type of person who celebrates victories, or are you the type who celebrates a good competition?  Can you recognize the difference between a competition where your daughter fell off beam 3 times, yet wins the meet, and a competition where she performs her best routines, but places 3^rd?   Can you recognize the difference between your daughter not hitting her handspring and the team hitting every stunt?

Sports, inherently, celebrate the results.    First place is the winner, and nobody else wins that day. However, to ensure that sports are helping your child to develop, you must recognize their efforts.    You must recognize improvement.  You must recognize successes, in every form, not just in trophies,  banners, and gold medals.

A good competitive environment will teach your athlete that results and first place finishes & trophies are by products of effort and commitment.  Echo this sentiment!