The Pit Activity Book July/ August 2014 | Page 5

FOR THE Parents BASIC GYMNASTICS IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL SPORTS “Set your goals, follow your dreams, listen to your heart and don’t let anything stand in your way.” -Brandy Johnson In the past ten issues, we have discussed most of the reasons why gymnastics is the foundation for all sports. Strength, both physical and mental, flexibility, agility, spatial awareness, speed, balance, power, hard work, discipline and FUN were among our favorite topics. To conclude this series of why gymnastics is important, please read on! First and foremost, gymnastics training leads to a well-rounded athlete, since it utilizes all the main muscle groups in the body, which will allow your child to naturally excel in all other sports. Both boys and girls will develop strength, agility and flexibility during gymnastics training, and are the strongest athletes pound for pound than all others. While the importance of flexibility is sometimes ignored in other sports, gymnastics brings it to the forefront. Having a flexible body gives athletes an edge over their respective competitors. For those who may move on to extreme sports, previous gymnastics training gives your child the ability to know how his/her body is moving in space and where it is in relation to the ground. This is not only the key to preventing injuries, but is a complex and cognitive skill that children should develop at an early age. Some gymnas ѥ