Q. Will there be any gymnastic sessions rather than fitness sessions at all? Where key skills are taught/revised and practised such as teddy bear rolls/jumps, handstands etc. And possibly sequences could be developed? Led by one of the gymnastic coaches?
A. This is a very good question so I’ll try to answer it completely.
First of all, something I’m sure everyone appreciates, fitness is vital to maintain during a period like this so no apologies for focusing on it.
Having said this you are absolutely right that skills are as important to maintain and develop so that the gymnasts feel they are achieving something.
And how we’d love to be able to create such a program. And how much discussion we’ve had on how we can do this.
These are the challenges we face:
Safe space
Gymnastics is a highly dynamic sport and creating an incusive program that can be followed in the confined spaces a lot of our gymnasts have available for them is daunting.
BG Restrictions
British Gymnastics will not cover any sort of gymnastic activities in a member's home under their insurance scheme. This means that if an accident does happen whilst a gymnast is practicing their gymnastics at home they will not be covered by BG insurance. We are therefore not allowed to suggest that they participate in such activities by creating lessons. The difference between a gymnastic activity and a general fitness activity is not clear, however, we do have to be careful what we ask a gymnast to do.
General safety
Many moves and combination of moves, once coached and put together, look smooth, seamless and safe - unfortunately without a coach physically present during development so much can go wrong.
Multi level skills
We are saddened by the fact that we cannot create sessions for all levels of our membership. The sessions I host are very much for squad level and older gymnasts and I’m very impressed with the younger development squad gymnasts who put their heart and soul into trying the exercise.
Coaches on furlough
The rules around furloughing our coaches are strict. They MUST NOT contribute to the club in any way whatsoever, otherwise their furlough payments will be stopped. Even ‘volunteering’ to contribute is not allowed.There are two of us left trying to keep the gymnasts interested and the club together.
Emily has her work cut out keeping all the background systems going including emails, furlough administration, other CV19 government paperwork, dealing with queries, etc. etc.
I’m a volunteer coach and am not paid by the club so don’t use the furlough system, however, I am not really the one to demonstrate various moves etc. especially recreational gymnastics!! It might make a good comedy sketch but not a lot more…………..
Suitable available videos etc.
I have scoured YouTube and Google for anything I can use to make these sessions more in line with what you’re thinking but the content simply isn’t out there. I can find several hundred fitness and stretching programs but nothing that can be considered remote coaching of gymnastics.
Peter Childs