When it comes to boys, group sports like football and basketball are popular, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other physical activities they can’t benefit from. Boys’ gymnastics might not be as trendy as it once was, but it is an excellent way to keep boys active while also increasing their flexibility, balance, and core strength. Here are some other reasons you might consider Googling “boys gymnastics near me” and signing them up this fall!
Coordination
Coordination is something that you gain better mastery of as you get older, but that doesn’t mean it comes entirely naturally. Gymnastics requires a high degree of coordination and attention. Those skills aren’t as effectively targeted through other team sports that focus more on hand-eye skills and cardio conditioning.
Self-Control
Some boys have a hard time with sitting still and the practice of self-control. Gymnastics is a sport that requires a lot of instruction and patience. It isn’t as fast-paced as other activities, but that might be good. Learning that there is a time for being active and a time to sit and listen is a skill that will not only translate into other sporting situations; it will serve them well in the classroom and eventually in the workplace.
Strength Training
Being successful as an athlete requires having enough power and strength to beat out the competition. It also requires a strong core and supporting muscles to prevent injury. There aren’t many sports that challenge core muscles the way that gymnastics does. It takes a lot of strength and power to perform gymnastics; this builds a boy’s musculature and will help them succeed at other sports.
Perseverance
It takes many years to become a good gymnast; throughout the training, it takes a good bit of mental focus and motivation. It takes resolve and perseverance to be a gymnast. You have to fall down a lot to learn, and continuing to try again will build the commitment to stick with something and achieve an athletic goal.
Self-Esteem and Confidence
Although gymnastics is a team sport, it mainly consists of the individual challenging themselves to be number-one. It takes courage and fortitude to be on the mat, all on your own, while other people watch. And it takes even more grit to mess up, get back up, and start where you left off. Being in front of a crowd and holding your own is a mental feat in and of itself!
Teaches Goal Setting
One of the greatest gifts that boys receive from participating in gymnastics is learning goal-setting and achievement. It is difficult to know how to set realistic goals and reach them. But with reaching and achieving goals comes pride and self-esteem. If you set your goals too high, they can become self-defeating; if you set them too low, they don’t bring as much satisfaction. Tempering exactly how high to set your standards takes time, practice, trial and error. For gymnasts, goal setting is a must, and once they learn how to do it, it will transcend everything from other playing fields to the workplace.
If you are looking for the perfect fall sport for your boy to participate in that will keep them active while teaching them excellent life skills, then gymnastics is a must. Don’t just Google “boys gymnastics near me” – choose Tapio School of Dance. We don’t just train bodies; we train hearts, minds, and souls. Contact us today to sign your child up for one of our amazing gymnastics classes.