The high school gymnastics season is super short in comparison to club gymnastics which goes all year round. You worked really hard to learn new skills and improve your routines and now the season is winding down. It is so important to stay in shape during the off season so that you don’t have to start over when you come back next school year. There are a few options for you as an athlete to keep in shape during your off season.
It is so important to stay in shape during the off season so that you don’t have to start over when you come back next school year.
If at all possible, it is best if you can sign up for a high school program at a club or park district facility where you can practice 2-3 times per week. By doing this you will be able to continue improving your skills and can upgrade your routines for the next season. As a coach, I can absolutely tell the difference between an athlete who practiced after season ended and someone who did not.
Another option that is going to be more affordable is attending open gym at a gymnastics facility.
Another option that is going to be more affordable is attending open gym at a gymnastics facility. This is great because you do not have to sign up for a session of classes. You can drop in when your schedule allows. The downfall with open gym is that you do not have a coach working with you and it is usually held only once a week. If you do not work so well independently, this may not be the best option for you.
Your high school may hold a summer camp for your sport for several weeks over the summer. If you have that opportunity, it is a great idea to sign up for that along with your other training that you are doing.
A lot of my girls do Diving in the fall, Gymnastics in the winter and Track & Field in the spring.
The last option that I suggest is being a two or three sport athlete for your school. A lot of my girls do Diving in the fall, Gymnastics in the winter and Track & Field in the spring. I am truly a fan of this option. I think cross training in different sports is a fantastic way to keep your body in competition shape. I feel that sometimes it can be hard sticking to one sport. Being a multiple sport athlete eliminates the feeling of getting burnt out from doing the same thing over and over.
Trying a new sport is exciting and you may surprise yourself at how gymnastics has conditioned your body so well that you are capable of being a great athlete with a sport that you have never tried before. I highly recommend going out for Track & Field. You may be thinking… “I don’t like to run” but the great thing about this sport is that there are so many different events. A gymnast would make a great pole vaulter, high jumper, triple jumper, shot put or discus thrower. Gymnasts also make great divers too.
If you choose to do nothing during the 8 months off of high school gymnastics, you will really regret it. You will come back and realize how out of shape you are and you will not be able to do your skills or routines that were a no-brainer for you before. You will also notice that your teammates that did workout will be able to pretty much pick up where they left off.
We hope everyone had a great 2015-2016 high school gymnastics season and we hope this advice is helpful to ensure that you have a successful future with the sport that you love.
