Gymnastics is a sport that has the ability to bring together every facet of a child’s development. It creates a strong foundation for all other sports by teaching the fundamentals of movement and body control. It develops strength, flexibility, balance and agility. It also enhances motor skills and provides an outlet for energy. Most importantly, it teaches confidence, self-esteem and the importance of teamwork. Gymnastics is a sport that can be started at any age and can continue to benefit the student throughout their lives.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Vacaville High School freshman Nevaeh Desouza was in her element on a recent Monday afternoon at her gymnastics gym, a place where she feels most at home. As she led a group of younger students in a pre-training stretching session, they echoed her movements with admiration. In a few years, the 15-year-old will be competing at a level that few ever reach.
It’s a scene you’d expect to see in any gym, especially one that’s filled with the eerily graceful gymnasts of Extreme Gymnastics. But the tumbling and flipping isn’t for show; it’s the way these youngsters are growing up that excites founder Sarah Poole.
Poole has been running the program at her facility, located near Rueckle Road in New Braunfels, since it opened in 2016. She’s currently looking for a larger space that can house the growing beginner boys competition team she coaches.
The boys train nine to 15 hours each week and will compete with other clubs during the 2022 season. They are coached by Wilfredo Robero, a former Colombian junior national champion who’s now with the U.S. national team. Robero says he’s impressed by the athletes’ focus and dedication.
Those traits may be necessary to succeed at the highest levels of gymnastics, where the stakes are incredibly high and the pressure can be intense. But they’re also crucial to the kids who participate in Xtreme gymnastics, where the goal is simply to have fun and get fit.
Xtreme gymnastics is a safe, low-impact activity that allows children to exercise, explore and build motor skills. It is a great alternative to traditional sports, which can put too much strain on young joints and bodies. It’s a family-friendly activity and parents are encouraged to participate in classes with their children. Long verbal explanations and demonstrations by the instructor are kept to a minimum due to the short attention span of children this age. This type of physical activity has also been shown to increase a child’s reading readiness, as it helps their eyes follow patterns from left to right. This is a key component in the development of cognitive skills needed for learning. Moreover, it can help build strength and balance and improve posture and overall health.
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