What Is Rhythmic Gymnastics?

Photo of Laura Zeng by Grace Chiu Zeng by Grace of Laura Photo Laura Zeng www.usagym.org WHAT IS RHYTHMIC Rhythmic gymnastics is a wonderful activity for chil- GYMNASTICS? dren. A variety of benefits can be achieved through participating in rhythmic gymnastics even before GETTING STARTED! Do you want to learn the ropes and get the ball rolling entering the competitive levels, and children are im- with a thrilling new program for your club without jump- mediately drawn to the music and movement with the ing through hoops, but will help you tie a ribbon on the hand equipment. The most important aspects of gym- success of your business? Get a rope, ball, clubs, hoop nastics are aiding children in their physical, mental and ribbon and start a rhythmic gymnastics program! and social development and allowing them to have fun and be free with their imagination and creativi- With some space, a few hoops and balls to start, and ty. If your program achieves these objectives, you a curriculum of basic skills, a rhythmic gym- are well on your way! Be sure to take the time nastics program can be born. At the to develop your program’s curriculum, priori- basic level, rhythmic gymnastics tize safety, and communicate with your athletes and is all about developing physi- their parents. cal fitness, strength, flexibility, agility, balance and eye-hand- FOR WHOM IS RHYTHMIC foot-coordination—all of which girls GYMNASTICS? and women of all ages seek for their own Rhythmic gymnastics is really a sport for EVERYONE! health and physical well-being. By starting When I decided to create my program, with basic body positions and apparatus skills I wanted to make the sport avail- through progressions and interactive games, able to everyone who want ed to girls will have fun and develop their abilities in try it! Over the past nine the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. years we have offered To start out, only basic gymnastics equipment, such as folding mats or any floor area and either tradition- satellite pro- al or alternative hand apparatus, is needed. This basic grams in various local equipment helps for teaching introductory skills and preschools, after school pro- progressions for each of the apparatus. Using a step-by- grams, camps, dance schools or step approach allows a coach or facility (existing Artistic gymnastics schools and every club, dance space, local open gyms for other sports, Park child we worked with has enjoyed Districts, etc.) to implement a program more easily and it and benefited from it! grow as needed. Our current offering of classes includes options for all ages from three to 18 A typical session may run 8–12 weeks. Recreational and all levels from recreational kids to elite gymnasts classes may meet one or two times per week, enabling who train and compete in international competitions. girls to achieve tangible goals within each session. A session can begin at any time but usually starts as fall, STRUCTURE OF A RHYTHMIC winter, or spring sessions. Many gyms offer introductory GYMNASTICS PROGRAM summer programs or weekly Clubs should develop their programs and class of- camps when enrollment is ferings to meet the needs of their clients and the typically lower. community. Below are examples of various levels, and often rhythmic clubs give tailored names to these general levels (ex: Lil’ Leapers, Rising WHY PARTICIPATE Stars, etc.) IN RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS? • Preschool rhythmic gymnastics—the focus is When we ask our new clients why development of gross and fine motor skills using they chose rhythmic gymnastics, structured activities, obstacle courses, music and the parents tell us they want a sport alternative apparatus to learn coordination, body that develops “everything”: flex- awareness, basic body positions and shapes. ibility, strength, coordination, beauty, self-confidence, mental power and • Recreational rhythmic gymnastics—a club may discipline in a safe, injury-free environ- choose to divide this group of athletes by age or ment. The kids keep it simple: BECAUSE skill level, such as beginner, intermediate and IT’S FUN! advanced. Typically athletes in these classes are school-age children. A curriculum may focus on • Low-risk basic skills and progression with the body and • Develops physical ﬁtness, eye-hand with each of the five apparatuses. and foot-eye coordination, motor • Pre-competitive and competitive rhythmic gym- skills, rhythm nastics teams—USA Gymnastics provides struc- • Develops life skills: teamwork, ture for Levels 1–8. Levels 1 and 2 are develop- self-confidence, responsibility, mental levels and can be used as non-competitive, goal-setting, sportsmanship and friendship achievement-oriented programming or pre-team. • Fun and beneﬁcial Levels 3–8 are partof the Junior Olympic Program o We have observed over the years that and include a compulsory component. Rhythmic Gymnastics gently sculpts continued... the young girl’s body and mind into a lean, graceful, poised, confident young woman. The Rhythmic Gymnastics equipment au- tomatically corrects the body posture and the proper basic technique in children as young as three years old. For instance, if they do not straighten their knees, the ball will not roll on their legs. They kids are simply “playing,” sometimes they don’t even get that they are exercising or learning new skills. • Engaging o Though ballet is the foundation of the sport, for many young, preschool-age children, it is often difficult for very active children to do repetitive barre work/floor work. Rhythmic gymnastics offers the chance to develop those skills while also being able to have more dynamic movement as well as utilize hand apparatus to help develop grace, coordination, strength and flexibility. o In a class setting with 10 children (for ex- ample), all 10 children can be working at the same time with apparatus on the car- pet. There is little to no waiting in line to take turns or be spotted which becomes a great use of class time, when the majority of class time is spent moving and learning through movement. • Develops creativity, musicality, artistry o Because music is such a regular part of the sport (used for all routines), rhythmic gymnastics offers a nice opportunity to develop musicality. o Rhythmic has not only the athletic aspects, but also has the creative process of finding music that matches the athlete, choreographing the routine to interpret and express that piece of music and finally to creating a leotard and equipment that the young girl’s body and mind into a lean, finishes this piece of art. It is an all-inclu- • Rhythmic Gymnastics Levels 1 and 2 Workbook graceful, poised, confident young woman. sive form of the arts: music, movement, and Training DVD: a package which provides ex- The Rhythmic Gymnastics equipment au- design. This makes it different from other amples for beginning developmental skills. tomatically corrects the body posture and sports, from ballet or from acrobatics as • Rhythmic Compulsory Program Materials: an the proper basic technique in children as it combines aspects from all. entry point into learning rhythmic gymnastics young as three years old. For instance, if routines, the set contains examples of body and they do not straighten their knees, the ball apparatus skills and routines for Levels 3–5. will not roll on their legs. They kids are EQUIPMENT Rhythmic gymnastics equipment/apparatus: • Rhythmic Developmental Coaches Course simply “playing,” sometimes they don’t even get that they are exercising or learn- • Rope • Rhythmic Junior Olympic Coaches Course ing new skills. • Hoop • Ball • Clubs • Engaging • Ribbon o Though ballet is the foundation of the sport, for many young, preschool-age Developmental rhythmic gymnasts also love to have fun children, it is often difficult for very active and learn with alternative rhythmic equipment: scarves, children to do repetitive barre work/floor bean bags, balloons, Koosh balls, scoops, sponge work. Rhythmic gymnastics offers the balls, Frisbees, punch balls, etc. (See How To chance to develop those skills while also Start a Rhythmic Program and Building Blocks.) being able to have more dynamic movement as well as utilize hand apparatus to HOW DO I START help develop grace, coordination, strength A PROGRAM/ and flexibility. LEARN SKILLS? o In a class setting with 10 children (for ex- The courses offered through USA ample), all 10 children can be working at Gymnastics University and the materi- the same time with apparatus on the car- als referenced below provide a wealth pet. There is little to no waiting in line to of information to help you get started take turns or be spotted which becomes a and are the best available for rhythmic great use of class time, when the majority gymnastics. All of these courses and of class time is spent moving and learning materials are available through the USA through movement. Gymnastics website (usagym.org). • Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruc- • Develops creativity, musicality, artistry tion—This online educational course o Because music is such a regular part of provides a wealth of information on topics the sport (used for all routines), rhythmic ranging from safety to coaching principles to gymnastics offers a nice opportunity to curriculum development and also includes develop musicality. video clips of beginning and intermediate gym- o Rhythmic has not only the athletic as- nastics movements and skills. pects, but also has the creative process • How To Start A Rhythmic Program and Build- of finding music that matches the athlete, ing Blocks: A Developmental Approach to choreographing the routine to interpret Pre-School Rhythmic Gymnastics: includes and express that piece of music and finally information about getting programs started, to creating a leotard and equipment that teaching classes, and keeping interest. ...continued “I recommend allowing a 10 –15 min- Rhythmic Gymnastics ute session during your regular rec- WHAT HAS reational gymnastics classes in which RHYTHMIC students may work with the ribbon, hoop GYMNASTICS and ball with music.

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