Teaching Safely
In this part of the page we will look in depth into the safety elements of teaching gymnastics.
Gymnastics is a great sport and with that comes a great number of risks one must take into account when teaching it. It is your job as teacher to ensure the safety of your students.You must ensure that your students first and foremost are physically capable to perform what you are asking of them, in a safe environment in a safe way.
Safe Settings
It is your job as the teacher to ensure a safe space is prepared and maintained. All students should know before they ever do gymnastics where all the equipment is stored and the dos and don'ts of your class. All of your students must be aware of the safety procedures and rules in place to ensure their safety and they must follow these rules.
Equipment and Apparatus
Certain pieces of equipment should be acquired to ensure the safety of the participants, for example:
Gymnastics is a great sport and with that comes a great number of risks one must take into account when teaching it. It is your job as teacher to ensure the safety of your students.You must ensure that your students first and foremost are physically capable to perform what you are asking of them, in a safe environment in a safe way.
Safe Settings
It is your job as the teacher to ensure a safe space is prepared and maintained. All students should know before they ever do gymnastics where all the equipment is stored and the dos and don'ts of your class. All of your students must be aware of the safety procedures and rules in place to ensure their safety and they must follow these rules.
Equipment and Apparatus
Certain pieces of equipment should be acquired to ensure the safety of the participants, for example:
- Panel Mat
- Incline Mat
Please click on the image below for a video on how the Incline mat can be used effectively.
Rules and Guidelines
All rules and guidelines should be clearly established before and gymnastics takes place. Your main concern from when the students walk into the facility until they leave is that they are safe at all times. All rules should be clear and visibly present throughout the space you are performing in. Rules should be unwavering and consequences should be set and made clear to students for their own safety, a healthy student is a happy student.
Health forms should be filled out by parents in good time before class so that you the instructor can make note of any physical difficulties or limitations that any student may have in order to facilitate that student. Waivers are important to protect your club or school from liability, these should be stored with parents signatures.
Students should know where exactly it is safe for them to walk and where it isn't. Areas surrounding incline mats for example should have plenty of room for safe landings of rolls. Some areas in school halls can be tight but it is important that you do your best to establish clear pathways.
Spotting is such an important part of gymnastics teaching. Establish starting and stopping signals with your students to ensure that they know what you and they themselves are doing at all times. Make sure that when spotting you are able to give your undivided attention and that nobody else is attempting anything without your supervision.
General Safety Guidelines for teaching Gymnastics
All rules and guidelines should be clearly established before and gymnastics takes place. Your main concern from when the students walk into the facility until they leave is that they are safe at all times. All rules should be clear and visibly present throughout the space you are performing in. Rules should be unwavering and consequences should be set and made clear to students for their own safety, a healthy student is a happy student.
Health forms should be filled out by parents in good time before class so that you the instructor can make note of any physical difficulties or limitations that any student may have in order to facilitate that student. Waivers are important to protect your club or school from liability, these should be stored with parents signatures.
Students should know where exactly it is safe for them to walk and where it isn't. Areas surrounding incline mats for example should have plenty of room for safe landings of rolls. Some areas in school halls can be tight but it is important that you do your best to establish clear pathways.
Spotting is such an important part of gymnastics teaching. Establish starting and stopping signals with your students to ensure that they know what you and they themselves are doing at all times. Make sure that when spotting you are able to give your undivided attention and that nobody else is attempting anything without your supervision.
General Safety Guidelines for teaching Gymnastics
- Plan the lessons so that everything done in that class is under your control.
- Post safety rules so that they are clearly visible at all times.
- Keep the students active and interest and avoid standing around and boredom as this will lead to horseplay.
- Mark out approach and landing zones to avoid students crashing into each other.
- Make stop and start signals clear.
- Provide a safe environment for the students, keep the workspace clean and clear of obstacles.
- Check reliability of your equipment regularly. Ensure it is working and appropriate to the age group you are working with.
- Reinforce proper landing and falling techniques. Students must be aware of the safe way to do gymnastics.
- Be aware of different students abilities, each student is different.
- Make sure all students master basic skills before progressing to more difficult moves.
- Be aware of first aid and emergency procedures.