Gymnastics is one of the most popular sports for girls. And this is not surprising, young gymnasts are delighted with bright costumes, communication with peers and the first small victories. For parents, in turn, it is important that their girls grow up graceful, strong and successful. Gymnastics is the ideal sport to achieve these goals. It includes dance elements, acrobatic sketches and good psychological preparation. Thanks to this, gymnasts from a young age have grace, plasticity, flexibility, a sense of rhythm and psychological stability.

It is important for parents that their girls grow up graceful, strong and successful.

Parents should be aware that behind the veneer of this romantic sport, a hidden world can hide: the first defeats and disappointments, hard work and even injuries of your child. You should also correlate desires with financial capabilities, gymnastics is not a cheap sport. Sewing bright costumes, buying the necessary shells and shoes will fall on the shoulders of the parents.

Having assessed the pros and cons of sports, as well as the potential and desire of you and your child, you must definitely send the girl to rhythmic gymnastics.

Getting Started in Rhythmic Gymnastics

How old can you practice

At what age to start doing gymnastics depends on the goals. You can start classes for yourself personally, that is, to maintain harmony, form flexibility and plasticity at any age. However, it must be remembered that there is a strict age limit for serious gymnastics.

The first time to train should come at the age of 3 years. At this age, bring your child to the rhythmic gymnastics hall for one hour a week. This is necessary for the baby to get used to the environment. At the age of 4, the baby can be brought to classes 2-3 times a week, however, in order to overcome psychological discomfort, parents should be close to the sports school at this time.

The official enrollment of young athletes in the rhythmic gymnastics section begins at the age of five. At this age, qualified coaches can conduct a cruel selection, after which only those children who are well developed both physically and psychologically remain in the sport.

Parents should be prepared that a lot of time is spent on training. By the age of 12-14, the gymnast will spend 5 hours daily in the gym. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a child from childhood for the fact that sport requires certain efforts, without which success cannot be achieved.

How to get your child interested in rhythmic gymnastics

Children and sports are inextricably linked, however, when a child starts playing sports, he experiences psychological and physical shock, this is normal. Sooner or later young athlete will face difficulties and will not want to go to class.

When a child starts playing sports, he experiences psychological and physical shock, this is normal.

Often parents think that children do not understand anything because of their age and you can simply force them to go to gymnastics. However, remember that children in sports mature psychologically very early, so try to explain to your child the benefits of playing sports:

• Prospects for the future
• Can get a job early
• The figure of a gymnast girl is distinguished by harmony and smartness
• Internal psychological core

If the child is too small for serious conversations about the future and interest in prospects, try not to force him, but to distract him:

• Purchase beautiful shape for classes
• Makeup and hair workout
• Training in a swimsuit for performances
• Buying equipment and accessories (rope, ball, etc.)

The most important thing is to distract the child before the first performance. If the result is successful, then he will still have an incentive to study for a long time. If the first time is not successful, do not scold the athlete, but praise him for the elements that turned out. In both cases, it is necessary to devote some time to mistakes so that the next time the little athlete improves his result.

Never compare your child with others, and in no case say in front of him that there are few chances at the competition, because there will be very strong competitors. By doing this, you doom your young athlete to low self-esteem. If you think that the child is still too young and does not understand anything, you are deeply mistaken. At a young age, children absorb any information like a sponge.

Gymnastics for beginners

The best way to get started is to enroll in sports school. However, gymnastics is available to all ages. If you decide to go in for sports at a conscious age, it is best to start with individual rhythmic gymnastics lessons. A qualified trainer will assess your athletic abilities and body condition. He will be able to build a training methodology for a girl in such a way as to get the desired result in a minimum amount of time and without negative consequences.

Behind the veneer of this romantic sport, a hidden world can hide: the first defeats and disappointments, hard work and even injuries.

If it is not possible to take rhythmic gymnastics individual sessions in gyms, start exercising at home. Get a mat and a comfortable sportswear, consult your doctor about the absence of contraindications and start doing gymnastics exercises for beginners.

Rhythmic gymnastics for beginners includes rules, the implementation of which will help in achieving results:

• Training should be regular (3-4 times a week)
• The duration of the session must be at least 30 minutes.
• Do not eat 40 minutes before the start of the workout
• Warming up is a mandatory element of training, you must remember that you need to develop all muscle groups to avoid injury.
• After training, it is necessary to carry out a hitch and stretching

Basic exercises

Gymnastics will help you learn rhythmic gymnastics at home. basic exercises, They include general OFP, therefore, the implementation of these elements by beginners will not require special skills. They should be performed physically separately. When your muscles get stronger and the body gets used to the loads, you should move on to more complex elements.

Lunges

Beginners should do the exercise with support on a chair. We perform 15 repetitions with the left and right legs. Angle ahead standing foot should be blunt, the knee should not go beyond the heel. The knee of the supporting leg drops to the floor. The exercise engages the muscles of the abs, thighs and buttocks.

slopes

Performed with support on the wall. We put our feet shoulder-width apart, the hand reaches for the knee. We make 10-15 repetitions. We perform the exercise exclusively on warm muscles. The muscles of the body are involved.

Squats

You should spread your legs wide, make sure that the socks look exactly forward. We shift the body weight from the left leg to the right, perform 15 approaches. Exercise involves inner surface thighs and buttocks.

Push ups

Beginners need to start the exercise with an emphasis on the knees. To obtain the desired effect, you need to keep your back straight and reach your chest to the floor. The exercise engages the muscles of the back, chest, abdomen and shoulders.

Knee lift

We stretch our arms parallel to the floor, we start walking, we pull our knees to our hands.

Schedule and school performance

People believe that serious sports cannot be combined with good studies. This opinion is completely wrong. Often athletes learn better than their peers due to discipline and responsibility. A busy schedule from childhood allows the child to concentrate on homework and complete homework faster than peers.

Should I send my child to rhythmic gymnastics?

Rhythmic gymnastics is one of the most beautiful and graceful sports. Gymnastics is a relatively young sport, it was formed only in 1913 thanks to the dancers of the Mariinsky Ballet. Rhythmic gymnast exercises include elements of choreography and semi-acrobatics. Children in rhythmic gymnastics develop not only physically, but also psychologically.

Before taking a young athlete to the first lesson, evaluate all the pros and cons of rhythmic gymnastics.

Young athletes are attracted by bright swimsuits, and parents are attracted by the success and grace of athletes. However, behind the veneer of this exclusively female sport, injuries, daily hard work and the bitterness of the first defeats are hidden.

Gymnasts flutter across the carpet and perform the most difficult elements with ease and airiness. During the performance, they demonstrate skillful control of their bodies. Nevertheless, only athletes and their mentors know how to achieve such mastery. Before taking a young athlete to the first lesson, evaluate all the pros and cons of rhythmic gymnastics.

Why You Shouldn't Do Rhythmic Gymnastics

Many parents say that rhythmic gymnastics for children is best sport for girls. They see the ease and grace of the performers and do not suspect that each movement is perfected for several hours, that each wave of the hand is perfected to automatism.

First, you need to understand whether it is worth giving your child to gymnastics. To do this, consider the negative aspects of rhythmic gymnastics.

Stretch pain

To perform special gymnastic elements, a young gymnast must be in good physical shape. Therefore, in the first few years, young athletes are mainly engaged in general physical training. The main emphasis in children under the age of 6-7 years is on stretching. At the same time, beginner gymnasts, even those who are very flexible by nature, feel severe pain in the ligaments.

Muscle pain

Every year, gymnasts spend more and more time on training. At the beginning of the journey, training takes place 2-3 times a week for about 1.5 hours. However, with the receipt of a new discharge, the time and number of training increases. So, adult athletes (12-14 years old), preparing for the performance program, train for at least 10 hours a day. Such many hours of exercise lead to muscle pain, as well as occupational injuries. Most often, gymnasts are prone to injuries of the ankles, knees and spine.

Excess weight

At performances, we see only slender and thin rhythmic gymnasts. However, this does not mean that absolutely all gymnasts are not inclined to be overweight. Just if the coach sees excess weight the athlete is immediately put on a strict diet. Wherein physical exercise do not contract, because of this, many gymnasts suffer from "hungry fainting".

Among the popular gymnasts prone to fullness, Alina Kabaeva and Laysan Utyasheva can be distinguished. Both gymnasts, in order to achieve high results in sports, were on the strictest diets. Laysan often recalls that the diet was so tough that she stole food from the trainer's dog.

Study at school

Even if the child does not qualify for international competitions, she will have to miss school. And those gymnasts who are aimed at high results in sports most often switch to individual training.

Financial component

Rhythmic gymnastics is one of the most expensive sports. In addition to the constant costs of paying for classes and buying shoes, parents should be prepared to buy expensive suits, sports accessories and pay for away competitions.

If you and your child are not afraid of the negative aspects rhythmic gymnast, then feel free to take the young athlete to her first lesson.

Who is contraindicated in rhythmic gymnastics

Each child must be approved by a doctor before class.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a very traumatic and heavy sport. Therefore, each child must obtain approval from a doctor before classes. Among the contraindications for rhythmic gymnastics classes are:

• Diabetes;
• Heart disease;
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• Scoliosis;
• Any visual impairment.

Coaches are advised to be constantly monitored by doctors in the first few years in order to identify how the sport affects the young gymnast. If the influence is negative, the child should be transferred to a less difficult sport.

Why is it worth giving the baby to gymnastics

The benefits of rhythmic gymnastics for children are undeniable. This is confirmed by professional doctors and qualified psychologists. Consider the positive impact of rhythmic gymnastics on children.

Appearance

Girls who do rhythmic gymnastics differ from their peers in flexibility, harmony and beautiful figure. Daily physical activity forms the correct posture and beautiful gait.

Health

Constant physical activity allows the child's body to harmoniously form. Rhythmic gymnastics helps to cope with the initial stages of scoliosis, thanks to the elements that stretch the spine, as well as clubfoot.

Character

Rhythmic gymnastics, in addition to a healthy body, forms a strong character. All gymnasts assure that they have achieved their goals thanks to the nature hardened by sports. Gymnasts are characterized by firmness of character, purposefulness, resistance to stress, endurance, perseverance and self-control.

Who is Rhythmic Gymnastics for?

Only girls are taken to rhythmic gymnastics.

There is a tough selection in rhythmic gymnastics groups. Every coach wants to get himself the most promising girls.

Firstly, the age of future athletes is taken into account, it is desirable to bring children to the selection at the age of 4-5 years. Secondly, girls are considered by their appearance. Slender and tall girls have an advantage.

It is desirable that the baby has an ear for music, and she has a sense of rhythm. The character of the child is important, they choose children "with character", stubborn and assertive. Crying and "aching" children will be quickly weeded out.

Significant quality is the coordination of movements. In the future, the gymnast will have to work with sports equipment, so at the beginning of the journey it is advisable to find out if the child can handle it.

Essential when choosing gymnasts is good memory. The future gymnast should perfectly remember in what order and under what musical fragment to perform the elements during the performance.

In addition, future gymnasts are tested for flexibility, plasticity and eversion. good coach determines the potential of a young athlete in 3-4 weeks. If your child does not fit the parameters considered, then do not despair. There have been cases when girls who do not have good data achieve greater success than talented ones, due to the fact that from childhood they get used to overcoming themselves.

Along with this, it must be remembered that one gymnast out of a thousand achieves success and you can develop without focusing on a high result. Some go to classes to improve posture, correct clubfoot, or simply for general physical development.

When to send your child to classes

Age for rhythmic gymnastics depends on the goals. If the goal is professional sports the sooner you bring your child, the better.

At what age is it desirable to start classes? At the age of 3, rhythmic gymnastics teachers consider only independent and smart children. At this age, it is worth bringing the child to hour-long classes twice a week. At the same time, one of the parents should be within walking distance of the sports school in order to pick up the child from classes at any time.

The official enrollment in the rhythmic gymnastics section begins at the age of 4-5 years.

This is the ideal age to send your child to rhythmic gymnastics. If the child has very good physical data, they can be considered even at 7-8 years old.

Provided that gymnastics is considered an amateur section, then you can try to come to a sports school later, but preferably before adolescence, after 14 years it is difficult to stretch the girl's muscles to the required level.

How are the workouts

The first year with children are engaged in game form. In addition, in the first couple of years, young athletes develop with the help of general physical exercises. Along with this, the children are pulled on the twine. At the same time, the coach looks at which of the children have the data for professional sports, and who will remain in the “amateurs”.

After about 2-3 years, the coach begins to teach the simplest gymnastic elements. Gymnastics exercises for children include bridges, splits, simple balances, jumps, a wheel and other simple elements. After receiving the category, children are introduced to the objects and taught to use them. In the first competitions in rhythmic gymnastics, children begin to participate after 2-3 years of study.

Sports career and its completion

The sports career of gymnasts is short-lived. At the age of 3-7 years, a young gymnast begins to practice and build her own sports way, develops flexibility and stretching, participates in children's tournaments. At the age of 7-12, she learns the basic elements and work with objects. From 12-16 daily training to practice the technique. Further competitions and championships different levels: wins and losses. At the age of 20, the gymnast ends her career and gives way to new young and talented athletes. However, her career ends only as an active gymnast, while many opportunities for self-development open up.

In order to receive the title of Master of Sports in rhythmic gymnastics, a child must live this sport from childhood.

Most often, girls choose the path of a coach, because by the end of their career they already have the skills necessary for this. In addition, many can complete higher education in the direction of "Physical Education". However, this is not the only direction in which you can realize yourself.

If a gymnast is purposeful and has many plans and ideas, she can realize herself in any field. For example, the well-known Alina Kabaeva, who built a good political career and then went into business. Or the equally popular Laysan Utyasheva, who after completion sports career got a job on television.

Some gymnasts after the sport completely go into family life, arrange family life and raise children, the famous Zhenya Kanaeva can serve as an example.

There are countless such examples. The end of a sports career is the discovery of new ideas, the implementation of old plans and the construction of a new, no less important career.

Harm or benefit

In order to receive the title of Master of Sports in rhythmic gymnastics, a child must live this gymnastics from childhood. If a young athlete really wants to devote all her free time to this, then you must prepare her for all the pros and cons of rhythmic gymnastics.

According to professional teachers, qualified psychologists and parents whose daughters have already gone through a sports path, rhythmic gymnastics can be both harmful and beneficial. Therefore, it will depend only on you and the coach what the child will receive from gymnastics.

Remember, the main thing you need to focus on when choosing whether or not to send a girl to a sports school is the desire of the child. Support the young athlete and be proud of her. Use the following tips:

• Constantly monitor the health of the child, visit doctors at least a year, especially in the period of 3-7 years;
• Get used to adjusting to the child's schedule, gymnastics will affect not only the child, but the whole family;
• Teach your child to respect competitors, you need to be able not only to win beautifully, but also to lose beautifully;
• Find a professional coach to whom you can trust the psychological and physical condition of your daughter;
• Trust the child, if a young athlete wants to move to another coach, listen to her opinion.

After receiving the category, children are introduced to the objects and taught to use them.

The most important advice for the parents of a future gymnast: before sending a young athlete to a rhythmic gymnastics sports school, find out if she likes this sport. If you force your child to attend classes, then rhythmic gymnastics will only bring harm and neither professional coaches nor persuasion will help. On the other hand, if a child has fallen in love with gymnastics, trains with pleasure and dreams of high achievements, help her overcome all obstacles and rhythmic gymnastics will only bring benefits.

“Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport for strong, very strong girls. To sit on the splits for the first time is very painful, and any achievement is given through severe pain, which not every child can withstand, ”says the bronze medalist Olympic Games 2012 Lyubov Cherkashina.

An experienced athlete believes that parents play the most important role in the development of a gymnast girl. If you feel sorry for your daughter all the time, then the champion will not come out of her, many leave precisely because they cannot endure the pain, she notes. So is it even worth giving your baby to such a cruel sport?

Why is it worth giving the baby to gymnastics?

• The girl will form a toned figure, correct gait and even posture.
• Successful gymnasts have an "iron" character, because they have to endure hellish pain. Whether your baby needs such a character is up to you.
• Willpower, endurance, discipline, patience - all these qualities are brought up by gymnastics.
• In addition to physical data, the girl will develop an ear for music.
• Developed and stretched muscles make it possible to forget about ordinary childhood injuries outside of training.

Why you should not do rhythmic gymnastics?

At the performances, the girls seem to flutter on the carpet, bend like plasticine dolls, but such skills are very difficult for them. The first years of training become real torture for them, in order to stretch the muscles they have to endure severe pain.

“I always liked rhythmic gymnastics very much, I gave my daughter away with pleasure and waited for beautiful performances. Parents were not allowed into the gym during the training, but my daughter came out crying all the time. The coach said that this is normal, the first two or three years are really very painful. At an open lesson, I was convinced of this myself, my baby, with burning tears, sat down on the twine for the first time. I took pity on her, we no longer went to training, ”says the mother of the failed five-year-old athlete Victoria Katkova.

So, the main disadvantage of this sport is the severe pain that the child will have to endure. And here the question is appropriate: for what? Olympic champion becomes one of millions, and the rest at the age of 20 end their careers, at best becoming a coach. In addition, gymnasts get sprains and sometimes torn ligaments, go on diets, train five times a week.

Another disadvantage is the financial component. Fees and prize funds much less than in mass sports. But swimwear and sports equipment are not cheap. For example, a children's swimsuit for classes will cost at least five thousand rubles, and an outfit for performances can cost all 50 thousand.

Who is contraindicated in rhythmic gymnastics?

• Children with diabetes.
• With heart disease.
• For any diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
• Girls with scoliosis.
• For those with impaired vision.

Who is Rhythmic Gymnastics for?

• Fragile, graceful girl.
• A girl of medium and small stature.
• To that baby who has a sense of rhythm and an ear for music.
• A girl "with character", not a little crybaby.

When to send the baby to classes?

Any coach will tell you that you need to start classes as early as possible. Children's flexibility and plasticity without proper training “weakens” every year, and therefore many mothers bring their daughters to a sports school as early as three years old. Pediatricians strongly oppose such an early initiation into a harsh sport, they advise starting classes no earlier than five years old.

If you are seriously thinking about a career as a gymnast for your baby, then do not waste time! After the age of six, flexibility begins to decline, and by the age of eight it is almost impossible to fit into this sport.

How are gymnastics classes going?

For the first year, no one will “stretch” the baby with all his might, put her on a twine and put her on a bridge. At first, the coach will “check” what the child is capable of, evaluate his natural data, and only then will he begin to improve them. The first few months of training are in the form of a game, then the simplest elements are introduced: a stand on the shoulder blades, a wave, a bridge, and already in the second year of training, the girls begin to train at full strength.

If you decide to send your daughter to this sport, then the first thing to do is to trust the coach! Do not give advice, take part in training. Do not dictate your own rules, even if it seems to you that the coach is too strict in relation to your baby.

We told you about what rhythmic gymnastics is, and how difficult it is for young athletes to perform beautiful and graceful performances. Should I send my daughter to this sport? Yes, if you have the courage! And not for the girl, but for you, the parents. You will have to comfort and support her after each workout and reassure her that she can handle the next stretch.

Have you ever imagined your daughter as a rhythmic gymnast?

Almost all girls from an early age dream of being beautiful, graceful and able to move smoothly. Someone wants to be a ballerina, there are those who yearn to be a dancer, but rhythmic gymnastics would be a much more interesting choice. Difficult training process, which ultimately gives an incredible ease of performing the most complex elements, a fragile, but at the same time strong and athletic body of a girl - this is what a girl can get from training in rhythmic gymnastics.

Peculiarities

Rhythmic gymnastics is a rather young sport, having appeared in the 1900s. For its beauty, grace and simultaneous connection with titanic efforts, very soon this type of activity became popular and won a place among the Olympic sports disciplines. Almost everyone at least once saw gymnasts compete on TV or live, marveling at the ease of their movements, the refinement of all elements and not suspecting how difficult it is to achieve such a final result.

Children in rhythmic gymnastics must withstand enormous loads, therefore, out of 100 girls who came to training, only a few reach competitive activities. Classes for little gymnasts should be built according to their age and capabilities, which a professional coach does with success.

If a child complains of fatigue or difficulty in training, then you should talk about it with her mentor, resolve the issue right away so as not to harm the growing body.

The rhythmic gymnastics section can give both benefit and harm, because it is worth consciously giving your child to such difficult and demanding activities. Those girls who come to the hall should clearly understand that they will have to work a lot, and most importantly, know what the whole group is working for. Watching rhythmic gymnastics competitions on TV with your parents will be an excellent motivation, and even better - a trip to some championship that will be held in the city. There will be a lot of emotions from such an event. And the more often such trips are organized, the more return will be in training.

Since this type of sports activity is a complex of exercises with objects and music, it is important that young gymnasts He had a good ear and the ability to move to the beat of the music. Constant training will help improve these qualities, but those for whom music will be a natural means of expressing emotions through movement will have an advantage.

So, rhythmic gymnastics gives a growing body a lot of advantages.

• Excellent external data. Almost everyone who spends more than 5 years in the gym retains good figure, even posture and a beautiful graceful gait.
• Work on character. After hard and frequent training, when there is no strength left for anything, the child can give up and give up everything, but those who stay and fight grow into a strong and strong-willed person who is able to self-discipline himself in everything. Such children become more independent and responsible, do not lose concentration in a stressful situation.
• Hard training makes it possible develop endurance and strength.
• Musical accompaniment helps improve hearing, accurately feel the rhythm and tempo of any music.
• The regularity of training allows support the respiratory and cardiac systems in great condition.
• Development of flexibility makes it possible not only to be flexible in life, but also to avoid the danger of injury at home due to clumsiness and sluggishness.

Rhythmic gymnastics has many advantages, therefore it is worth talking about it in more detail and thoroughly.

The benefits of training

The benefits of training in rhythmic gymnastics are undeniable. It consists in the development of the whole body of the girl, the inclusion of all muscles, even the smallest, in the work, a variety of activities that exclude a narrow focus, which allows you to grow a beautiful lady from an ordinary child. In addition to the sports component, this type of activity also captivates with its aesthetic side, because girls must go to training in swimsuits with hair neatly gathered into a bun, which imposes a certain manner of keeping both in the gym and outside it.

Those children who attend training will compare favorably with their peers both externally, due to the fit of the figure and the presence of relief muscles, and in terms of the abilities that they will already have: flexibility, coordination, ability to handle different objects, dexterity and so on. Any sports events in kindergarten and school will be won by gymnasts who are able to make all the necessary efforts and willpower to achieve results. Artistry and musicality will help keep up with matinees, various holidays, where the artists will have something to show. Such opportunities for self-realization will give the girl a chance to feel special and gain self-confidence.

Gymnastics training makes it possible not only to develop the child's body evenly and fully, but also to prevent certain types of diseases, if they are at the initial stage: clubfoot and scoliosis. In addition, if you regularly attend classes, you can provide your child good health and a minimum of colds. Such a complex sport helps not only develop muscles, but also character, forcing you to solve complex problems in stressful situations. All the skills acquired in childhood do not go anywhere and help to effectively deal with any life's adversities and prevail over them.

Those children who attend training grow up more conscious, because they spend their time on self-realization, and not on aimless games in the yard, where they will teach everything that they should not know.

The right environment, the right ideals - all this forms a comprehensively developed personality who, having experienced by his own example all the complexity of training, their necessity and benefits, will definitely lead his child to sports.

Injuries and problems you may encounter

Rhythmic gymnastics is not only good, there are those components that can harm a young body. Stretching is the basis on which muscle strength is layered, which in total give the result the artist needs. The process of obtaining the necessary flexibility of the child is complex, and most importantly, painful. No matter how flexible a young gymnast will be, she will still need to improve her level, which means going through painful exercises.

The complexity of this gymnastics is that in order to get a good result, girls must train a lot. If 1–2 hours is enough for kids several times a week, then athletes who are preparing for the tournament need from 8 to 14 hours daily to bring the program to perfect condition. All this entails overwork, problems with the back, knees, joints and more. Because of the huge loads and the small amount of time for rest and relaxation, nervous breakdowns often occur.

Since not only the program itself and its technical component are important for the result at the competitions, but also appearance athletes, then girls must constantly monitor their diet and control their weight so as not to gain excess. For some, this becomes a real test, provoking a wide variety of problems.

One more problem area is becoming a school in which professional athletes simply do not get because of constant training. Often, preparation for lessons takes place before and after the lesson, often right in sports complex, which affects the quality and ratings.

The children's psyche can withstand a lot, but it also needs relaxation and switching, because rhythmic gymnastics training, with all its beauty and power, is not suitable for everyone. Those who admire gymnasts and want to be able to do the same can do it not professionally, but for the soul and health benefits, eliminating all the risks described above and getting maximum pleasure.

At what age should you start training?

In relation to rhythmic gymnastics, age plays a big role. It is important here not to miss the moment when you need to start, so that you do not have to catch up with your peers for a long time. They try to take kids at 2 years old to developmental sections, where children are introduced to the features of training, taught to repeat movements after the coach, remember and show certain actions. From the age of 3, you can already try more serious classes, although for a full-fledged sports section At this age, children are still small.

Pediatricians unanimously say that it is impossible to subject three-year-old children to serious stress, since they have not yet completed all development processes. In addition, kids can hardly repeat a variety of coordination movements that will be given in training. Another reason why you should not give it to sports equally is the increased fatigue of a child of this age. Three-year-olds usually attend kindergarten, sleep during the day, and without this daily cycle, they will hardly remain active, cheerful, and most importantly, tuned in to classes.

It is best to give to the rhythmic gymnastics section at the age of 5, the deadline is 6 years, when the child's body is fully prepared for work. This period is marked by the most favorable indicators of the development of flexibility, which fall every year, and it becomes more difficult to work with girls. Such early dates due to the fact that by the age of 20 the career of gymnasts ends, and they can devote themselves to any other activity. In order to have time to do as much as possible, it is worth starting training activities on time.

The process of the lesson itself is built in different ways, depending on the age of the pupils. For kids, a game is being thought out that uses those items that will be needed in the future: a ball, a hoop, a rope. Three-year-olds don't have to do anything complicated with the objects, and the training process itself is more like a game. Such an activity develops a desire to attend classes, and the child does not notice how he gradually moves from the game to learning the bridge or another rather complex element.

A feature of this gymnastics is the obligatory musical accompaniment, because children are initially taught to it, learning various movements for specific accompaniment at different tempos. The older the children get, the more difficult tasks they get. After 7-8 years, work begins on the development of inventory, because muscle corset already fully prepared and the level of flexibility is at the right level. When the shells begin to submit, it comes to competitions, which are first held at the intra-club level, after - inter-club, and only then is participation in the national championships.

Specificity of competitive activity

Since rhythmic gymnastics is olympic view sports, then the assessment goes according to the Olympic system. To participate in tournaments, you need to have a certain qualification. If these are city-level competitions, then all athletes of the city, regardless of level, can be allowed to participate, divided by age. Gradations can be different, and in position for each sporting event it is prescribed.

If we are talking about more serious competitions, then ranks are needed, and the higher they are, the greater the heights you can achieve by participating in prestigious tournaments. The most desirable for athletes are: European Championship, World Championship, All-Russian and Olympic Games.

If we talk about the awarding of categories, then in this sport it is carried out in this way:

• at the age of six, a girl can only receive 3rd youth sports category;
• at 7 and 8 years old it can be 2 and 1 digits of the same level;
• upon reaching 9 years old, you can apply for category 3, which will no longer be youthful;
• at 10 years old it can be the 2nd category;
• by the age of 11 you can get 1 adult category;
• at the age of 13, with successful sports activities, you can get the title of candidate for master of sports;
• at the age of 16, successful athletes receive the title of master of sports and the international level of this title.

To participate in competitions, girls prepare a specific program in which they use the equipment necessary for her. It's good if the artist has the same control over all the shells: this will give her higher marks from the jury. Competitive activity includes performance with such projectiles as:

• ribbon;
• hoop;
• clubs;
• jump rope.

Performances are prepared in such a way as to impress the judges and spectators with a variety of tricks, complex elements, but, in addition, beautiful swimsuits and catchy makeup are also important, which make the participant bright and memorable. External data for this type of activity is of great importance, therefore it is so important to have excellent figure, proportional facial features and be able to work both with objects and with the public, causing her respect and enthusiastic reaction.

The training process does not require the presence of beautiful costumes and cosmetics, therefore, the emphasis is on working out the technique of all elements. To minimize injuries, girls use knee pads, especially in the process of practicing difficult tricks. A clear and beautiful execution of the program at competitions is the result of very hard work in the gym under the guidance of an experienced coach who found a common language with the pupil, which is also important for such a level of training activity.

Of course, doing gymnastics is not easy for both children and their parents, who should also become part of this whole process: encourage the child, help him and push him to conquer new heights. Another difficulty is the high cost of this sport due to many hours of practice almost every day.

Such trainings are quite expensive, so not everyone can pull a professional level. Of course, sponsors can help girls who participate in competitions and bring victories, but even with them the cost will remain considerable.

A separate conversation about the equipment with which the girls train and compete in tournaments. For kids, you can buy something inexpensive and far from professional, but for those who crave victories and results, you can’t do without buying the entire set of equipment that girls use daily in the process of training, and an additional set specifically for competitions.

Another item of expenditure is costumes. They need to be sewn individually for each performance, choosing the color, pattern and pattern that will look best on the athlete, so only a few can participate in all tournaments of the year.

Often, the coach herself distributes who and where will go, so that all pupils perform evenly. It is for these reasons that not everyone can do rhythmic gymnastics at a serious level.

For professional advice on rhythmic gymnastics for children, see the following video.

Why do moms and dads strive to make their daughters look like Alina Kabaeva, Irina Chashchina and Laysan Utyasheva; from what age do girls need to be enrolled in the rhythmic gymnastics section; what are the dangers of intensive stretching and what is the undeniable benefit of regular exercise? Rambler/Family offers to sort it out right now!

By the way, did you know that rhythmic gymnastics is a relatively young sport for girls and girls. graduate School artistic movement was opened in St. Petersburg in 1913. "Parents" of this sports direction became ballet dancers of the Mariinsky Theater. Since 1980, rhythmic gymnastics has been included in the program of the Olympic Games.

Rhythmic gymnastics - the princess of sports

If you decide to enroll your daughter in the rhythmic gymnastics section, remember that optimal age to start - five to six years. Some prefer to start as early as possible - in three or four years. But do not rush, do not deprive the baby of childhood.

In addition, three-year-olds have little understanding of what sports mentors require of them. It is possible that the baby will be afraid of an uncomfortable large gym, start crying in class and ask to go home. But older children are more obedient, follow the coach's commands, memorize new acrobatic elements and easily make friends.

It is also not worth it to be late with the start of training. For example, it will be difficult for first-graders to master sports elements due to the lack of flexibility inherent in preschool children. This does not mean that girls six or seven years old and older need to forget about rhythmic gymnastics. You can enroll in a section and do not to achieve sports results, but for your own pleasure, attending one or two classes a week.

As for the selection criteria for young gymnasts, everything here depends on the focus on results. If speak about big sport, then slender tall girls with good coordination of movements and excellent memory will succeed in rhythmic gymnastics (gymnasts have to memorize many connections between disparate acrobatic elements). Girls who are prone to fullness, poorly managing their bodies, are unlikely to be of interest to the coach.

But if we are talking about amateur activities, then the group accepts “various” babies: thin, plump, short, tall, flexible and “stiff”. Some parents send their daughter to rhythmic gymnastics, hoping that regular classes will correct the girl's posture, help her lose weight and make her more sophisticated, feminine.

It is not uncommon for girls who meet most of the requirements to not show proper results, as they do not have flexibility or diligence. As practice shows, it is possible to understand whether a young athlete will achieve success already a few weeks after the start of classes. In most cases, gymnasts leave the sport at the age of 16–17, giving way to younger successors. At the same time, many girls continue to train, but in a different status. They can join the faculty physical education, devote yourself to choreography, work as fitness instructors or train little gymnasts in your own sports school.

Harm or benefit?

Girls in rhythmic gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics is undoubtedly the most aesthetic, graceful and inspiring sport. Girls and girls in bright swimsuits with bunches of hair gathered at the back of their heads, perfectly mastering their flexible body and performing virtuosic acrobatic numbers cannot but delight outside observers. And only the “artists” themselves and their strict coaches know what really stands behind this airy lightness and beauty.

The impeccably perfected, automatic movements of gymnasts are the result of many hours of daily training, which is accompanied by muscle pain, fatigue and often irritation as a result of discrepancy between the results and expectations.

But all this is behind the scenes. In appearance, rhythmic gymnastics is the best suited for girls. However, you need to understand that this sport, like any other, is fraught with dangers. But it can also bring invaluable benefits to the child.

Side effects of intense exercise:

Muscle pain. Until about the age of seven, gymnasts are engaged in general physical preparation of the body, and after that they learn numbers for performances in competitions. During this period, the emphasis is on stretching. At the same time, the sensations are quite painful, almost all girls (even the most plastic ones by nature) cry during stretching.

Great physical activity. Young children exercise for a couple of hours a day. But the amount of time devoted to training increases with age. So, teenage girls who are preparing for competitions practice 10-14 hours a day! Hence - injuries, the development of occupational diseases (many gymnasts have problems with the spine, knees and ankles), and sometimes even nervous breakdowns.

Diets and hunger pangs. To maintain good physical form gymnasts, especially those who tend to be overweight, are forced to cut back on their daily calories. Diets are very common among those who are preparing for the next competition or have scored overweight during the holidays.

There are legends about coaches who forbid their wards to eat. At one time, the star of Russian rhythmic gymnastics Alina Kabaeva was strongly recommended by sports mentors not to eat after five or six in the evening. And her colleague Laysan Utyasheva recalled how, driven to exhaustion by training and diets, she ate dog food.

Missed school hours. As mentioned above, gymnasts devote most of their time to training in gym. At the same time, school performance leaves much to be desired. And it’s not even about laziness: girls simply don’t have time to prepare for classes and attend them. The most diligent solve math problems or prepare for a biology lab right in the locker room, in between workouts.

Gymnast girls

Good physical form. From a young age, girls-gymnasts develop a beautiful correct posture and gait. Little athletes differ from their peers in tightened relief muscles, grace, endurance, and plasticity. Girls have a developed sense of rhythm, they move perfectly to almost any music. And the gymnasts are very artistic and self-confident.

Health. Sport ensures the harmonious development of a growing child's body. According to doctors, regular physical activity strengthens the musculoskeletal system and muscles. Through rhythmic gymnastics, you can save the girl from clubfoot and incipient scoliosis. It is also undeniable that young athletes are less prone to colds.

Tempering character. Gymnastics provides emotional stability, makes the child disciplined, purposeful. Girls and women who did gymnastics in childhood unanimously say that sport tempered their character, taught them to solve problems without unnecessary emotions, achieve goals and improve themselves.

positive infatuation. Exercise is one of the best and most affordable antidepressants. The fact is that during training, the body produces the so-called hormones of happiness - endorphins. In addition, rhythmic gymnastics can be considered as an interesting hobby.

Parents feel much calmer when they know that their child devotes his free time to a worthy cause, and does not wander aimlessly in the yard, being subjected to the bad influence of peers and older children.

To go or not to go: the opinion of parents

“In the regions, one should not count on global sports success, here we are talking only about mass sports. If parents want their children to become stars of rhythmic gymnastics, then they need to go to Moscow and train there.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a very expensive sport: swimwear costs from 5,000 rubles, a ball - from 3,000 rubles. And you also need to buy a jump rope, a hoop, a ribbon. At the same time, the objects “grow” with the child. Also, competitions and trips to the training camp require certain financial costs.

In Sevastopol, we have to rent a hall, since we have practically no halls suitable for this sport, or they are in a dilapidated state. Therefore, parents, sending their child to rhythmic gymnastics, should understand that a lot of expenses will be required, ”shares the opinion of the head of one of the Sevastopol companies Vyacheslav Tertus, who enrolled his daughter in rhythmic gymnastics when the girl was 4.5 years old.

According to the parent, the decision on whether to enroll the child in the rhythmic gymnastics section should be made by moms and dads together with the doctor. In the first years of training, you need to closely monitor your daughter in order to notice possible deterioration in well-being in time. If rhythmic gymnastics obviously harms the daughter’s health, then you can switch to an alternative sport - aesthetic gymnastics, the load in which is less intense.

To go or not to go: teacher's opinion

Marina Budaeva, a choreography teacher and specialist consultant of the Pomogatel.ru service, recommends giving a child to professional sports from the age of four, since at this age the data necessary for gymnastics are most easily developed: eversion, flexibility, endurance and discipline.

“With good natural data, you can get into an amateur rhythmic gymnastics group up to 10-12 years old. At a later age, it is very difficult to stretch the child to the required level, and the strict discipline that occurs in gymnastics can injure the fragile psyche of a teenager in the puberty period, ”the expert notes.

According to Marina Budaeva, regular rhythmic gymnastics strengthens the immune system, muscles, and joints. It also improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. But all medicines in large quantities are poison: excessive loads are harmful to health.

“Another significant disadvantage of rhythmic gymnastics is that girls must limit themselves in nutrition in order to go on the carpet without a gram excess fat. Unfortunately, such a pursuit of harmony often leads to the development of anorexia nervosa, as well as to the diagnosis of “primary amenorrhea”: due to insufficient body fat, the body cannot synthesize female sex hormones, and the girl begins to lag behind her peers in development,” notes the choreographer .

“In addition, I would not recommend rhythmic gymnastics for children with a sensitive psyche. You can pay attention to sports such as synchronized swimming, figure skating, ballroom dancing", - advises Marina Budaeva.

To go or not to go: the opinion of a psychologist

According to the psychologist, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Psychology of the Moscow Institute of Psychology Elena Koneeva, selection for sports activities starts at the age of seven. At the amateur level, rhythmic gymnastics can be started before the end of the favorable (sensitive) period of development of flexibility - up to 11-14 years.

“In some schools, rhythmic gymnastics is the third lesson of physical education, even in high school. Since this type of gymnastics is purely feminine, among the advantages of the classes are the formation of posture, grace, musicality, dance and choreographic training. In order to maintain graceful forms, girls are taught to eat healthy food from the first days of classes, and this habit remains with them for the rest of their lives,” emphasizes Elena Koneeva.

The only negative for those involved in rhythmic gymnastics, according to the expert, arises at the stage of achieving the highest sportsmanship. Participation in international competitions leads to overload, overwork, overstrain, which, in turn, can lead to injury.

As for the financial expenses of parents whose daughters are fond of rhythmic gymnastics, then, as Elena Koneeva notes, if a child is selected for a sports school, then classes there are free. Classes in a section at a school or club will cost 5,000 rubles a month.

And finally - advice for moms and dads: before enrolling a child in a rhythmic gymnastics section, ask how interested he is in this sport. If your baby does not want to do exercises, no amount of persuasion will help. Otherwise, when a girl loves rhythmic gymnastics, trains intensively and dreams sports achievements, keep her passionate and don't forget to talk about how proud you are of her. Let sports be fun!