At Timberlane instruction in various individual, non-team oriented sports is offered, including classes in swimming, water skiing, weight lifting, tennis, track and field, and gymnastics. When I was about eleven years old, my dad told me that I wasn’t big enough to play football or basketball and that I should concentrate on one particular sport in which I could excel as an individual. It was at this point in time that I started to play some serious tennis. But, I soon noticed the gymnastics classes that were held at the rec hall, which is next door to the the tennis courts. I had always enjoyed bouncing on the tramps and diving off the diving board, so I figured that I would try the activity. I soon grew to love gymnastics so much, that it was all I could think about--what will we learn on the tramps today?Boy, am I sore from stretching! I can’t wait until tomorrow to practice my front flip...After two summers of gymnastics at camp, it was time to make the decision of whether or not to compete on my high school team. All of the other guys said that gymnastics was for sissies and that it was a girl’s sport. Finally, after many apprehensive days of waiting, I talked to the coach, and he invited me to try out for the team. Our team was so small that anyone who tried out made the team. From that day forward, I decided to dedicate myself to being the best gymnast that I could be. I finally started making giant leaps forward, both in the sport and at camp. In my first year as a junior counselor, I was the head of the gymnastics department. Since then, my ability as both a gymnast and as an instructor has improved, and I’m glad to say that it all started at camp.

These days during class time, we do a thorough job of stretching all joints and muscles in the body as a daily warm-up. After this stretching session, we either do basic tumbling, some easy tricks on our mini-trampoline set-up, or we work on the tramps. Gymnastics is a sport based on progressing from basic movements toward more advanced tricks. As soon as an individual in the class can handle all of the basic tricks without any problems, he can move on to the more difficult, sometimes dangerous stunts. I am a firm believer in safety, so all tricks are watched over by spotters. Toward the end of each period, we all do strength exercises, which include squat jumps, handstand pushups, or L-seats on our parallel bars.

Getting back to my original train of thought., some of you smaller guys should seriously consider trying out gymnastics. Also, the bigger boys will discover that the body movements that can be learned will help them move around with greater ease. Don’t forget, gymnasts are strong, flexible, agile athletes, and have more body control than most other athletes. Give it a try, turn on. You won’t regret it.