HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-11-22, Page 13A
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397 Mata It. iadae
November 22, 1995
Fun and recreation are keys to
success for Exeter gymnastics
Chris Skalkos T -A staff
Gymnastics instructor Daphne Damen has been supervising the
youth gymnastics program for seven years and with 110 students
currently enrolled, it is undoubtedly the most popular program the
Rec Centre offers.
"This is a recreation program so we're not producing olympic
athletes but they're all having a good time," said Damen.
The eight week program takes place on Saturdays running from
November to December and again from January to February. What
began as a two hour program has expanded to a five hour session to
accommodate the growing number of gymnastic students ranging in
age from three to 16.
A new addition to the program is a kindergym geared toward
children under five years -old. Children use the gym and equipment to
develop movement patterns, locomotion activities and body control in
a fun environment, reinforced by games and music.
Students from six to 14 years are taught basic gymnastic skills on
floor mats, a balance beam, a box horse and the uneven bars. The
emphasis is focused on recreation.
There are no competitions and the students are not evaluated at the
end of the program.
'They have to be serious about the program but we don't push
them. There are no competitions, at the end of the year we have a
small presentation for the parents," said Damen. "If they want
to go to develop their gymnastics further we refer them to a
competitive oriented club."
Strength, balance and hand -eye coordination are some
of the key elements a gymnast must posses, but Damen
stresses flexibility as the most important.
"A lot of the kids who are really good at gymnastics
learned flexibility at a really young age," Damen said.
The different lames and activities teaches them how to
stretch and move their bodies in ways they wouldn't
normally think of," she added.
Overcoming the fear of putting your body through what
seems like unnatural movements is something each student
must learn and Damen begins with building their
confidence.
"We use a lot of positive reinforcement and go through
the exercises in groups. If they see everybody else doing it
then they're more likely to experiment and- -
do it on their own," she said.
Even so, the older students tend to
take on the more challenging activities
such as the uneven bars while the
younger ones work on floor exercises.
Damen said she enjoys teaching all
ages, but she admits she particularly
enjoys a greater sense of accomplishment
instructing the older group of students.
"They have come through the program
and have picked up a lot of skills. I like
watching them advance to the higher
difficulty levels because you know they
have come a long way to get there,"
she said.
Eight year-old Danielle Lath-
er practices on the uneven
bars.
•
"At that age they have very short attention spans so you have to
keep changing activities to keep them interested or they run wild,"
said Damen.
One technique Damen and her four helpers use to add variety for
the kindergym students is implementing a different theme from week
to week to coincide with the activities. For example, the "jungle
theme" teaches the youngsters the various animals that dwell in the
jungle as they mimic their movements on the gymnastics equipment
such as climbing or swingiu$from a rope. The students apd
instructors come dressed in accordance with the theme.
The kindergym group also requires more auention from the
instructors who spend most of their time ensuring the children go
through the activities safely.
"When they are on the equipment you have to hold on to them at
all times because if their hands get sore they suddenly decide to
let go," said Damen.
Having fun while getting some exercise is what the Rec
Centre's gymnastics program is best suited for. But even
though it is strictly recreational, Damen said the program is a
good staring point for those who plan on pursuing
gymnastics competitively later on, and it is never too late
to get started.
"It doesn't matter how young they are. If they have
the right attitude they are going to learn quickly."
The kindergym age group is more �►1�►��
of a challenge because they demand I�
more attention.
Sometimes
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Daphne Damen, right, helps
Lyndsay Harrison practice a
move on the balance beam.
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