The first and most important topic in gymnasticsinstruction is how to stay safe and uninjured.  The following is a list of some of the things you can do to help ensure your safety and the safety of others.

Be Prepared
As with any other physical activity, injuries occur much more often when you are tired and/or worn down.  Make sure you get sufficient sleep the night before your classes or practices.  If you did not get enough sleep, rest and take a nap before class or practice.  Make sure your body has enough energy from nutrition to last through your class or practice. 

Follow and Master Skill Progressions
It is extremely important to learn gymnastics skills in the proper order of difficulty.  Gymnasts should not be attempting difficult skills without learning all the lead-up skills and doing any appropriate lead-up drills.  Gymnastics instruction and learning  is a series of habits built upon other habits.  Moving along too quickly without mastering skills can ultimately interfere with learning higher level gymnastics skills.

Follow Equipment Progressions
It is only common sense to work on gymnastics apparatus in their naturally progressive order.  Beam skills are first learned and mastered on the floor (on a line).  Then gymnasts can move up to low, medium and high beams.

Don’t Do Gymnastics By Yourself
Just like swimming and other physical activities where there is even the remotest chance of injury, gymnasts should only work out when there is at least one other person around.  This means on those home trampolines, too.

Don’t Spot Other Gymnasts
Spotting is an art and requires the knowledge, strength and experience of a gymnastics instruction professional.  Any error in judgement on your or their part could lead to you being involved and responsible for their potentially serious injury. 

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