No Trampolines?
A perfect example is the somewhat schizophrenic attitude in gymnastics safety programs toward trampolines.   The YMCA had pretty much banned them from all of their in-house gymnastics programs because of liability problems.  Some safety programs advocated “no somersault” gymnastics trampoline programs.  Most insurance companies who cover gymnastics programs ask how many trampolines gyms have on their applications.  Some companies have charged higher premiums for programs, which have trampolines.

Trampolines Not the Issue
Trampoline safety, within and without of gymnastics programs, is related to suitable training progressions.  Gyms that use correct training progressions are safe programs whether or not they have a trampoline.  At the higher levels of the sport, programs that do not have and do not use trampolines are probably less safe than programs that have and use them.

Correctly Used Trampolines are a Safety Device
This is so because of skills like double back somersaults are more safely learned (at some point in the progression) on trampoline.  More importantly, it is so much quicker and easier to perform repetitions of double backs on trampoline.  Repetition is necessary to develop kinesthetic air awareness so gymnasts can safely land the skills on floor.  Trampoline training also allows gymnasts to perform more tumbling salto skills with less wear and tear on the body, which is safer for gymnasts. 

What is Real Gymnastics Safety?
Our interest in this series of articles is not the liability concerns or USA Gymnastics or the insurance companies.  Our concern is the real safety of gymnasts in our programs and how we can best make every gymnasts at every level in the gym as safe as they can be.

I've Done Everything Possible to Provide Safety for My Gymnasts
Our primary goals is to help coaches to never have to look down at an injured gymnast and have to say, “Gee, I wish I had…”  To insure that we have taken a much wider view of gymnastics safety both in the scope of topics and in the areas which need to be studied. 

Re-examine Every Injury, Safety Question and Problem
While we have had considerable success in both running high level gymnastics programs and having enviable safety records, we still examine every situation and incident in the gym in terms of safety and accident prevention. 

Stand Up for Safety
Let’s all make the sport as safe as possible.

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