Home > Centers > Why Non-Competitive?

Why non-competitive gymnastics: How Can EVERYONE Win?
By Jeff Lulla, President

Imagine your child is in a race, a 100 yard dash with 12 other children. She trained very hard for weeks. She finishes the race in last place, but runs the distance faster than she ever had before. Did she win or did she lose?

Now imagine your child is in another race the very next week, a 100 yard dash with 12 other children. But this time she comes in first place - faster than everyone else. You look at the stop watch however, and see that she ran much slower than she is capable of. In fact, she only took first because the kids she ran against were younger, smaller and less skilled. Did she win or did she lose?

Consistently placing importance on personal performance and effort is not always easy in the competitive culture we live in. We have to choose what we really want our kids to value. And we must be clear and consistent when teaching values.

Research makes two things very clear:

• The main reason kids play sports is to have fun.
• The main reason kids quit their favorite sport is an overemphasis on winning.

The completely non-competitive, recreational gymnastics programs offered at Fun & Fit Gymnastics help children define winning as "my personal best" as opposed to the traditional competitive definition of "being better than everyone else."

By redefining winning to allow every student the opportunity to achieve a victory, self-esteem is raised and the gym environment becomes more positive.