Freestyle
Freestyle Gymnastics has been going from strength to strength but what is it really all about, what are the facts and where did it all begin?
Freestyle gymnastics is an adaptation of existing gymnastic skills mixed with influences from the martial arts and street culture. It is an activity developed to be done in an indoor environment only, using existing specialist gymnastic equipment found with British Gymnastics clubs. To deliver freestyle gymnastics individuals need to be a minimum British Gymnastics (Level 2) coach and have attended a one-day BG Freestyle add-on module. Freestyle Gymnastics is a recognised BG activity and is therefore covered by BG insurance when delivered in a BG recognised environment by a BG qualified Freestyle Coach. When a BG qualified coach works in schools this is a BG recognised environment.
Where did it all come from and how has it developed?
Parkour, Free-running and other urban based activities were becoming more and more popular with teenage boys in the early years of the new millennium. These activities were mainly based outdoors with no real governing body or coaching framework available. Some of these groups began to utilise gymnastic facilities to participate in their chosen activity. This culminated in a meeting being arranged by BG in 2008 to discuss if anything could be done to include similar based activities within the BG structure.
Participants are attracted to this type of activity because of the lack of structure and restrictions placed on participants by rules and regulations. For BG the question was how to embrace the philosophy of the activity without compromising BG’s responsibilities as a leading governing body of sport. It was decided at the meeting that BG would not endorse any existing forms of urban gymnastics such as Parkour or Freerunning as this was beyond its remit especially as these forms were strictly based in outdoor environments. A new title was therefore agreed and so Freestyle Gymnastics was born.
Coaching Requirements
The important decision to promote Freestyle as an adaptation of existing gymnastic skills made it clear that deliverers would have to have existing gymnastic qualifications. An add-on module would be created and delivered by identified tutors to a minimum Level 3 BG qualified coaches. The decision on Level 3 being the minimum criteria was based on content around delivery of somersaults. There would be some somersault skills in the add-on module so it was desirable to have coaches with some experience of supporting similar skill. Two BG coaches working at Basingstoke Gymnastics Club had been responding to the interest in new forms of gymnastics. They were tasked with producing the Freestyle add-on module and piloting the course at their club. Steve Hough and Anthony Rose were the real enthusiasts for this activity and the pilot course was a huge success especially around the information for other coaches about how to organise Freestyle classes within an existing programme.
Where is Freestyle Gymnastics going in the future?
Specialist Freestyle facilities are now under development. Work is ongoing with apparatus companies to develop facilities that are designed and built to cater for the new and exciting gymnastic activity. Hastings 1066 facility is the first of its kind in the UK. It is clear there is a demand for such specialist facilities and BG is looking to support such developments wherever possible. With the introduction of a Freestyle course connected to gymnastics Level 1 qualifications BG, will help to increase capacity of clubs to deliver Freestyle sessions as Assistant level coaches will be able to work with Level 2 and 3 coaches who have attended the add-on module to increase the number of participants within the classes.
As the government look for sporting agencies to increase the participation of 16+ age groups in physical activity, Freestyle Gymnastics has a bright future.
