Progress

Rhythmic gymnastics is a beautiful but incredibly demanding sport. It requires extreme concentration during routine performances; strength to hold challenging positions that almost defy gravity; stamina to pack as many difficult skills in the 1:30 minutes a routine must last; flexibility to perform body difficulties; and a deep understanding of rhythm and melody to demonstrate artistry.

With so many elements at play, it's natural to be curious about how a child will progress or when will they hit certain milestones.

The short answer is you can't. Children develop differently, go through phases (both physically and mentally) and face different challenges.

We can, however, breakdown what you should know about progress at different ages and the elements that contribute to it:

Progress by Chronological Age

Chronological age is simply the age of the individual by date of birth.

For example, if a participant was born 8 years ago, it means their chronological age is eight. In most circumstances, this athlete will be compiled into a group with other athletes of a very similar age.

Ages 3-5: The Playful Explorer

• Can master all Fundamental Moving Skills to some extent.

• Basic movement patterns become more refined toward the end of this stage and the balance mechanism in the inner ear is gradually maturing.

• Is familiar with the apparatuses and comfortable manipulating them at a basic level

• Some familiarity with technical requirements such as pointing toes, keeping the knees straight, keeping a good posture.

• Improved concentration resulting in being able to remain engaged in an activity for a longer period of time.

• Knows what behavioural expectations they need to meet in order to continue learning

• Is familiar with the apparatuses and comfortable manipulating them at a basic level

• Can interact with other participants well while supervised

  
  

Ages 6 to

However, the primary issue with doing so is the large variance between individual abilities, and this variance is often exaggerated in young athletes due to differences in both their biological and psychological maturity. For example, in an under-17 boys’ rugby team, some players may have almost reached full physical maturity, whilst others may have yet to undergo their peak height velocity. This can lead to large variances in physical and psychological maturity, and thus limit the physical potential of the athletes by potentially increasing the risk of injury, reducing inter-group competition and generating distractions, not to mention failing to cater for each individual’s own training necessities.