For or against assisted gymnastics? (S2.18)
- janie724
- Jul 26
- 2 min read
Episode of January 20, 2025
With Kym from Physi-K
In this episode of the Kick's Cheer Podcast, we tackled a topic that directly affects athletes and parents: assisted gymnastics, also known as spotting. Is it a good practice or not? Our guest, Kym Bélisle, an experienced gymnastics coach and founder of Physi-K, came to share her expertise.
🤸♀️ What is gym spotting?
Spotting, or manual assistance, is when the coach physically helps the athlete perform a movement. For example, by holding the athlete during a roll or guiding their body during a flip. The goal: to ensure safety, build confidence, and improve technique.
But be careful! There are several approaches:
Some coaches are very "hands-on" (manual spotting).
Others prefer to use educational exercises so that the athlete learns on their own (distance spotting).
💬 Kym's opinion: a question of balance
Kym is a big fan of manual assistance, especially at the beginning of learning. She explains that it allows:
To give the athlete confidence.
To avoid bad habits.
To ensure a better understanding of the movements.
But she also agrees that it's important to avoid creating dependency. The athlete shouldn't need a coach to succeed. So, it's important to find a balance: helping but also withdrawing help at the right time.
🧠 Trust: the key ingredient
Whether you're for or against spotting, it all comes down to trust:
Self-confidence.
Trust in his coach.
Confidence in learned movements.
An athlete can master a movement for years and suddenly lose confidence. Puberty, an injury, or external stress can turn everything upside down. This is where the role of the coach is important: to adapt, reassure, and support.
🚨 Spotter: not for everyone
The podcast highlights an important point: spotting can be learned. It's not up to parents to do it at home, because poor spotting can cause:
Injuries.
Bad habits that are very hard to correct.
So, even if it's well-intentioned, we leave the spotting to trained coaches.
📉 Too much confidence, not enough focus?
Another discussed danger: overconfidence. When a movement becomes too easy, we can let our guard down… and that's often when accidents happen. Like a very experienced athlete who injured herself at the airport while doing a standing back-handsrping, two days before the World Championships. 😬
Even the best can fall. You always have to stay focused—especially in a sport as demanding as cheerleading and gymnastics.
🎯 In summary: To spot or not to spot?
"There is no right or wrong answer."
It all depends:
From the athlete's level.
Of his physical and mental state.
From the coach's approach.
And above all… communication between the athlete and his coach.
The main thing we remember is that you have to adapt. There are days when an athlete needs help and others when they can (and should!) fly on their own.
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