Silhouettes looking for teachable athletes

Times Reporter 

 

Strathmore Silhouettes’ Head Coach Tara Smith held open tryouts on Dec. 1 at Jumphouse Gymnastics for her junior and precompetitive categories, set to begin in January. Ten girls, ages four to eight, showed off their abilities, attitudes and athletics.

“I was looking for not necessarily their skill level but more their natural strength and flexibility, their attitude, their teachability,” Smith said. “It’s actually good to get them when they are younger and haven’t built any skills up, because then you can teach them the way that you want to teach them, rather than maybe having gained some bad habits or being rushed through skills.”

Smith is still looking for young gymnasts, especially in her junior precompetitive category of ages four to five.

“I don’t know if it’ll run because I only had two girls,” Smith said. “Unless we happen to get more, the day time junior precompetitive won’t run.”

Smith believes gymnastics can offer many skills, especially at a competitive level; a chance to develop strong work ethic, self-confidence, and fitness.

“That kind of fitness – strength, flexibility, coordination, body awareness – can be used in any sport as they grow older. It’s good for cross-training, for anything else that they choose to do,” she said. “They’re kind of working on an individual sport but they’re part of a supportive team also.”

The girls also gain experience in self-discipline, listening, and focusing – which could also be used at home.

“With some of the older girls from the competitive team moving on to other endeavors, it is the perfect time to rebuild the precompetitive program for younger athletes,” Smith said of her new prospects. “They have their strengths, and there’s weaknesses in there. As long as they’re teachable in my opinion, that’s what counts.”

Parents interested in signing up their children can contact Tara Smith at strathcoach@hotmail.com