My Child Wants To Quit Gymnastics. What Should They Try Next?
Sometimes a child is ready to move on from gymnastics but still loves tumbling, physical skills, flexibility or performing. Here are some of the activities they could explore next — and how to work out which one might suit them.
Leaving One Sport Doesn't Mean Starting Again.
Children move on from activities for all sorts of reasons. Their interests change, they may want a different challenge, they might prefer more teamwork or they may simply be ready for a fresh environment.
That doesn't mean the time they spent developing strength, flexibility, coordination, body awareness and physical confidence has been wasted.
Those foundations may be useful in lots of other sports. The important question is often not simply “What is most similar to gymnastics?” but “Which part of gymnastics did they actually love?”
Ask them what they want more of.
- Tumbling and floor skills
- Being part of a team
- Performance
- Learning new physical skills
- Competition
- Creativity and movement
- A different social environment
What Did They Love Most?
Their favourite part of gymnastics can provide a useful clue when choosing what to try next.
Tumbling & Flips
Look at tumbling, cheerleading, trampolining or other activities where acrobatic skills remain a major part of training.
More Teamwork
A team sport such as cheerleading can provide a very different social and sporting experience.
Performance
Cheer and dance combine physical training with routines, musicality, expression and performing.
Something Completely New
Parkour, athletics and many other sports can make use of strength, coordination and confidence in different ways.
Keep The Physical Skills. Add A Team.
Cheerleading is a different sport from gymnastics, but athletes may recognise some familiar physical qualities.
Tumbling, strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness can all be useful foundations. Cheer then adds new areas including stunting, jumps, formations and team-based performance.
At Notts Hotshots, athletes can explore recreational cheer or learn more about our competitive cheer programme .
If the thing they really love is tumbling itself, our dedicated tumbling programme may be the more natural place to start.
What If They Just Love Floor Skills?
Not every gymnast leaving the sport is looking for a team routine. Some simply want somewhere to continue working on cartwheels, walkovers, handsprings, tucks and other tumbling skills.
Hotshots has a dedicated tumbling programme in Nottinghamshire for complete beginners, cheerleaders, gymnasts, trampolinists and athletes from other sporting backgrounds.
Explore TumblingShared Foundations. Different Sports.
Neither sport is “better”. They provide different experiences, and the right environment depends on what an athlete enjoys and wants from their training.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics includes its own disciplines, techniques, apparatus and competition structures.
- Gymnastics-specific disciplines
- Individual skill development
- Apparatus depending on discipline
- Strength and flexibility
- Body control and technique
All-Star Cheer
All-star cheer brings different skills together within a synchronised team routine.
- Tumbling
- Stunts and pyramids
- Jumps
- Movement and formations
- Team performance
Who Might Enjoy Cheer Or Tumbling?
Children Who Love Tumbling
Tumbling or cheer can allow them to continue developing floor-based skills in a new environment.
Athletes Wanting A Team
Cheer introduces the challenge of relying on teammates throughout stunts, formations and complete routines.
Teenagers Wanting Something New
Athletes don't necessarily need to have started cheer as young children. Suitable pathways depend on age, experience and available spaces.
Boys Who Enjoy Acrobatics
Cheer and tumbling are open to boys too, with strength, power, tumbling and teamwork all forming useful parts of the sport.
Hotshots Isn't Only For Athletes With Previous Experience.
This guide is aimed at families leaving gymnastics, but previous gymnastics experience is absolutely not a requirement for joining Hotshots.
Complete beginners can learn the foundations of cheer, dance and tumbling through suitable classes. If you're unsure where to begin, our classes hub is the best place to explore the different options.
What Happens To Their Existing Skills?
Will they lose their tumbling?
That depends on the activity and how regularly they train the skills. Tumbling remains an established part of cheerleading, while dedicated tumbling sessions provide an even more direct route for athletes who want to keep developing floor skills.
Do gymnastics skills transfer into cheer?
Some physical foundations can be useful, including tumbling, body awareness, strength, flexibility and coordination. Cheer also contains sport-specific skills that athletes will need to learn.
Can teenagers start cheer?
Yes. Suitable opportunities depend on age, ability, team requirements and available spaces, but athletes do not necessarily need to have started cheer as young children.
Do they have to compete?
No. Recreational pathways such as Cheer4Fun can allow athletes to experience cheer without immediately joining a competitive team.
Looking For Their Next Sport?
Notts Hotshots Cheer & Dance Academy is based in Watnall, Nottinghamshire. We welcome athletes from Nottingham, Kimberley, Eastwood, Hucknall, Mansfield and surrounding communities.
Families can explore cheerleading , tumbling or browse our complete beginner class pathways .
Leaving Gymnastics & Trying Something New.
What sport should my child try after gymnastics?
Is cheerleading a good sport for former gymnasts?
Can my child continue tumbling without doing gymnastics?
Does my child need gymnastics experience to start cheer?
Can teenagers start cheerleading?
Is cheerleading only for girls?
Does my child have to compete at Notts Hotshots?
How can we try Hotshots?
They Don't Have To Stop Doing What They Love.
Whether they're leaving gymnastics, love tumbling, want more teamwork or simply need a fresh challenge, explore the different ways they can start at Notts Hotshots.