Articles & Guides

The GO Journal

Expert-backed articles, practical guides, and real talk for gymnastics families — from the first cartwheel to elite competition.

What actually happens at a gymnastics meet, and why your job on the day is different Supporting Your Gymnast

What actually happens at a gymnastics meet, and why your job on the day is different

Most parents turn up to a first meet with no idea how the day is structured, and no idea what they are supposed to do. Here is how the day actually runs, and what young athletes say they want from the people watching.

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Why girls quit gymnastics: it is almost never one thing Health, Growth & Wellbeing

Why girls quit gymnastics: it is almost never one thing

Almost nobody quits gymnastics for one reason. Four or five build up over months, and then something small becomes the last one. Here is the full range of reasons girls leave, and why the final straw is rarely the real one.

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Is it normal for her to cry at training? What the tears usually mean, and when to look closer. Health, Growth & Wellbeing

Is it normal for her to cry at training? What the tears usually mean, and when to look closer.

If your daughter cries at or after gymnastics, you are not doing anything wrong and you are far from alone. Here is what the tears usually mean, and the gentle signs that it is worth looking a little closer.

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What does a great gymnastics coach actually do? It comes down to one thing. Supporting Your Gymnast

What does a great gymnastics coach actually do? It comes down to one thing.

The coach with the most impressive resume is not always the one your daughter thrives under. Here is what the research says actually makes a great gymnastics coach, and why it mostly comes down to communication.

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Is she too young to be this serious about gymnastics? What the research actually says. Health, Growth & Wellbeing

Is she too young to be this serious about gymnastics? What the research actually says.

Someone has raised an eyebrow at how much your daughter loves gymnastics, how young, how often. This is what the research actually says about early specialisation, and why gymnastics sits a little differently from most sports.

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Top 5 SafeSport rules every US gym parent should know The Reality of Gymnastics

Top 5 SafeSport rules every US gym parent should know

From parents being allowed to watch practice, to who must be in the room during athletic training. Five of the top SafeSport rules every US gym parent should know, anchored to the official source for each. There are more, but these are the ones most parents have never been told.

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When Fear Takes Over: Mental Blocks in Gymnastics Health, Growth & Wellbeing

When Fear Takes Over: Mental Blocks in Gymnastics

Mental blocks are one of the most common challenges in junior gymnastics. Learn why they happen, what parents can do to help, and when to seek professional support.

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When Skills Disappear: Understanding Skill Regression in Gymnastics Gymnastics Foundations

When Skills Disappear: Understanding Skill Regression in Gymnastics

If your child could once do a skill confidently and now can’t, it can feel unsettling in a way that’s hard to explain to anyone outside gymnastics. You’re not imagining it, and you’re far from alone. In our recent parent survey, skill regression was one...

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