Gymnastics Benefits

8/13/2019 Gymnastics Benefits

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Gym.Net The Gymnastics Professionals Network www.gym.

Michael Taylor coacht@gym.

Michael A. Taylor Gym.Net - T he Gymnasti cs Professional's Network

Marketing the BenefitsMarketing the Benefitsof Gymnasticsof Gymnastics

Michael A. TaylorMenlo Park Gymnastics

650.330.2207

[email protected]

Marketing dur ing theMarketing dur ing the

Experience EconomyExperience Economy**

Economic ValueEconomic ValueTransformational ExperiencesTransformational Experiences

Our Evolution of Benefits Marketing

Began with QUESTIONS

What are we doing?

What do we want to do?

Why do we want to do that?

Who are we doing that for?

How are we going to do it?

EVERYONE (all staff) involved in the questions and the

answers.

What Benefits Marketing did for us

Increased enrollment from 465 to 1728 (372%)

in 9 years.

Allowed us to raise fees 224%

Permitted staff salary increases that averaged

216%

Parent satisfaction rating increased from 6.97

(on a 10 point scale) to 8.96

Positioned us as experts in a market

(BRANDING) that allows for continued growth.

How we Marketed Benefits

Identified the benefits Substantiated by research

Defined our market

EVERYONE on board or off the ship

Information blitz Newsletters

Newspapers

Public appearances (Kiwanis, Rotary, etc.)

Daily reinforcement in classes by staff

Healthy activi ties likeHealthy activi ties like

gymnastics keep our kids off thegymnastics keep our kids off thecouch and engaged in a healthycouch and engaged in a healthy

lifestyle.lifestyle.


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For every $1.00 spent on earlyFor every $1.00 spent on early

learning programs, societylearning programs, societyrecoups $7.14 in reduced cr ime,recoups $7.14 in reduced cr ime,

welfare and special educationwelfare and special education

costs. (California First Fivecosts . (California First Five

Commission, 2002)Commission, 2002)

With pediatric obesity at anWith pediatric obesity at anepidemic level of 13% ofepidemic level of 13% of

children and adolescents in thechildren and adolescents in theUnited States, getting child renUnited States, getting chi ldren

away from the television oraway from the television or

computer games and into thecomputer games and into the

gym is a terrific first stepgym is a terrific firs t step

toward a more active lifestyle.toward a more active lifestyle.

The researchers at the CentersThe researchers at the Centers

for Disease Control repor t thatfor Disease Control report that

youth who undertake lifestyleyouth who undertake lifestyle

exercise programs that increaseexercise programs that increase

physical activity, reduce thephysical activ ity, reduce the

intake of highintake of high--caloric foods andcaloric foods and

involve parents have the bestinvolve parents have the best

chance of preventing andchance of preventing and

reducing obesity over the longreducing obesity over the long--

term.term.

Gymnastics is perhaps one ofGymnastics is perhaps one ofthe most comprehensivethe most comprehensive

lifestyle exercise programslifestyle exercise programsavailable to children,available to children,

incorporating strength,incorporating strength,flexibi lity, speed, balance,flexibi lity, speed, balance,coordination, power andcoordination, power and

discipline.discipline.

Studies show that childrenStudies show that childrenlearn cognitive skills morelearn cognitive skills more

effectively in an environmenteffectively in an environmentthat includes the body as wellthat includes the body as well

as the mind (Barrett, 1998).as the mind (Barrett, 1998).

40% of the nation40% of the nation s 16,000s 16,000school districts have reducedschool districts have reduced

or eliminated physicalor eliminated physicaleducation programs over theeducation programs over thepast 8 years. (AACRP, 2001).past 8 years. (AACRP, 2001).


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Only TWO states mandateOnly TWO states mandaterecess be included in therecess be included in the

elementary schoolelementary schoolcurriculum. (AACRP, 2001).curriculum. (AACRP, 2001).

Gymnastics and earlyGymnastics and earlychildhood movementchildhood movement

education is directlyeducation is directlyattributed to developingattributed to developingneurological pathways inneurological pathways instudents and promotingstudents and promoting

reading readiness.reading readiness.(Raising(Raising--AA--Reader, 1999)Reader, 1999)

Preschool gymnastics isPreschool gymnastics is

preparing s tudents forpreparing students for

successful experiences insuccessful experiences in

school; children who haveschool; ch ildren who have

participated in movementparticipated in movement

education activit ies have longereducation activit ies have longer

attention spans, increasedattention spans, increasedcommunication skills, generalcommunication skills, general

problem solving skills andproblem solving skills and

improved selfimproved self--esteem.esteem.

Researchers at the Robert WoodResearchers at the Robert Wood

Johnson Medical School found aJohnson Medical School found a

relationship between physicalrelationship between physical

activity and childrenactivity and childrens selfs self--

esteem. The more time childrenesteem. The more time ch ildren

ages 10 to 16 spent being active,ages 10 to 16 spent being active,

the higher their selfthe higher their self--efficacy andefficacy andselfself--esteem were reported to beesteem were reported to be

(Strauss RS,(Strauss RS, RodzilskyRodzilsky D,D, BurackBurack

G, Colin M., 2001).G, Colin M., 2001).

European researchers foundEuropean researchers foundthat physical fitness inthat physical fitness in

children related to a reducedchildren related to a reduced

risk of developing asthmarisk of developing asthmaduring adolescenceduring adolescence(Rasmussen,(Rasmussen, LambrechstenLambrechsten,,SierstedSiersted, Hansen & Hansen,, Hansen & Hansen,

2000).2000).

Physical activity is instrumentalPhysical activity is instrumental

in preventing certain cancers;in preventing certain cancers;

from colon cancer and breastfrom colon cancer and breast

cancer to prostate cancercancer to prostate cancer

((MerrettMerrett,, TheisTheis &&AshburyAshbury, 2000)., 2000).Increased exercise helpedIncreased exercise helped

reduce the risk of developingreduce the risk of developing

diabetes by 58% (Yale Universitydiabetes by 58% (Yale UniversitySchool of Medicine, 2001).School of Medicine, 2001).


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For every $1.00 spent onFor every $1.00 spent on

childrenchildrens recreational activities,s recreational activities,

society saves $4.78 in costs ofsociety saves $4.78 in cos ts of

remedial education, welfare andremedial education, welfare and

crime prevention.crime prevention.

(Federal Committee for(Federal Committee for

Economic Development, 1998)Economic Development, 1998)

Beginning a physical activityBeginning a physical activity

such as gymnastics at an earlysuch as gymnastics at an earlyage is no guarantee but activeage is no guarantee but active

children are more likely to growchildren are more likely to growup to be active and healthyup to be active and healthy

adults.adults.

The risk o f substance abuse byThe risk of substance abuse by

adolescents is decreased byadolescents is decreased by

physical training programs thatphysical training programs that

incorporate life skills. Betterincorporate life skills. Better

school attendance, lower anxietyschool attendance, lower anxiety

and depression, and decreasedand depression, and decreased

use of tobacco and alcohol wereuse of tobacco and alcohol wereall reported after a twelve weekall reported after a twelve week

physical training programphysical training program

(Collingwood,(Collingwood, SunderlinSunderlin ,,Reynolds & Kohl, 2000).Reynolds & Kohl, 2000).

1 in 4 eighth graders has been1 in 4 eighth graders has been

drunk. Positive interventiondrunk. Positive intervention

programs such as after schoo lprograms such as after school

sports has been proven tospor ts has been proven to

prevent drinking by 9 to 15 yearprevent drinking by 9 to 15 year

olds. (Williams, 1994).olds. (Williams, 1994).

Recreational sports activities,Recreational sports activities,

including gymnastics is a key toincluding gymnastics is a key to

balanced human developmentbalanced human development

and has been proven to be aand has been proven to be asignificant factor in reducingsignificant factor in reducing

alcohol and drug use (Williams,alcohol and drug use (Williams,

1994).1994).

Statistics show that childrenStatistics show that childrenactively engaged in organizedactively engaged in organized

positive choicepositive choice extraextra--curricular activities such ascurricular activities such as

youth sports are less likely to beyouth sports are less likely to be

involved in selfinvolved in self--destructive anddestructive andantianti--social behavior and juvenilesocial behavior and juvenile

crime (crime (SoenstromSoenstrom, 1986)., 1986).


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Physical activity has beenPhysical activity has been

proven to delay the developmentproven to delay the development

of high blood pressure andof high blood pressure andhelps reduce blood pressure inhelps reduce blood pressure in

adolescents w ith hypertensionadolescents w ith hypertension

(Centers for Disease Control and(Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 1999).Prevention, 1999).

Many studies have reported theMany studies have reported the

benefits of moderate impactbenefits of moderate impactactivities such as gymnasticsactivities such as gymnastics

has on the development of bonehas on the development of bonedensity and the prevention ofdensity and the prevention of

osteoporosis.osteoporosis.

PlyometricPlyometric exercises (alsoexercises (alsoknown as jump training) likeknown as jump training) like

tumbling and vaulting have beentumbl ing and vaulting have beendetermined by the Americandetermined by the American

College of Sports Medicine to beCollege of Sports Medicine to bea safe, beneficial and fun activ itya safe, beneficial and fun activ ity

for children.for children.

Ac tive children are more likely toAct ive chi ldren are more li kely togrow to become active andgrow to become active and

healthier adults, reducing thehealthier adults , reducing theburden on the health careburden on the health care

system.system.

Napping improves visual skil ls,Napping improves visual skills,learning, a 34 percentlearning, a 34 percent

improvement in performanceimprovement in performance

and 54 percent improvement inand 54 percent improvement inalertness.alertness.

(Wall Street Journal , 2003)(Wall Street Journal, 2003)

Children who attend quality preChildren who attend quality pre--school activities earn $143,000school activities earn $143,000

more over their lifetimes thanmore over their lifetimes thanthose who donthose who don t. (California Firstt. (California First

Five Commission, 2002)Five Commission, 2002)


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Sedentary li festyles have beenSedentary l ifestyles have been

linked to the development oflinked to the development of

coronary heart disease,coronary heart disease,diabetes mellitus and numerousdiabetes mellitus and numerous

other chronic ailments, costingother chronic ailments, costing

society approximately $1900society approx imately $1900

per person per year in healthper person per year in health

care costs.care costs.

Nurturing the enjoyment ofNurturing the enjoyment ofmovement and motor skillmovement and motor skill

development at an early age wil ldevelopment at an early age will

help to promote continuedhelp to promote continuedparticipation in physical activity.participation in physical activity.Long range, these active andLong range, these active and

therefore healthier adults aretherefore healthier adults aremore likely to be more productivemore likely to be more productive

at work, take less sick days, andat work, take less sick days, andhave fewerhave fewer on the jobon the job accidentsaccidents

((PaffenbargerPaffenbarger, 1986)., 1986).

Gymnastics contributes to theGymnastics contributes to the

immediate economic vitality ofimmediate economic vitality of

your local community; gymyour local community; gym

owners pay rent, employ people,owners pay rent, employ people,

pay taxes and purchase goods.pay taxes and purchase goods.

In addit ion to all of the above,In addition to all of the above,

gymnastics provides childrengymnastics provides children

with an opportunity to meet withwith an opportunity to meet with

friends, make new friends andfriends, make new friends and

have fun!have fun!

Gymnastics Benefits

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