| Once gymnasts start to hit the pre-teen years they | | | | believe). They rely on their mini bike shorts way too |
| may start feeling uncomfortable in a gymnastics | | | | much and get very uncomfortable if they are made to |
| leotard. When gymnasts hit this stage, many parents | | | | take them off. But worst of all, once they are off the |
| buy their gymnasts gymnastics shorts. Is this helpful or | | | | wedgie picking doesn't stop. Without shorts their |
| harmful for your gymnast in the long run? | | | | gymnastics leotards "ride up" even more. For this |
| Gymnastics shorts are just like bike shorts (AKA mini | | | | reason you may think shorts are great because they |
| bike shorts) but much shorter and usually much cuter; | | | | stop this problem but this IS NOT THE CASE! At |
| they usually come in a verity of colors. They also | | | | gymnastics meets or gymnastics competitions your |
| come in two types of material: lyrca and velvet. | | | | gymnast CANNOT wear shorts. Since they are NOT |
| Gymnastics shorts are even decorative; they | | | | use to this, they may forget and pick their wedgies in |
| sometimes have rhinestones down the side or across | | | | their routines which will cause them to get a 0.05 |
| the booty. These mini bike shorts may be cute and | | | | deduction for each and every time they do it. This can |
| comfy BUT there are both positive and negative | | | | add up and cost them their placement for an award! |
| effects when it comes to wearing them. | | | | I do not believe gymnastics shorts benefit a gymnast in |
| First, I will start with the positives. Many girls who wear | | | | any way. When my gymnasts ask me about wearing |
| shorts feel like they need them; wearing them can give | | | | shorts I ask in return, "do you wear shorts over your |
| them more confidence and make them feel more | | | | swim suit when you go swimming"? Of course the |
| comfortable with their body. The shorts keep the | | | | answer is always "NO!" Then I tell them, "There is no |
| gymnastics leo in place which helps prevent wedgie | | | | reason to wear them here either." |
| picking. | | | | Keep in mind, you should practice the way you |
| Now for the negatives, shorts are NOT technically part | | | | compete; this means No gymnastics shorts; at least |
| of the gymnastics attire. When working out, the | | | | not for those that participate in gymnastics |
| gymnastics shorts tend to twist from side to side. This | | | | competitions or gymnastics meets. They can be more |
| causes the gymnast to have to stop what they are | | | | harmful then helpful! If you have a correct fitting |
| doing and fix them every time they twist (which is A | | | | gymnastics leotard you shouldn't have problems with |
| LOT). Many gymnasts tend to hide behind their shorts. | | | | picking wedgies anyway. |
| They can't do gymnastics without them (so they | | | | |