I S S U E 07 - S p o r t 4 A l l
Jump around!
Trampolining is a great sport for learning discipline, improving co-ordination and making new friends. Lizzy Adams explains how her teenage stepson and her twin daughters have found a love of trampolining through joining their local club.
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wo years ago, my stepson, CJ, showed an interest in trampolining. He was 13 at the time and would be in the garden for hours on our trampoline doing twists, turns and always practising. He also competed at school and loved it. I decided to look for somewhere he could learn how to develop his skills and I found Aire Trampoline Club in Canterbury, Kent. Each week, I would take CJ and my twins, who were three at the time. They would watch and cheer him on. I saw CJ’s confidence grow as he trained hard and took part in competitions, with great success.
I saw CJ’s confidence grow as he trained hard and took part in competitions, with great success He then got the opportunity to be part of the Squad Team and was over the moon. His face just lit up and he kept pushing himself more and more to get better. He loves the sport, he loves the feeling of progressing and has made many friends at the club; he is so happy, it is truly lovely to see.
A FAMILY PASSION
My twins were shy, clingy and
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wouldn’t say ‘boo’ to a goose. But they loved watching CJ and how much fun he was having. They would cheer him on at competitions and kept asking to join in. When the twins turned four, they joined the club. They were hooked as soon as they started. Liz, a senior coach, made them feel so welcome and they loved learning from her. They have come out of their shells so much. They overcame the fear of meeting new people and their motor skills have improved, along with strength, coordination and confidence. What is not to love about the sport!
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
The benefits of trampolining are multifaceted, from learning discipline to being part of a team and making friends. There are also many health benefits, such as improved balance and coordination, improved bone density, better circulation, enhanced motor skills, and cardiovascular benefits. The coaches at Aire Trampoline Club are down to earth and make learning fun and enjoyable – a year on and my twins are still loving the club. We go twice a week and every badge and certificate they achieve just adds to seeing them light up. They look at the older gymnasts
and they tell me they want to be like them when they grow up.
ROLE MODELS
All three kids look up to the coaches. In 2019, the head coach of Aire Trampoline Club, Dexter Millen was officially recognised by the British Gymnastics National Awards for his outstanding contribution to gymnastics. This was an amazing achievement for not only Dexter, but the club and sport. The children even watched the trampolining when Bryony Page, Kat Driscoll and Nathan Bailey went to the Rio Olympics in 2016.
The benefits of trampolining are multifaceted, from learning discipline to being part of a team Seeing the children do these incredible twists, turns and somersaults, all the while smiling away is the best feeling. If you are looking for a fantastic allround sport for your child, find your local trampoline club and see for yourself just how great it is. For more information on Aire Trampoline Club, tel: 01227 471744, email: enquires@aire.tc or visit: www.aire.tc
www.FamilyFirst.co.uk
