Gymnastics emphisizes strength, power and grace. Unlike other sports, the focus of gymnastics is on the individual competitor and the skills displayed. This title helps readers acquire the concentration and mastery of movement needed to perform the sport safely and well.

It acts as a primer to those young athletes who wish to get started at the ground level. It also covers the history of the sport, rules and equipment, fundamental skills such as tumbling, balance and flexibility, and much more. Teaching the techniques for mastering the floor exercise, balance beam, uneven parallel bars and vault, it gives girls new to gymnastics information, and coaches and parents guidelines for helping young athletes. The basic routines used in competitive gymnastics, as well as nutrition, fitness training and flexibility training are also covered. Each chapter provides suggested drills. More than 130 photographs illustrate many of the drills and concepts discussed, and an appendix offers additional resources.