DrillsAndSkills.com

[Jabba]

I am nearsighted, so without my glasses, I can see close things, but can't see things that are far away. I wear my glasses all the time. I can read without wearing glasses, but I usually have to hold the book pretty close to my face.

I used to do gymnastics as a child, and now as a 22-year-old, I'd like to get back into it (just for recreation). I don't want to wear contact lenses, because I have never worn them before, and also because I wouldn't want the chalk dust to get inbetween the lens and my eyeball (are my worries founded?).

This messageboard has a parent writing about having their child gymnast wear goggles:

http://pub46.bravenet.com/forum/3897517148/fetch/816088/

Here's a site that sells goggles for sport:

http://www.sporteyes.com/bargain4.htm

I have never seen a photo of a gymnast wearing glasses. I have never seen one in real life either.

Can any of you recommend a particular brand or model I should buy? I don't want my glasses falling off while doing a giant on the uneven bars, or during a back walkover on the floor.

[braindx]

Fabian Hambuechen on high bar, no less


Eh, if you can see close things and not far, it's fine if you don't wear any glasses at all while doing stuff. That is, unless it interferes with maybe transitions on unevens or something. I don't wear glasses and I do just fine.

[Jabba]

I'm wondering of that photo of Fabian was during the Athens games, when he ran out of his contact lenses and was forced to wear glasses with a sports headband:

http://www.insidegymnastics.com/news/article.asp?article=081104

I'm guessing Fabian doesn't usually wear glasses during practice, because most of the photos I've seen of him on the internet are of him with no glasses. I'm wondering if those glasses he is wearing in that photo are just his day-to-day glasses (like the ones that he'd wear while eating breakfast), and he just had to run to the store and buy a rubber tube to stick the glasses prongs into. I'm guessing this method would be cheaper than buying a new pair of glasses (~$5 versus ~$80), but I bet they wouldn't be as sturdy.

I'm planning on signing up for this adult (18+) gymnastics course, but I'm worried what the instructor will say when she sees me walk in wearing glasses.

[Coach Blair]

Wouldn't matter much to me. I once taught a lil albino boy who never seemed to have problems on vault. The most piercing eyes you'll ever see.
A lil 6yo parents have opted for the goggles. He's as goofy as all get out, but better with the goggles than his old glasses. He and his parents were always wary about him breaking them or losing them.
My first thought on someone with poor vision problems is to put them on beam to build up awareness by feeling the space.
Except for vault and tumbling, eyesight is not really a factor. It's more about the feel of the skill.
When you're comfortable, it will go slow. Until then, it will be a big blur. Expect that for quite some time.
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Glorify strength. "It is only by becoming stronger that a man can realize his divinity."

[Grumpydp]

Hmm. I realize this is an old post, but I'm just tickled to see some other near-sighted adult gymnasts around! I'd be curious to hear how low your vision is, Jabba, because I've, what, 20/200 in my good eye and I haven't had too much trouble so far running around with no glasses. Granted, I'm not out there doing double layouts or anything, and running down to the vault is a plenty scary sometimes, but gymnastics is all about body awareness, something we visually-impaired folk should be good at already, anyway! Anyway, good luck to ya!

Dan

P.S.! Anyone ever hear of a gymnast wearing hearing aids during their routine? Haven't had any trouble with mine yet.

[Coach Blair]

I think I was talking about a boy at the L5 qualifier last weekend that was legally blind. He had a pretty decent floor routine and vault ( front tuck off springboard ). Pretty remarkable, I think.
Recently my friend's gf took off her glasses at night while driving. She said everything looked like blots of color. I just can't imagine that and I get lost enough in the air and tramp, especially now, as it is.
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Glorify strength. "It is only by becoming stronger that a man can realize his divinity."

[Jabba]

I can't remember what my glasses prescription is, and I'd have to spend some time digging around in boxes to find an old receipt, but I do remember asking my optometrist once where I fell on the spectrum, and she said that my glasses are around average strength.

I don't wear any hearing aids, although I recently borrowed the film "Age is no Barrier" about the "U of Agers", a group of senior citizens who take gymnastics classes (both artistic and rhythmic) and even do routines in front of audiences! I can't remember if any of them were wearing hearing aids, but if I was on a quest to find some, I would view this film (the National Film Board of Canada probably has it).

I attended my first gymnastics-related competition about a month ago, which was the Canada Cup (trampoline and tumbling). I saw one girl, who looked about 10 years old, do a routine on the trampoline, and she was wearing glasses. I wanted to talk to her, but I was in the audience so I couldn't. To my luck, she came and sat down beside me, next to her friend! So I asked her if her glasses had some rubber tubing attached to each arm when she did her routines, and she said no. I asked her if her coach was OK with her wearing glasses, and she said yes. She said that she can't see without them. They just looked like regular, thin-framed glasses, so I was surprised they didn't fall off. The arms that rest over the ears didn't have those rounded-hook ends that I've seen some frames have. Well, I'd still like to buy some raquetball-type goggles with the elastic band that goes around the back of the head. I've done some cartwheels and my glasses slip down my nose. Not good.

[ernie]

I would say that I am not an adult, but I do wear glasses, and my contacts are -4.5, in both eyes. Which when I asked, are terrible. So, sometimes I'll go to school with my glasses, and forget that I have gymnastics, and not put my contacts in, and boy that a bugger. I can do ok, I usually just live without the glasses. I have also realized that it is harder to hear when you can't see. I might just be wierd. Anyway, the only problem I have had with not being able to see, was on beam. I was ok with the vault, as long as I started in the right spot, I could do perfectly fine, just feel a little bit akward. Beam was hard, because as we all know, it's skinny. You really do have to feel all around you. I can't wear glass and tumble, they just fall off my head. My friend does use the sport goggles, and they work out for him fine.
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Gymnastics doesn't USE balls, it TAKES balls!

[TipGuy]

Interesting that you would find that hearing is more difficult when vision is impared. I would wager that this is because you have to conciously focus on working out what you are seeing. Conversely if you loose all vision (closing your eyes, pitch dark room, blindness, etc) you will hear more because the vision center uses less neural resources and allows more for hearing.
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TipGuy
Webmaster DrillsAndSkills.com

[ernie]

I never thought of it like that. Good insight, I will try not to look, and try to listen. Thanks
_________________
Gymnastics doesn't USE balls, it TAKES balls!

[Grumpydp]

Well, this sure is a bit off of the gymnastics topic, but as far as vision impacting how well we can hear...supposedly we all read lips to some extent or another, so reducing how well you can see the other person (e.g., coach accross the floor yelling advice) will definitely impact your chances of understanding. How much impact would depend on the acoustics and how much hearing you have in the first place, I guess.

From personal experience, I have a severe hearing loss in my left ear (no hearing at all in my right) (which is why I was asking about hearing aids in gymnastics before), and I know that if I'm not facing someone, I miss so much more than if I'm watching them talk. :: shrug :: My two cents.

Dan

P.S. Not only senior citizens wear hearing aids!