Gymnathlon
methodology

Gymnathlon is a versatile sports program that ensures the comprehensive athletic development of a child. Its goal is to foster a love for physical activity in children through playful and methodically designed training sessions, while developing key abilities and skills appropriate to their age. To achieve this, Gymnathlon is structured into four interconnected programs.

Baby

2,5–4 years

The first introduction to training and fostering independence
Development of 10 fundamental skills
Movement games and exercises with a variety of tools

Junior

4–6 years

Building versatility and sports motivation
Development of 12 key skills
Athletic and gymnastics exercises, movement games

Sportmix

6–9 years

Development of versatility and team cooperation
Teaching the basics of 6 sports
Basketball, gymnastics, tennis, athletics, volleyball, parkour

Active

8–11 years

Building fitness and regular movement habits
Development of 7 physical abilities
Circuit training, technical exercises, movement games

Emphasis on maximum playfulness and experience

Game plan with stickers

For completed lessons and practiced skills and abilities, children collect stickers in attractive game plans. These enhance their motivation, as they visually guide them through the entire course. At the same time, they serve as a guide for parents, providing insight into the content and progress of the program.

The beloved monkey Max

The playful nature of the lessons is enhanced by the presence of Gymnathlon's mascot, Max the monkey, whom the children adore. Max supports the kids not only during the training sessions but also outside of them, as each child has the chance to take him home for a week. Families share their sports experiences with Max through Max's journal, allowing them to connect with others.

Two coaches for a maximum of twenty children

To ensure the quality of training and the best possible sports experience, the Gymnathlon concept is based on limited group sizes and two coaches (in the Junior, Sportmix, and Active courses). The coaches complement each other as needed, work with the children as a well-coordinated team, and always strive to ensure that every child takes away only the best experiences from each session.

Development of key abilities and skills

Area of development	Trained abilities/skills
Physical abilities and skills	Climbing and crawling Walking Rolling and tumbling Ball games Agility Jumping
Tactical abilities	Space orientation
Technical skills	Throwing
Personality	Friendship Independence

Area of development	Trained abilities/skills
Physical abilities and skills	Running Crawling and rolling Jumps and bounces Cradle and dish Exercises with equipment Balance Movement coordination Pulling (Tug-of-war)
Tactical abilities	Orientation during play
Technical skills	Throwing and catching Throwing a ball
Personality	Concentration

Sport	Key physical abilities for a given sport
Tennis	Speed Strenght Coordination
Volleyball	Explosivness Speed Coordination
Basketball	Explosivness Strenght Speed
Athletics	Speed Strenght Explosivness
Gymnastics	Flexibility Coordination Strenght
Parkour	Flexibility Coordination Strenght

Area of development	Trained abilities/skills
Physical abilities and skills	Speed Explosivness Strenght Endurance Coordination Flexibility Balance
Personality	Motivation Discipline Cooperation

Methodology guarantors

The Gymnathlon methodology is based on a diverse mix of exercises and games and was developed in collaboration with experts from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University, as well as specialists from sports clubs and associations.

The selection of exercises in each program was designed with an emphasis on children's enjoyment and fun, as well as their overall development. Depending on the type of program, the methodology was developed in collaboration with the experts listed below.