Can kids do gymnastics on the field at playtime?

[Trallers]

At my school the kids have been told by some members of staff that they are allowed to do gymnastics moves but only ones they "know how to do" and not ones they are learning. It's outrageously unsafe isn't it? The head doesn't 'allow' it but some staff members seem to, despite me raising it repeatedly. I tell the kids not to but they don't understand why something they are good at is dangerous, especially when the teacher on duty yesterday said it was fine. Plus they aren't always in ears reach so I have to watch them do 6 back flips in a row, or an aerial cartwheel, as I race across the grass. It's actually making me want to quit as we roll into summer and it's every bloody day. Throw in all the other poor behaviour and I'm tearing my hair out! I have a feeling this isn't happening at other schools as none I've spoken to allow it - would be interested to hear wider responses though.

I don't think that the OP is bothered by the lower level gymnastics (handstands/cartwheels etc). It's the fact that an aerial move - eg a backflip could result in a catastrophic injury (broken neck anyone?) if not executed properly, particularly on grass with no crash mat present. I don't think asking these girls NOT to do such movements without the presence of a qualified coach and crash mats is unreasonable??

Football produces more injuries, but probably not life threatening, whereas if someone breaks their neck doing gymnastics it may well be ??

OP, I think all you can do is to tell children on your watch NOT to do any aerial moves (regardless of competence) and feed this back to your Head teacher. I completely appreciate that sometimes, you can't stop someone from doing something, but if you tell them they're not to do it and there is evidence of an email trail from you to your headteacher/other senior leadership people, then you are covered if anything goes wrong. I don't know what else you can do

If they are pre-elite gymnasts, a phone call to the gym club could get them a chat from the coach.
The most likely risks are repetitive impact injuries- mats are used to allow repetition without trashing joints.
Also ankle sprains.
If they are rec gymnasts, they get barely 30 minutes a week actually doing skills and may not get to practice this stuff in a suitable setting with a qualified coach. Maybe go a month between doing handsprings/ aerials, so they will try wherever they can.
I was that kid. Still nursing the worn joints um decades later.
Unfortunately cheer and acro dance teachers seem to encourage kids to think it's okay to do mad stuff on hard floors. They seem to have a different expectation of safety.

Can't believe the flaming you're getting here OP. I can only assume most of these posters haven't been in a school since they were there themselves. Parents complain all the time. All the time. And it will be a personal complaint about you if you weren't supervising in a way they consider adequate.

If the Head has said no, then it's not going to be happening on my watch and I'd raise it if other staff weren't being consistent with the rules. We allow cartwheels and handstands but not tumbling or aerials even on the field. There is the risk of injury to the child themselves as well as the risk of another child getting hurt when they run into the gymnast's path. I'm not a sports specialist - how do I know if a child is doing a skill properly and within their capabilities while not in an appropriate environment?

As a parent, you can let your kids do whatever they like in the park. When I'm responsible for your children, I take the responsibility to keep them safe extremely seriously. And that goes for the school field as well as on school trips, in the classroom/dining room, letting them go home with the correct adult etc. Sorry if that annoys you.

Sorry, I thought they were mentioned as potentially dangerous. I don't know the technical terms for gymnastics moves.

Elite gymnastics 😂 get a grip.
my daughter went to a local gymnastics club in a leisure centre and was doing hand springs, flips and one handed cartwheels. She’s certainly no elite gymnast 😂 just your average kid who’s brave and flexible. Like most kids.
still think it’s pathetic to be policing this in schools.