September 5, 2022
Turntrainster Sophie Steevensz: ‘Een club vergroot je zelfvertrouwen’
As a happy girl, she used to be on the gymnastics mat herself. Now, together with a partner, she owns a gymnastics school in Amsterdam. Sophie Steevensz: "The sport continues to fascinate me. I want to share my enthusiasm and passion for gymnastics with children in a relaxed and playful way. The sport has given me so much; I want every child to experience that."
"The highlight of the week." Sophie Steevensz looks back on her gymnastics class as a seven-year-old. "I looked forward to the class all week. It started off really casually. An hour on Wednesday afternoon. It wasn't much more, but it was so much fun! I had a great coach; we really bonded, and I trusted her. I felt at home at that club and with her. That's an important aspect of gymnastics: the bond with the coach."
From that one hour, I climbed to a competitive level and later became a coach myself. It's a challenging, performance-oriented sport. It requires commitment if you truly want to perform at a high level. Training hours can reach 13-15 hours a week. You also need perseverance, the ability to take a beating, and learning to use your body optimally. The stress profile in gymnastics is lower than in many other sports. With gymnastics, you don't train a specific muscle group. You also practice balance and coordination, and train four disciplines. These all involve different muscle demands, so they're demanding, but different every time. At a competitive level, gymnastics isn't just a side activity. It demands a lot from the children, but also from the parents. It's an intense sport. But you get a lot in return.
Learning and growing
Looking back, Sophie sees how gymnastics shaped her. “I’ve truly gained more self-confidence. I’ve learned that you improve with practice. That perseverance pays off and that taking on challenges can bring you something. But I’ve also learned to relax, because it’s all about the balance between exertion and relaxation. And especially the fun of training with others and going to competitions. You’re part of the group. I think that’s important for every child. Belonging and realizing that you’re learning and growing. A club is so different from school or home. It’s an addition that’s important for every child. Sport is healthy, of course, and children become physically stronger. But it’s so much more. Mentally, things also change. I now see children at the club truly growing in all areas and gaining more courage and confidence. That’s wonderful to see.”
A party every week
Six years ago, Sophie and fellow coach Claire Griffiths founded City Gymnastics in Amsterdam. “Our mission is to share our love for gymnastics. In a fun, natural, and relaxed way. Especially now that gymnastics has been receiving so much negative press lately, we want to show that things can be done differently. We teach children in a personal, fun, engaging way, with a close-knit team. Just show up in leggings and a T-shirt if the child feels comfortable with that. No strict, overt gymnastics culture. But above all, fun and relaxed. We want to make it a party every week, both for the children who come for an hour and for the competitive gymnasts. When I was young, I loved the sport, but the drive to perform was difficult. The competitions were often scary and exciting for me. The pressure was on, the bar was set high. And yet, I wanted to do gymnastics every day. That wasn't right, it wasn't right. That's why we want to take a different approach at our gymnastics club.”
Everyone is welcome
What started years ago as a small club has now grown into an association with 450 gymnasts. It's really taken off! We offer mini-gym classes to little ones from the age of 2, to puberty-aged children, and everyone in between. From pure recreational to competitive sports. We have a close-knit team of trainers who coach the children with joy and professionalism. It's not just about performance; we want to achieve more. Let the students have fun, have fun. They also work together as a group, encourage and help each other. That makes you stronger. We also have children who participate in gymnastics with us through the Youth Sports & Culture Fund. It's so wonderful that this is possible. Everyone is welcome. In both recreational and competitive classes, there are children who are struggling financially at home. For them, sports are an outlet. A time during the week when they're not confronted with the worries of home. When they're simply part of the group. Just relax. Have a safe, familiar place. That's incredibly valuable. It can lead to new friendships or a different mindset. It can provide relaxation and boost self-confidence. That's why I hope parents don't hesitate to ask for help. So that every child can participate and become a member. A club. Because no one wants to be left behind. And if it were up to us: come and enjoy gymnastics!
More about gymnastics through the Youth Fund
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