Does It Need To Be Perfect?
- geoff862
- Nov 11
- 3 min read
I don't think its about how well its performed - most of the time.
Tonight, I was more of an observer than a coach.
We weren’t running a tumbling session — the guys were teaching parkour, and I was there in a supervisory role, just keeping an eye on things and stepping in if anything went sideways.
Funny thing — the night ended up being more about behaviour management than movement.
I try not to step in or offer suggestions while the coaches are in the middle of teaching. They’ve got their plan, and it’s important to see it through before tweaking anything. But as I watched, two things really stood out:
1. Nothing needs to be perfect.
2. You can make things too hard or too easy — and both can kill engagement.
That second one really hit home. When something’s too challenging, people switch off because it feels impossible. When it’s too simple, they lose interest. Finding that sweet spot — that’s the art of coaching.
That said, most of the session went brilliantly. Control was solid the whole way through — which is impressive with a group of young lads who just want to run, jump, and throw themselves about. They listened, they worked hard, and honestly, they’re progressing fast.
Across two one-hour sessions, I saw some great stuff. Of course, there were moments when things started to wobble. When young lads get a funny idea in their heads, they’ll run with it — unless you can offer a better alternative that actually captures their attention.
If the alternative’s too hard or too easy, it won’t land. And if you can’t come up with one quickly, frustration creeps in.
I’m definitely guilty of that sometimes. Maybe I was a bit harsh on a couple of them tonight. But no one left unhappy — including me. I made a point of encouraging more and correcting less. That always feels better.
After everyone left, I had a quick chat with the coaches about what I’d noticed. They’re an outstanding bunch — creative, patient, and getting better every week. I’ve only been working with them for a couple of months, but I can already see the potential. They’re building something special — a real parkour community.
I still feel like a bit of an outsider to the parkour crowd. When I started coaching, parkour was still a fringe activity. Now it’s mainstream, with purpose built gyms and regular classes.
We only run one parkour day a week, but it draws a great crowd — guys and girls who show up, move, and just have fun. And that brings me back to the point that stuck with me all night:
It doesn’t need to be perfect.
People show up not knowing much, and that’s okay. The beauty of parkour is that as long as you can get over something, under something, or around something — you’re doing it. There’s no scoring, no judges, no competition. Just movement, creativity, and enjoyment.
It’s such a refreshing contrast to tumbling or cheerleading, where every toe point and body line gets scrutinized.
My gymnastics background has made me a bit of a perfectionist — not a bad thing, really. It helps me spot details and give people solid foundations to build on. That’s where I love coaching most: the basics done well.
Sure, it’d be amazing to teach someone a double-double, but athletes at that level are few and far between. I’ve always believed participation matters more. If it’s safe and fun, that’s a win in my book.
And let’s be honest — I don’t think anyone’s published a research paper on “the perfect way to do a Kong.” (happy to be corrected) Probably not much out there on cheerleading technique either. Even in gymnastics, the science only goes so far. So why chase perfection when no one’s actually defined it?
That’s what I love about sessions like tonight. They strip away the pressure of doing everything “right” and remind me why movement’s supposed to be fun.
If a foot isn’t perfectly pointed or a leg isn’t straight — who cares? As long as it’s safe and doesn’t get in the way, let’s just run with it. Literally.
Later this week, I’ll be back coaching cheerleaders — focusing on clean technique, small groups, sharp lines, and perfect shapes. That has its place too.
But tonight reminded me of something important:
Does it really need to be perfect?
Thanks for reading! Till next time.
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