As hardcore gymnastics fans, we’re heading into a bit of a dark period for the next month or so. With NCAA season over, our Friday nights have suddenly opened up and we’re left wondering what to do with our time while we eagerly await the first major elite competitions in June.

Fortunately, there are a few World Cup competitions here and there, but we need more to get our gymnastics fix. Worry not, we’ve come to your aid. Check out our list below to help fill your time with gymnastics goodness.

1. "In the Arena of Dreams" - Re-runs of Make It or Break It

Boy drama, friend drama, health drama, competition drama – Make It or Break It has it all. If you’re bored on a Friday night and looking to do some serious binge-watching, this TV show will deliver. It aired on ABC Family from 2009-2012. You’ll chuckle a bit to yourself at the simplicity of the gymnastics performed at the supposed elite level, and the fact that the top gymnasts in the country all seem to magically come from Colorado (what is in the water there?) but the show actually does a commendable job at portraying the life of an elite gymnast. It’s a fun show, filled with all the trials and tribulations you might expect from the lives of teenagers. Take it for what it is and enjoy. The show isn't available on Netflix Instant, but you may or may not be able to find it on YouTube...

2. Beach reading

With spring on its way and summer not far behind, it’s a great time to stock up on some beach reads. Fortunately, there’s a pretty decent selection of gymnastics books out there, both fiction and non-fiction. For juicy details on some of the gym drama from the '80s and '90s elite scene, check out Jennifer Sey’s Chalked Up and Dominique Moceanu’s Off Balance. For an uplifting and inspiring memoir, some of the best are Shannon Miller’s It's Not About Perfect and Gabby Douglas’s Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith.

Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson have also written memoirs, as has Nadia Comaneci. We also have a new book to look forward to in July – Dvora Meyers’ The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score from Nadia to Now, which should provide a fascinating look into how gymnastics has changed over the years.

Shawn Johnson is also set to debut a young adult novel in July called The Flip Side. And don't forget Dominique Moceanu's The Go-for-Gold fiction series if you're up for a children's book.

3. Turn your friends into gymnastics fans, one competition at a time

Some of us are lucky enough to have friends that adore gymnastics as much as us, while others have to use that old “sorry, I have gymnastics...” excuse on a weekend to mean they will actually be watching gymnastics alone at home. Now is the perfect time to convert your friends into fellow gym fans. The best way to do this? Watching old footage of the best competitions.

We recommend starting with the big ones – everyone loves an Olympics – and then gradually introducing World Championships, American Cup, and Nationals as you go. You'll have your friends asking you for a copy of the Code of Points in no time.

Also, here are 15 Legendary Routines that every gymnast (and their friends!) needs to watch.

4. Fill your long car rides with podcast episodes... about gymnastics

Even when you need your eyes on the road and not on a TV screen or book, you can still keep gymnastics in your life, thanks to the weekly GymCastic podcast. No need to listen to the same songs on the radio any longer. Plug in your phone and you’ll feel like you’re chatting with old friends about everything and anything in the gymnastics world.

5. Get an inside look into the lives of top gymnasts with our Documentaries

FloGymnastics’ has produced a huge variety of original documentary series that provide an inside look into the lives of some of our favorite gymnasts. Whether it’s looking at some of the sport’s legends like Kerri Strug or Dominique Moceanu, the top elite gymnasts of today like Simone Biles and the stars of WOGA, or following top NCAA teams like Florida, Oklahoma and LSU, FloGymnastics has you covered. Check out the list here for a full list of our films and happy watching!


Related:
15 Legendary Routines Every Gymnast Needs To Watch
Shannon Miller's New Memoir - Motivational & Awe-Inspiring
Simone Biles: Golden Girl- The Trailer
Simone Biles: Golden Girl - Episode 1
Simone Biles: Golden Girl - Episode 2