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Choosing the Right School Gym Mat: A Breakdown

By Paige Cerulli

Created: Apr, 2025

School gym mats are essential investments in maximizing student safety during gym class, after-school sports, and other athletic activities. These mats help absorb impact, offer valuable cushion, and may help prevent injuries; plus, many are used for different types of sports. Before you invest in gym mats for schools, it’s essential to determine which types of mats are best for your needs.

Athletic Activities That Require School Gym Mats

The type of activity that will be performed in your gymnasium can help you explore the right type of mat. These common school athletic activities each need very specific types of gym mats.

Wrestling


school gym mats for wrestling
During wrestling practice, students may fall to the floor, so investing in the right shock-absorbent padding can help keep them safe. The Gym Mats 2 Inch are a popular choice because of their durable foam core. The mats feature an 18-ounce vinyl cover that can withstand rough treatment, and the folding mat design makes it easy to lay out the mats before practice and then fold and store them away.



The Home Wrestling Flexi-Connect Mat is another excellent choice suitable for wrestling practice. The mat is a two-piece set that you can easily connect with the built-in hook-and-loop system. It’s crafted from lightweight closed-cell foam for excellent shock absorption, and the smooth leather-like texture is slip-resistant for athlete safety. The mat’s already equipped with a printed wrestling circle and marks so students can practice and prepare for competitions. The mats roll up for easy storage.



Gymnastics, Tumbling, and Cheerleading


folding gym mats for school
Folding Gymnastics Mats are go-to essentials for gymnastics, tumbling, and cheerleading, whether at the elementary school, middle school, or high school level. These mats fold up into compact two-foot-wide panels for easy storage, and they can be unfolded and connected together with the hook-and-loop fasteners to form lanes, larger square spaces, and more. They’re easy to clean and can also be folded up to serve as skill-builders.



The Cheerleading Mats are roll-up mats that are lightweight and easy to move. These mats feature a needle-punch top that’s durable enough to withstand plenty of practice time, and the cross-linked PE foam creates a padded surface to absorb impact and help keep athletes safe. These mats meet the minimum thickness requirements for cheerleading competition mats, making them a versatile choice.



The Incline Wedge Non-Folding Mat is a progressive skill builder that can help kids safely learn the foundational talents they’ll need. These mats can also help gymnasts learn advanced techniques. They’re suitable for use in kids' recreation centers, too.



Gymnastics Octagon Mats are essential in helping kids learn forward rolls and back handsprings, providing them with support and stability to help prevent accidents and build confidence. These mats are available in six different sizes and feature durable covers.



Gymnastics competition landing mats are available in many different styles, sizes, and thicknesses. These mats help take the sting out of landing and can be placed at the end of tumbling lanes, beside balance beams, and in other areas of your gym where athletes will need extra shock absorption.



Physical Education Classes


gym mats for schools
The Gym Mats 2-Inch are commercial-grade mats that can withstand the rigorous use they’ll see during physical education classes. These mats are highly durable, thanks to their folding design. They feature hook and loop connectors on all four sides, so they can be used as floor mats to add cushion for exercises like sit-ups and push-ups, but they can also be hung on walls to absorb shock in case of a collision. When partially folded up, the mats can double as skill builder mats, and they can even be used for elevated push-ups or sit-ups.

How to Choose the Right School Gym Mats

With so many school gym mats available, it’s important to select the right mats for the job.

Consider How the Mat Will Be Used


The types of activities that students will be participating in will partially determine the mats you need. Certain mats, like octagon mats, are best for certain skills or types of activities, so review the list above to help narrow down your options.

Think About Storage


Most school gyms serve multiple purposes, so you’ll need to choose mats that can be easily moved and stored. Consider the storage that you have available and the type of mat that can be most easily stored.

Look for Quality


It’s worth investing in higher-quality gym mats. Not only can these mats offer increased shock absorption and safety compared to some cheaper mats, but they also tend to be more durable, so your investment will last longer.

Reasons to Buy School Gym Mats from Greatmats

At Greatmats, we have an excellent selection of school gym mats for sale. Our customer service team is happy to help you choose the mats that are best for your needs. Contact us today with any questions, for shipping quotes, or to place your order.