CLASS STEPS UnDER 5’S
BOUNCING BUNNIES 18 MONTHS+
THIS IS THE FIRST STRUCTURED CLASS THAT ANY CHILD WOULD TAKE IN THE CLUB. GYMNASTICS IS A FUN ACTIVITY AND THIS CLASS PROVIDES THE TEACHING OF THE BASIC SKILLS IN A QUIET TEACHING ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS A CHANCE FOR EACH CHILD TO BE INTRODUCED TO GYMNASTICS ALONGSIDE MUM, DAD, OR GRANDMA AND GRANDAD.
GYMJOY 4-5
TAKING PLACE LATER IN THE DAY SO THAT THOSE WHO GO TO A PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL CENTRE CAN MAKE IT. WE ARE STRICT WITH THE AGE AS WE HAVE FOUND THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 4 FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PARTICIPATE INDEPENDENTLY. THIS CLASS STARTS OFF THE EVENING ACTIVITIES AND FOLLOWS THE SAME STRUCTURED WARM UP AND APPARATUS ROTATIONS AS OUR OVER 5’S CLASSES.
WHY TAKE AN UNDER 5’S CLASS?
SPORT IS A LIFESTYLE AND WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO START YOUNG AND GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO WORK GRADUALLY THROUGH OUR STEP TO STEP PROGRAMME.
RECREATIONAL CLASSES FOR AGES 5+
GYMDREAMS 5-6YRS
IT IS A VERY NATURAL PROGRESSION THAT TAKES PLACE FROM GYMJOY INTO GYMDREAMS. IT IS THE FIRST 1HR CLASS THAT THE CHILDREN WILL PARTICIPATE IN AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO PROGRESS INTO MORE CHALLENGING SKILLS ON ALL OF THE APPARATUS.
GYMSTARS 7-9YRS
WE HOPE BY NOW THAT THE BASICS OF GYMNASTICS WILL BE ESTABLISHED AND THE GYMNASTS WILL BE STRONGER AND READY TO START LEARNING SOME MORE CHALLENGING SKILLS IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2 HOUR CLASSES.
FLIPSTERS 10YRS+
THIS IS OUR MORE ADVANCED RECREATIONAL CLASS. SOME GYMNASTS WILL BE ABLE TO TUMBLE WITH CONFIDENCE WHILE OTHERS ARE STILL LEARNING SOME OF THE MORE BASIC MOVES. LEARNING IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT THE GYMNASTS WILL BE SPLIT INTO GROUPS WITH OTHERS OF THE SAME LEVEL. IT IS A 2 HOUR RECREATIONAL CLASS ALLOWING MORE TIME TO IMPROVE THE SKILLS THE GYMNAST ALREADY HAS AND ADVANCE INTO MORE DIFFICULT SKILLS.
WHO RUNS THESE CLASSES?
OLYMPIAN CLAIRE WRIGHT OVERSEES THE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMME AND HAS ENSURED A GOOD COACHING STAFF IS ON HAND TO GIVE THE CHILDREN THE CONFIDENCE TO LEARN IN A FUN AND HAPPY ENVIRONMENT. WE EXPECT DISCIPLINE FOR SAFETY BUT ENJOY WATCHING THE CHILDREN LEARN AND DEVELOP. THE COACHES WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE CHILDREN TO ENSURE THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT CLASS FOR THEIR ABILTY AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
THE iNTERMEDIATE PATH
THE INTERMEDIATE PATH IS A FULFILLING PATH FOR THOSE GYMNASTS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND WOULD LIKE TO PUT MORE TIME INTO GYMNASTICS, DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, COMPETE IN THE OCCASIONAL COMPETITION AND DO THE SPORT FOR A GREAT SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT.
GYMNASTS TAKING PART IN THIS PROGRAMME TRAIN FROM, FOUR UP TO NINE AND A HALF HOURS A WEEK IN THE GYM.
FOR THESE GROUPS IN PARTICULAR WE AIM TO RUN NOVICE COMPETITIONS SO THAT THE GIRLS CAN SEE HOW THEY ARE DEVELOPING, AND TO SEE IF THEY ARE REACHING THEIR OWN TARGETS. IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARENTS TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN IN ACTION.
COMPETITION IS IMPORTANT WITHIN THE CLUB AS IT IS A VERY COMPETITIVE WORLD OUT THERE AND NO MATTER WHAT PROFESSION YOU ARE IN THERE ARE ALWAYS TARGETS TO MEET, AIMS TO REACH AND OBSTACLES IN THE WAY. WE FEEL THAT BY PROVIDING COMPETITION IN EVERY DAY TRAINING, WE ARE HELPING THE CHILDREN TO LEARN TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN OVERCOMING OBSTACLES. THEY GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEIR SKILLS AND THEMSELVES AND LEARN TO COPE WITH HIGHS AND LOWS.
THIS IS A STEADY ROUTE TO TAKE TO PROGRESS AS A GOOD CLUB LEVEL GYMNAST.
THE ELITE PATH
THE ELITE PATH
THE ELITE PATH IS NOT FOR EVERY GYMNAST, IT REQUIRES A HUGE COMMITMENT FROM THE GIRLS AND FROM THEIR FAMILIES. THE GIRLS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FROM AMONG THE CHILDREN IN THE GYM BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEN TO HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF COURAGE, STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY, AGILITY, DETERMINATION, COMMITMENT, AND TALENT TO MOVE INTO ELITE GYMNASTICS.
A CHILD MAY BE MOVED INTO THESE GROUPS AT ANY TIME AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR NEW TALENT THAT COMES INTO THE CLUB.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL IS THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE THERE AND IF THEY FEEL OUT OF THEIR DEPTH AT ANY TIME OR FEEL THAT THEY WANT TO MOVE INTO THE INTERMEDIATE PATH THEN THEY MAY DO SO.
THE GIRLS CAN TRAIN FROM FOUR HOURS A WEEK UP TO 20+ HOURS A WEEK.
THIS OF COURSE IS A GREAT COMMITMENT BUT THE EMPHASIS IS STILL ON ENJOYING THE SPORT.
THE GIRLS IN THESE GROUPS WILL COMPETE AT COUNTY, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LEVEL AND THE HOPE IS THAT SOME WILL COMPETE AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
THE COACHES ENSURE THAT THE BODY PREPARATION IS CORRECT FOR THE SPORT WHICH PERMITS GREATER EASE IN THE LEARNING OF SKILLS.
IN MANY WAYS THIS IS TOUGH ON THE GYMNASTS BUT MANY ENJOY THE REGIME AND THE LIFESTYLE THAT THIS OFFERS.
TO TRAIN AT THIS LEVEL THE GYMNASTS HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF SELF DISCIPLINE WHICH REFLECTS IN THEIR SCHOOL WORK AND HOME LIFE AS WELL AS IN THE GYM. ALL OF OUR FORMER INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTS HAVE HAD A GOOD EDUCATION AND THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ONES ALSO HAVE GOOD DEGREES TO THEIR NAMES.