Junior Gymnastics

Gymnastics activities are offered throughout the year to cater specifically for boys and girls. Our gymnastics facilities are constantly improving, and this combined with excellent gymnastics coaches and our association to BAGA allow us provide an excellent platform from which to participate in Gymnastics.

Gymnastics at The Park Club has tended to be gender biased, but we are keen to develop this to incorporate both boys and girls. Gymnastics activities are broadly divided in to two categories; Term Time activities and Holiday Camps.

Term Time Gymnastics Activities

These six week courses are designed to run within Spring, Summer and Autumn school terms divided by half term holidays. The following activities are available during these times.

Term Time Gymnastics Courses for Children Aged 4 to 16

Courses for the younger children, aged 4 and 5 years of age, focus on the early development of the core skills which are inherent to Gymnastics, this will result in a long and enjoyable involvement in gymnastics. It will also help to develop their coordination and balance generally. Children are introduced to the BAGA proficiency awards at this early stage to help motivate them as well as monitor their progress.

Courses for the elder children, aged 6 to 10 years of age, offer a chance to further develop the skills learned in the earlier course to a more accomplished level. Greater emphasis is placed on more complicated skills, and children will continue to progress through the BAGA proficiency awards.

Courses for children, aged 11 to 16 years of age, although The Park Club are able to offer tuition for children of these ages we find that, if still involved in gymnastics, they are already competing elsewhere, where facilities are more suited to an advanced gymnast. We can however cater for the older child that wishes to get involved in Gymnastics at this fairly late stage.

Holiday Camp Gymnastics Activities for Children Aged 4 to 16

During school holidays, week long Multi-Sport Camps are available for all young members to enjoy. The Club's Multi-Sports camps incorporate gymnastics into its day's activities. These camps are staffed by our usual gymnastics coaches ensuring the consistency of coaching offered to children taking part in them.

All of the coaches are fully qualified and they offer a wonderfully fun and professional style to ensure that all children taking part in the all - day camps go home totally fulfilled with their days activity.

Multi-Sports and Gymnastics Camps are available for boys and girls of all ages and can be booked on a daily basis or for the whole week. An early drop-off and late collection service is also available.

The course summary on the reverse provides greater details of a typical Multi-Sport Holiday Camp.

When Are Gymnastics Courses and Multi-Sports Camps Available?

Details of when the Term Time Gymnastics Courses and Holiday Multi-Sport Camps are run and the associated costs may be found in the Sports and Activity Timetable. These are available from the main reception, by the noticeboards located in the main corridor on the lower ground floor or on http://www.mytpc.co.uk

Gymnastics Coaches

Our gymnastics coaches have years of experience in the field of gymnastics, competing for many years in the sport before becoming coaches themselves. With years of coaching experience as well as their previous participation in gymnastics our in house coaches ensure that there is always plenty of experience available on our coaching staff.

Judit Lovasz (BAGA Club Coach, HSE Child First Aid)

Judit took over as senior coach after her sister Kriszta returned to Hungary, before this she had worked with her sister for over two years, they also competed together for three years. Judit gained her coaching qualification back in 2004 and is now qualified as a Club Coach. As well as gymnastics Judit is qualified to teach the trampoline and can also teach P.E. in schools.

Caroline Auths (BAGA Assistant Club Coach)

Caroline was the perfect replacement for Kriszta as she had almost two years of experience working with the sisters prior to coming to work at The Park Club. This has ensured a smooth transition into Park Club life for Caroline who is already proving a hit with the children.

Portfolios of all of the Club's Gymnastics Coaches may be found on the Gymnastics notice board located in the main corridor on the lower ground floor.

Frequently Asked Questions about Multi-Sports Courses and Camps

What equipment do children need to bring?
All equipment is provided by the Club.

What should they wear?
Children should wear clothing suitable for Gymnastics and ideally a leotard, Boys can wear t-shirts and shorts. All Gymnastics class are bare foot, so there is no need for any footwear for these courses.

For the safety of children all long hair must be tied up.

Course Outline

Unlike other courses we can not offer a course outline as this is just not possible, but below is the structure of the awards scheme that the children follow whilst taking part in gymnastics at The Park Club.

Pre School ABC Bronze, Silver, and Gold

The pre school ABC awards are an introduction into the world of gymnastics. They are designed give children the opportunity to become involved in gymnastics in a safe and progressive manner, ensuring that their involvement is fun and long lasting.

Proficiency awards 7 to 1

The Awards cover six sets of 10 exercises, graded from the simplest level - Award 7 and working up towards a more advanced level - Award 2. Children start with Award 7 and work through to Award 2 to ensure the correct progression as approved by the National Technical Committees. On each level six out of the ten moves must be completed in order to progress to the next level. Each set of ten exercises is clearly displayed on a wall chart for easy use in the gym.

Floor Routine Bronze, Silver, and Gold

The floor routine awards are specific to the floor discipline of gymnastics. Children are able to progress through the awards in turn improving their ability at this specific discipline. The main differences between the awards at this stage are the difficulty of the exercises that each consist of.

Vault Bronze, Silver, and Gold

The vault awards follow exactly the same format as the floor routine awards, in that they are specific to the vault and progress in difficulty through each stage.