Recreation Class Descriptions

Our recreational classes focus on learning basic gymnastics positions and skills and implementing them
on all events. We want kids to enjoy learning in a safe and noncompetitive environment. Your athlete
will begin each class with a group warm-up employing their large muscle groups and raising their heart
rate. Our informative coaches will teach them to stretch, work on bridges and splits at a level comfortable
to each individual.

Girls 1
Gymnasts will focus on core strength, arm strength, and the coordination necessary to learn headstands,
handstands, cartwheels and forward rolls- the fundamental building blocks of almost all gymnastics skills.
They will spend time hanging, swinging, and supporting themselves on the bars in order to build the
necessary strength to pull over onto the bars. Balance and coordination on beam will continue to improve
through repetition of walking, jumping, and kicking, leading into turns and leaps. The focus on vault will
begin with proper running technique, skipping and hurdling drills, leading to jump ups and squat ons. All
athletes will grow at their individual pace with encouragement and positive reinforcement from our
professional coaching staff.

Girls 2
All recreational classes are designed to be a continuation of skills and growth from the previous class.
In girls 2, your athlete will continue to build strength and gain flexibility. The will begin learning
backward rolls, back bends and kick overs. Having the strength necessary to do a pull-over allows the
gymnast to focus on casting and back hip circles on bars. A renewed emphasis on developing balance and
coordination on beam through walking, jumping and turning, allows the student to gain confidence and begin
working on levers and handstands. Proper running technique will still be a focus on vault and students will
begin learning handstand flat backs.

Girls 3
Gymnasts will continue to work back bends and kick overs, eventually shifting to walkover skills when
individually ready. They will be learning handstand forward rolls, and begin working round offs. As your
athlete builds more core and arm strength, they will start working glide swings and mill circles on bars.
Handstands will continue to be a focus on beam, working not only 3/4 handstands, but also cartwheel to
handstand dismounts. They will begin learning handspring vaults in this level as well as working on how to
block off their hands in a handstand.

Girls 4
Having been taught the fundamentals in the last three levels, your gymnast has gained the strength, agility,
balance and coordination to begin working a wide array of tumbling skills. From front limbers, to dive rolls,
to round off back hand springs, they will love all the great skills they will be able to work. Their strong
glide swings on bars can turn into a kip. They will learn a shoot through and front hip circles, all the
while getting stronger and stronger. On beam they will have confidence in their jumps and turns and now
begin working leaps and cartwheels. They will continue to work handsprings on vault and can eventually work
up to vaulting over the table!

Boys 1
Gymnasts will focus on core strength, arm strength, and the coordination necessary to learn headstands, handstands, cartwheels and forward and backward rolls- the fundamental building blocks of almost all gymnastics skills.  They will spend time hanging, swinging, and supporting themselves on the rings, high-bar and parallel bars in order to build the necessary strength to do pull overs, inverted hangs and straddle travels.  They will gain coordination through repetition of bell swings on the pommel horse and walking circle drills on the dome.  The focus on vault will begin with proper running technique, skipping and hurdling drills, leading to jump ups and squat ons.  All athletes will grow at their individual pace with encouragement and positive reinforcement from our professional coaching staff.

Boys 2
All recreational classes are designed to be a continuation of skills and growth from the previous class.  In boys 2, your athlete will continue to build strength and gain flexibility.  They will begin learning how to do a cartwheel step under and straight arm football rolls.    Having the strength necessary to do a pull-over allows the gymnast to focus on casting and back hip circles on high bar, as well as learning how to do a swinging half turn.  They will continue to work their swings on rings and parallel bars, eventually leading to back dismounts and moy swings.  On pommel horse they will start working leg cuts and stride swings, and work their way up to doing a 3/4 circle on the dome.  Proper running technique will continue to be a focus on vault and students will begin learning a squat through and dive rolls.

Boys 3
Having been taught the fundamentals in the last two levels, your gymnast has gained the strength, agility, balance and coordination to begin working a wide array of tumbling skills.  From round-offs, to front headsprings, to back handsprings, they will love all the great skills they will be able to work.  They will start working kips on high-bar, fly aways and muscle ups on rings, and back uprises and swings to handstand on parallel bars.  On pommel horse they will begin working false scissors and full circles on the dome, all the while getting stronger and stronger.  On vault, their strong dive roll will lead them into front tucks and handstand flat backs.

 

*For a complete list of skills being worked at each level please refer to our progress reports. All gymnasts
will be assessed and given progress reports on a regular basis. If your child feels they are not in the level
that is best for them, please contact the office for an evaluation.