Competitive Gymnastics Information Handbook - ACTIVE LIVING - activeliving.ucalgary.ca/gymnastics
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ACTIVE LIVING
Competitive Gymnastics Information Handbook
activeliving.ucalgary.ca/gymnasticsUniversity of Calgary Gymnastics Chief Gymnastics Advisor Tony Smith 403-220-5529 asmit@ucalgary.ca Competitive Men’s Head Coach Jason Woodnick 403-220-6968 jwoodnick@ucalgary.ca Competitive Women’s Head Coach Lisa Smith 403-220-5364 jefferie@ucalgary.ca Active Living Youth Programs Manager Logan Jones 403-220-3923 lcjones@ucalgary.ca Mailing address Client Services 2500 university Drive NW Calgary, Alberta T2N IN4 Fax: (403) 284-5867
University of Calgary Competitive Gymnastics
Mission: Excellence at all levels.
The University of Calgary Gymnastics Centre is committed to developing gymnastics
and its values by encouraging participation, growth, and personal success.
Vision: Setting the standard.
We aspire to be the benchmark for competitive gymnastics through the enthusiasm of
our athletes, innovative coaching, and a positive atmosphere.
We are committed to providing and developing a professional coaching staff and
creating an environment that allows our athletes to dedicate themselves to the pursuit of
winning performances in the gym and in other areas of life.
Goals and Objectives:
• To encourage and support the pursuit of excellence and achievement of athletic
excellence through contributions from pre-school and recreational programs.
• To encourage enrolment through high quality instructional programs.
• To provide opportunities for personal growth and life-long involvement for all
participants.
• To provide an up to date facility and equipment to all participants.
• To provide certified and educated coaches.
• To provide enhancement opportunities in coaching education.Areas of Pursuit: Pre-Competitive / Developmental: We will mentally and physically prepare each child to have the potential to learn and love gymnastics. We will provide a strong base in strength, flexibility and basic skills in order to progress in a technically correct, safe and efficient manner. We will prepare athletes for future competition by developing the needed aspects so they may compete to the best of their abilities. Provincial Stream: We will develop each athlete to the best of his / her ability and provide enjoyable competitive experiences appropriate to his / her level. National Stream: We will develop each athlete to be successful at provincial, national, and high performance levels. Governance: We will ensure clear strategic leadership, governance, transparent management policies and effective collaboration is in place so that the mandate of the club can be delivered effectively. We adhere to the “values” of the University of Calgary Gymnastics Centre.
Core Values:
Integrity:
• As a gymnastics community we treat one another with respect, honesty,
patience, understand, and trust.
• We embrace fairness by promoting opportunities and ethical gymnastics
programs.
• We will not tolerate attitudes and acts that hurt the U of C gymnastics programs
and/or the sport of gymnastics.
• We will not tolerate harassment, abuse or disrespect by, or toward gymnasts’
coaches, officials, or parents involved in the sport, nor any other unsportsmanlike
behaviors.
Hard work:
• We honor and respect athleticism, sportsmanship and the dedication of our
gymnasts and coaches to achieve their full potential.
• We encourage the development of both skills and character in our gymnasts.
• We embrace, expect, and nurture a strong work within in the gym and in life.
• We promote longevity of our athletes through ongoing individual assessment and
systematic training.
Excellence:
• We lead by example and are accountable for our actions, successes and failures.
• We establish and communicate clear expectations to our gymnasts, coaches,
parents and officials.
• We celebrate the individual accomplishments of our gymnasts and coaches, and
the accomplishments of the club as a whole.
• We demonstrate commitment to our gymnasts by providing opportunities for
excellence in our programs, coaching, and competition.
• We recognize that having fun is a key component of achieving excellence.
Teamwork:
• At the U of C, gymnastics is a team sport where each member supports,
encourages and cheers for his/her teammates.
• We achieve personal and common goals through teamwork.
• We provide opportunities for positive team interaction.From The Coaches Welcome to the University of Calgary Gymnastics Centre. Our club has an outstanding field of gymnasts with exceptional looking futures, inside as well as outside of the gym. Head coaches Lisa Smith and Jason Woodnick, along with Chief Gymnastics Advisor and Men’s National Team Director, Tony Smith provide many years of experience and technical expertise for all of the coaching staff and athletes in the program. Our program emphasizes physical preparation as the key foundation for success and safety in gymnastics. We encourage social interaction between athletes as they develop long term friendships and a support group of their peers. Our philosophy incorporates developing the whole person, not just the athlete. We strive to develop a love for the sport while fostering commitment, discipline, and goal attainment. Our staff is comprised of very talented and knowledgeable coaches. Many of them are internationally experienced, past U of C athletes, and / or Senior National Team members. Our Pre-competitive and developmental coaches are second to none, providing our newer and younger gymnasts with all of the tools to develop efficiently in gymnastics and have a lot of fun in the process. Our club has a rich history success at all levels, including gymnasts competing at the Olympic Games. Our parent body is a vital and crucial component of our club. We are fortunate to have many parents who give freely of their time to help the club and we welcome all of the parent body to help in whatever way you can as this will reduce the workload of those already giving their time. We are always striving to be the best we can be. We wish all of our gymnasts and coaches a highly successful year, both in and out of the gym. Tony, Lisa, and Jason
Program Structure Pre-School Introductory gymnastics involving exploration of the six dominant movement patterns and kinesthetic awareness. Levels within include: Gymnatots – first and most introductory level, ages 2 – 4 Supertots – experienced gymnatots, ages 2 – 4, by coaches recommendation Kindergym – inexperienced 4 – 6 year olds Kindercrackers – experienced 4 – 6 year olds, by coaches recommendation Firecrackers – advanced 5- 6 year olds, by coaches recommendation Dinomites – advanced 5 – 6 year olds, by coaches recommendation, preparation leading towards developmental program Developmental Program Selected gymnasts who show advanced ability, physically, technically, as well as mentally may be selected to move into the developmental program. This involves accelerated instruction providing a foundation from which to attain skills required to move into the pre-competitive and competitive program. It is that we respect the individual development of each child and their progress in the program. Involvement should result in the ability to be confident, strong, coordinated and flexible while having fun learning basic gymnastics. Movement into and between these groups is at the discretion on the program head coach in consultation with coaches. Assessments / tryouts are conducted each spring to aid in the selection process. This assessment includes physical ability, technical ability of basic elements, as well as kinesthetic awareness and the ability to take instruction and make correction based on feedback. Athletes selected into this program are NOT guaranteed a spot from year to year and must be re-assessed each season. They are NOT guaranteed a spot in the competitive program. Selection into the competitive program is done annually through the assessment / tryout process. 4 hour / week group – base level developmental 4.5 hour / week group – intermediate level developmental 5 hour / week group – advanced level developmental
Pre- Competitive / Developmental and Competitive Program 9 – 15 hours / week – athletes selected to the introductory competitive program will work on basic skills required to compete at a provincial 1 or 2 level. Athletes in this group may not necessarily compete the first year. Entry into competition will occur only when a minimum skill level is acquired and the athlete is deemed “ready” by the personal coach as well as the program head coach. 15 – 19 hours / week – a significant commitment is required as advanced skills are required to compete at a provincial 2 – 4 level. No athlete will be entered into competition until minimum skill level is attained. Entry into competition will only occur when minimum expectations are achieved. 19 – 24 hours / week – the most competitive group, athletes in this group may compete in Pre-Novice, Provincial 3 - 6, National Novice or Open, Elite pathway for Boys, or Junior or Senior High Performance. Complete commitment is required to meet the minimum standards of this group. No athlete will be entered into a competition that they are not deemed “ready” for. Athletes selected into this program are NOT guaranteed a spot from year to year and must be re-assessed each season. Advancement between levels and groups is at the discretion of the head coach in consultation with the coaching staff. Competitive levels are determined by an individual’s capacity to train, ability to compete, and personal desire. We teach them technically correct basic skills and disciplined training habits, and build a foundation in physical preparation. The gymnast`s career path must follow critical stages. We want to maximize each gymnast’s potential to reach his or her peak when the gymnast is emotionally and physically mature enough to handle the commitment, discipline, and the demands of training and competing. We want our gymnasts to succeed in achieving their goals. Changing Groups The program head coach, along with input from the other coaches, is responsible for placing gymnasts in training groups where they will most effectively thrive. While there are guidelines and testing protocols for group placement that consider general performance factors, the coaches also take into consideration individual needs and characteristics. Group and/or level changes take place when the coach, gymnast, and parents feel that it will benefit the continued development of the gymnast. Our goal is to maintain challenging situations that not only keep our athletes excited about gymnastics, but also to inspire great training and performance results so that each gymnast continues to progress. We want our gymnasts to love the sport, have
confidence in their abilities and have a clear understanding of the work and attitudes necessary to be successful. Withdrawal from U of C Competitive Gymnastics Your contract with the University of Calgary Gymnastics Club is a yearlong commitment. The deadline to withdraw without penalty is September 30st of each year. After this time, fees are not refundable, All outstanding fees must be paid. Fee Schedule New contracts and deposits for the upcoming season are due July 30th of each year. 7 additional monthly payments are taken on the 15th of each month between September and March.
Unocalgym Parents Association:
The Unocalgym Parents’ Association is a non-profit society that was initiated in 1994 as
a support group for the University of Calgary Competitive programs. The creation of
Unocal, allowed us to access a casino, which is one of only two fundraising events in
which the University of Calgary Gymnastics Club participates.
Unocalgym Parents Association Board Positions:
Directors are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Directors
serve for a two year term.
President – Chairs meetings of the board. Provides leadership to the board of
directors. Evaluates the effectiveness of the board’s decision-making process.
Vice President - Acts in the absence of the President. Learns the duties of the
President and keeps informed
on key issues.
Treasurer - Gives regular reports to the board on the financial state of the organization.
Keeps financial reports on file. Chairs the Finance Committee.
Secretary - Keeps copies of the organization’s bylaws and the Board’s policy
statements. Notifies Board Members of meetings. Keeps accurate minutes of
meetings.
The above positions comprise the Executive Committee for Unocalgym Parent’s
Association.
Casino Director - Manages all aspects of the club’s casino. Prepares and files all
necessary applications for the casino. Informs membership of the dates/times of
upcoming casino. Organizes volunteers for the casino.
Social Director - Organizes (with the help of the head coaches) our 2 annual club
parties – Christmas party and the End of the year party. Selects venue and dates,
books venue, organizes food and activities within the budget provided.
Communication Director - communicates all correspondence from the head coaches
to the membership via email.
Director at Large - attends all board meetings, votes on board decisions and brings
ideas and experience to the board.
Statement of Purposes:
Unocalgym Parents’ Association will support the ideals and values of the University of
Calgary Competitive programs by working in cooperation with the Head Coaches to:
- Raise funds to be used to support gymnasts’ competition travel expenses as well
as costs associated with selected competitions including Team Alberta and
International competitions.
- Buy equipment required by competitive programs.- Organize and staff fundraisers and gymnastics competitions as required ie.
Casino and UCIC Gymnastics Competition
- Organize social events for gymnasts and families ie. Christmas and Year End
party.
The purpose of the Unocalgym Parents’ Association is to act on behalf of the
membership to make the club the best it can be. Achieving excellence starts with the
best mix of people and an understanding that serving on the Board is a privilege and a
responsibility. Decisions are made in consultation with the University of Calgary
Gymnastics head coaches and voted on by the board of directors. All parents of the
University of Calgary competitive and pre-competitive gymnastics programs are
members of the Unocalgym Parents’ Association and are encouraged to attend the
association meetings.
Unocalgym Funding Priorities:
Unocal will attempt to provide needed funds to further our gymnasts’ development and
provide as much needed support as possible.
Funding priorities are:
1. National Championships and Elite Canada
2. International competitive or training opportunities
3. Western Canadian Championships
4. Specialized training equipment that specifically benefits the U of C Competitive
Gymnastics Program
5. Events where a significant number of club gymnasts are competing to foster a
positive inter club experience.
Travel/Competition Registration Accounts
Unocal Parent’s Association will collect a travel/competition registration cheque in
November (made out to Unocal) to cover the costs of competition entry fees and
coaches’ expenses. The treasurer will maintain each athlete’s account and provide
frequent updates to the parents, requesting for more funds should the account begin to
run low. Any unused funds will be returned to the family upon completion of the
competition season.
Once your child has been committed to a competition, ie. Registered by the
coach and paid by Unocal, you are responsible for your child’s share of the costsassociated with that competition. Therefore, it is imperative that you
communicate clearly with your coach about competitions you are unable to
attend. If you need to withdraw from a competition in which your child has been
registered, a medical note will be required in order to be reimbursed your entry fee and
must be given to the coach PRIOR to the competition. Most competitions have an
administration fee that will not be reimbursed.
Accounting Policy
The Unocal treasurer will maintain the accounting for each family. Costs incurred will be
deducted from their travel account. A statement will be given out as the account nears a
zero balance at which time the family will be asked to top it up. Call for travel cheques
are in September and February. Refunds will be issued at year-end should a balance
remain in the account following the end of the competitive season.
Coaches Expenses
The costs associated with coaches attending competitions will be paid for by UofC for in
Alberta meets only. For out of province meets, costs are shared equally among the
gymnasts registered for that competition. These costs will include travel,
accommodation, and meals and will be charged to each gymnasts travel account.
Travel Policies
Occasionally, the club will travel as a group. This involves booking transportation,
accommodations, and chaperones for the competition. The head coach will prepare a
cost estimate which will be deducted from the gymnasts’ account.
Principles of the U of C gymnastics travel policy
• The head coach will make arrangements for travel and accommodations in the
most effective, efficient and economical way possible.
• All gymnasts’ accounts will be charged full estimates for the competition with
adjustments being made after actual costs are confirmed.
• Payment must be received before the gymnast travels.
• Chaperones and coaches are responsible during travel only for those gymnasts
traveling with the team.
• Gymnasts who choose not to travel with the team must notify the head coach a
minimum of 2 weeks prior to departure.
Travel cost estimates are based on:
• Entry fees• Transportation costs
• Destination ground transportation / transfers
• Coaches’ and chaperones’ expenses
Parent / gymnast responsibilities for travel:
• Parents are responsible to inform the head coach by email a minimum of 2
weeks prior to departure if they do not wish to participate in group travel.
• Failure to inform the head coach prior to the 2 week deadline will result in the
costs incurred being charged to the gymnasts account.
• Accommodation – Club hotel
• Hotels are chosen by the head coach based on previous experience, location,
and a balance of quality and price.
• If the U of C Gymnastics arranges for hotel accommodations, gymnasts staying
with the club will share in the cost of the hotel.
• If parents or gymnasts do not wish to stay in the team hotel, it is their
responsibility to let the head coach know via email prior to the 2 week deadline.
• If parents choose to travel with their gymnasts, they are responsible to make their
own arrangements for travel and accommodations.
Chaperones
Chaperones provide a valuable contribution to the wellbeing of our gymnasts and
coaches at competitions that we travel as a group to.
A brief description of a chaperones duty includes:
• Supervise gymnasts when they are not competing
• Chaperone at the hotel
• Coordinate meals as required
• Provide transportation between the hotel and the competition site
• Act as a liaison between the gymnasts and the parents in Calgary
• Ensure that all gymnasts are aware of the hotel location and have cell numbers
of the chaperones
• Respond to medical incidents and emergencies
• Wait with athletes until their parents have picked them up
• Maintain full confidentiality of the information they receive about gymnasts
• Submit a general report to the head coach
• Keep receipts and record of any expenses incurredChaperones are assigned for all meets that we travel as a group. The exception is when
the group is small enough that the coach fulfills this role or if the athletes are adults. The
required number and experience of chaperones varies depending on the competition,
including level of competition, age of gymnasts, and number of gymnasts. The head
coach will email a “Call for Chaperones” when the need arises. Parents who wish to
become chaperones must respond to the call for chaperones. The head coach will
choose the chaperone(s). Chaperone training will occur as the need arises.
Fundraising and Volunteer Commitments:
The University of Calgary Gymnastics Centre is fortunate to be among the very few
clubs with minimal volunteer and fundraising commitments. As such, parent
involvement in the few events that we have is critical to our success. These fundraisers
are for the good of the program as a whole and therefore need to be supported by
parents of gymnasts at all levels of participation.
Volunteer Requirements Include:
1. UCIC – This is the U of C Gymnastics Program competitive meet
This is the most significant fundraising event. This event is intended to provide
our gymnasts as well as gymnasts from around the province and country with the
opportunity to participate in a world class competition in a state of the art venue.
This event is also promoted internationally in hopes of attracting international
competitors to further enhance our own gymnasts’ experience. This competition
occurs over a 4 day period. The amount of volunteer time required per family is
determined annually and will be posted as soon as possible each year. The
amount of volunteer hours required per family on this weekend is usually
between 18 to 24 hours. This works out to be between 6 and 8 volunteer shifts.
The shift hours vary depending on the area in which you are volunteering.
2. Unocalgym Parents Association Casino
The casino occurs approximately every 18 months. The dates are determined by
the Alberta Gaming Commission. Each family is asked to work one shift over the
2 day event (each shift is approximately 8 hours in length).
3. Other possible events
Hosting of competitions such as:
Elite Canada
Southern Zones Championships
Western Canadian ChampionshipsOther trial events
Gym clean ups/equipment maintenance and repair
About Gymnastics Competitions
What competitions will my child attend?
A list of competitions will be given out at the Parents information Night held in
September. This list will also be posted outside of the gym. This list will include the
competitions your gymnast is likely to attend during the season. Not all gymnasts will
attend the same competitions, so contact your coach directly if you have any questions.
Other invitational meets may come up as the season progresses. Decisions for those
meets will be made as needed on a group by group basis. We will send out that
information as efficiently as possible.
Gymnasts are automatically registered in the competitions listed unless you inform the
head coach by email prior to the two week deadline.
How much does a competition cost?
For competitions in Calgary, the cost is the entry fee. This is a flat fee that ranges
between $60.00 and $125.00. Accounts are charged for entry fees.
For competitions outside of Calgary, costs include entry fee, travel and accommodation,
and meals as well as a share of the coaches’ costs for travel, accommodation and
meals.
What if my child becomes ill or injured?
If your gymnast becomes ill or injured after the two week cancellation deadline and will
not be able to attend the competition, email the head coach as soon as possible. You
will be responsible to pay the non-recoverable costs for the competition. Be sure to get
a doctor’s certificate as it will be required to apply for an entry fee refund.
Competition Cancellation / Special Considerations
Parents are responsible to cancel their child from competitions at least 2 weeks in
advance. It is also their responsibility to cancel from any club arrangements for out of
town meets, including transportation, billeting, or hotel. This information must be given
to the head coach a minimum of 2 weeks prior to departure in order to avoid being
charged for expenses.Attending Competitions Gymnasts must arrive at the competition site 15 minutes before warm-up begins, dressed and ready to compete. At team travel competitions, athletes must arrive at the departure location on time and be picked up on time at the designated location at the end of the competition. Arrangements for gymnasts to be taken out during non- competition hours must be approved by the coach and the chaperone. Parents must advise the coach and chaperone of any special dietary, health or medical needs prior to the departure for the competition. For the majority of competitions, families are responsible for all travel arrangements. Athletes and families are encouraged to support all U of C competitors by staying and watching / cheering at different sessions when possible. University of Calgary Gymnastics Team Uniforms / Equipment At competitions, all U of C gymnasts must wear U of C team uniforms. They include: Girls – Team leotard, team tracksuit, warm-up leotard if required. Boys – Team singlet, longs, shorts, team tracksuit. Hand Guards At some point in the gymnasts training, they will require hand guards or grips. This point is determined by the athlete’s development via the athlete’s coach. Girls will need hand guards for uneven bars and boys will need high bar guards as well as ring guards. It is good practice to have 2 sets of broken in guards on hand; one set for training and the other ready to go when the first pair becomes worn out or broken. This is especially important during competitive season. The extra pair should be kept in the gymnasts training bag. It is very important to be dressed appropriately at competitions. We want to look like a team and it is important to keep muscles warm. Along with team uniforms, girls should have an extra copy of their floor music, an extra pair of grips (if they use them), healthy snacks to keep them going through the meet, and socks or sandals to wear in between events. Boys should have their ring and high bar guards (an extra pair of both for the
more advanced boys), socks (same colour as longs) and sandals (if desired), and snacks to keep their energy up. All personal items should be marked with their names. Communication in Our Club It is the responsibility of each family to be informed about club operations, policies and requirements. Please remember that communication is a two way street. If you are missing information or have not had a question answered, do not hesitate to follow up with the appropriate people. We all want to make our communication as efficient and effective as possible. The line of communication starts with the gymnasts coach, then to the head coach, then the program supervisor. Please refer to the directory for contact information. Please be aware that right before as well as during training is not a good time to attempt to speak with a coach. Any concerns should be discussed outside of training time. Email contact is effective and will not disrupt training. The September Parents information meeting is used to present information about the upcoming season and answer all questions. In order to keep information more specific to each group and to be more efficient, there will be two different meetings, one specifically for pre-competitive families and one for competitive families. Email newsletters / updates will go out regularly to provide information on upcoming events, celebrate results and to send out reminders. This information is sent out via our communication representative. This person is only a transfer medium and cannot answer questions. Please send all inquiries to a head coach or personal coach. Staff meetings are held for all of the competitive coaches on the first Tuesday of each month, starting in October. On these days training will end at 6:30. Unocalgym Parents Association meetings are held quarterly. Please check the Parent Association Board to confirm the date. All pertinent information regarding upcoming events will be posted outside the gym on the bulletin boards. Parents with concerns should always talk to their child’s personal coach. Should that coach be unable to answer the question or help with the problem, the parent should then feel free to contact the Head Coach of either the Men’s or Women’s program. Should an issue still be unresolved after both of these meetings have occurred, the
Supervisor would be more than happy to meet with the parent. For any of these
meetings please make sure you book an appointment as it is very difficult to have
these meetings during coaching time, which would obviously take away from all of
the other athletes in the group.
Responsibilities
The successful operation of our gymnastics club is based on a partnership between
gymnasts, coaches, and parents.
Coaches:
• Determine philosophy, program, and curriculum guidelines
• Determine gymnasts’ group placement, competitive categories and direction.
• Operate the program within U of C Gymnastics guidelines.
• Adhere to the values of the U of C Gymnastics program.
• Ensure that all gymnasts follow club policies.
• Behave in a manner consistent with the Canadian Association of Coaches Code
of Conduct and with U of C Gymnastics policies.
• Maintain and enhance knowledge and skills through continuing education.
• Be punctual and attentive for workouts.
• Communicate with parents to share concerns.
Gymnasts:
In pursuit of excellence, the U of C Gymnastics program aims to create programs that
provide opportunities for all of our gymnasts to succeed. Working with your coach and
teammates, you must take responsibility for developing and achieving your goals.
Part of your responsibility is to adhere to the following team goals, philosophies, and
rules.
RESPECT yourself, your teammates, coaches, and officials. Treat everyone, including
yourself, with respect, dignity, and consideration. Respect everyone’s including your
own, right to pursue goals consistent with the team purpose.
ACKNOWLEDGE every team member; everyone counts. Everyone has the opportunity
to participate and to make a contribution. Your support of all team members is
expected.
VALUE excellence in gymnastics. Train hard, prepare to compete well. Seek out difficult
challenges. Train more, harder, and better. Behave as if you want to train and you want
to compete. If you encounter doubts or fear, talk to your coach about them. Do not mask
them and do not express them in a way that could cause others to doubt or fear.\TAKE CARE OF INJURIES before they become a problem. The longer you take to get something checked out, the more time is taken away from efficient training. CONTRIBUTE to our program, our mission, our values, and our goals. SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE everyone’s quest for excellence. BE AN ADVOCATE for the U of C Gymnastics. Say positive things about our program, our staff, and our team members. If you see things that could be improved, raise the issue appropriately with your coach, but always be a positive ambassador for the U of C Gymnastics program. Look and behave like a united team that we all want to be a part of. MAKE IT FUN. Enjoy your training. Express your enjoyment of training and competing. Make the pursuit of excellence fun – don’t have fun at the pursuit of excellence. STAY positive towards your teammates at competitions – do what you can to help them compete their very best. ACCEPT respect, encouragement, support, compliments, and challenges. Express your appreciation to those who offer it. KEEP MOVING towards gymnastics excellence. Show your winning outlook through committed physical and mental work ethic, team spirit, and positive attitude. NO GRIEF, put downs, no personal attacks, no negativity. NO EXCUSES. Make mistakes; learn the lessons make corrections, and get back on track. No excuses. NO COMPLAINTS. Complaining is bad. It eats away at all that is good and worthwhile. If you feel something needs to be improved, speak to someone who can do something about it. Start by talking to your coaches. Contribute…don’t complain.
DO NOT TOLERATE goal-distracting or goal-detracting behaviour. Do not interfere with
either your own nor your teammates’ pursuit of excellence. Accept responsibility for your
behaviour and goals.
STAY ON TRACK. Occasionally you may be inattentive or distracted and slip off track.
Stays focused, and help your teammates stay focused.
HARASSMENT is not tolerated. YOU REPRESENT THE U OF C GYMNASTICS CLUB
at daily practices, at in town competitions, at testing and training camps, n buses, and in
airplanes. You will conduct yourself in a positive and responsible manner: Any gymnast
who violates these rules may be sent home immediately at the cost of that gymnast.
During training:
• Obey all gym regulations
• Arrive at the gym at least 10 minutes before training starts
• Report to the coach when you are late or need to leave early
• Phone or email your coach if you are unable to attend a practice or if you will be
late
• Do not get on the equipment until directed by your coach
• Attend all scheduled workouts on a regular basis
When you travel:
• Be proud of our team; show team spirit and unity
• Dress in team uniform
• Be polite with people in public facilities
• Leave hotel rooms in the same condition you found them in and be responsible
for their condition during your stay
• Respect and appreciate the efforts of your billetsAt Competitions:
• Report to your coach 15 minutes prior to warm-up
• Remain in the competition area for the duration of the competition
• Wear team uniforms at all competitions
• Respect the judges, coaches may inquire should they feel it necessary
• Do not switch hotel rooms
• Mark all personal belongings with your name and be responsible for them
• Do not leave the competition site or hotel without permission for the coach or
chaperone
• Be polite and respectful at all times
Parents:
Participation in the sport of gymnastics provides many benefits to young athletes. They
develop self-discipline, good sportsmanship, and time-management skills. Competition
allows them to experience success and to learn to deal with defeat in a healthy
environment. Parents need to help maintain that healthy environment.
As parents, your major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving and supportive
environment and to watch your gymnast develop in the sport. Show your interest and
support by bringing your gymnast to practice and by coming to meets.
Parents serve as role models and children usually reflect their parents’ attitudes. Be
aware of this, be positive and show good sportsmanship at all times towards coaches,
officials, opponents, teammates, and other U of C parents.
Be Enthusiastic and Supportive
Remember that your child is the gymnast. They need to establish their own goals and
make their own progress towards them. Be careful not to impose your own standards
and goals. Do not pressure your child to win. The most important part of your child’s
gymnastics experience is that she / he learns about her / himself while enjoying the
sport.
Let the Coach do the Coaching
The best way to help a child achieve goals and reduce the natural fear of failure is
through positive reinforcement. Making mistakes is part of learning. Encourage effortand point out things done well. Our trained coaches will handle the rest. “Coaching” from the door is a distraction and therefore a safety concern and will not be tolerated. Help Care For and Prevent injuries by dealing with them in a timely and efficient manner. Regular post-training icing and prompt therapy sessions as needed will go a long way to ensure minimal time away from training due to injury. Get Your Gymnast There On Time As in all sports, there are many events that your child must attend: practices, team meetings, competitions, and special events. Start times are very important to ensure maximum benefit is gained from the training program. Late arrivals affect everyone. If your child is going to be late or miss practice, let the coach know. Become Involved This does not mean that you have to volunteer for everything, but do get involved in the operation of our club. It is important that you attend UNOCAL and Jurassic meetings and become aware of the club’s affairs. You may have expertise that would help in some area of CLUB operation; please volunteer. Our club relies on the enthusiasm, commitment and on-going support of volunteers to help keep gymnastics affordable. Support Club Values We value integrity, hard work, excellence, and teamwork. Help Create a Positive Environment Please don’t gossip – it’s negative and damaging. Instead, speak with your coach if you have questions or concerns. Treat coaches and other parents with respect – they are all working with your child’s best interest in mind. Follow through on commitments – realize that all parents are asked to do their “fair share”. Many do much, much more. Take pride in your involvement with one of the finest gym clubs in Canada. Social Events The U of C Competitive programs host 2 annual social events. These events are important to foster team cohesion and celebrate our success.
Christmas Party The Christmas party is a group effort, with each family contributing food. It is usually held during the last week of training before Christmas and is organized by the head coach. A sign up list for food is posted outside of the gym. Gift exchanges are organized on a group by group basis. Year End Party The Year-End party is jointly organized between the coaches and the Unocal social directors. This is a time to celebrate the successes of the year, and again foster team cohesion. This usually occurs during the last week of training in June.
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