Team Parent Meeting

May 2009

I.     As always, at New Heights Gym our philosophy continues to remain the same.   We are sincere when we say gymnastics should be part of ALL children’s lives.   Gymnastics does not have to be their #1 sport.   It can be used as a supplement to other sports.   The benefits of gymnastics are endless.   Gymnastics can be used for fun, for fitness, for discipline, to help with other sports, or to shoot for the stars such as a college scholarship, the Olympics, etc.   Each gymnast has a different goal and a different reason for doing gymnastics.   We want gymnasts to want to do gymnastics, to feel proud they can do gymnastics, and to be thankful for what gymnastics has done for them.   If they use gymnastics to help them be a better dancer, a better cheerleader, a better baseball player; then GREAT!   We have done our job.   What our job entails is for us to provide guidance on how to be the best they can be and how to reach their goal, provide the proper coaching of technique and skills, and provide a safe, fun, disciplined environment.   If we teach gymnastics the way gymnastics is – they will either love gymnastics or they will hate gymnastics.   It’s a tough sport and we know it is the rare few that have what it takes to make it “BIG” in gymnastics.   It’s a rare few that have the discipline and the drive to continue with the pounding, the pain, and the demand of gymnastics.   Once you get the taste of a “normal” life, it’s hard to understand why you do gymnastics.   It’s ok to be normal.   It’s ok to want to do another sport or another activity.   Our gymnasts should be proud of what they have accomplished and for all they have endured.  

II.         Gymnastics is a sport for everyone.   But competitive gymnastics is a tough, demanding sport.   Being a “good” competitive gymnast may not be for everyone.   It takes dedication, hard work, patience, and determination.   In the first few lower levels of competitive gymnastics, a gymnast can do well based on talent and / or hard work.   But once a gymnast gets to Level 4, that’s when the sport of “real” gymnastics starts.    That’s when a gymnast can’t rely on talent alone.   In order to be a “good” competitive gymnast, the bare minimum doesn’t cut it.   The scheduled class time is for “coaching” time and is the bare minimum needed to learn and perform the routines with an average score.   The strength, flexibility, and skills work need to be done in addition to the scheduled classes.   It is up to the gymnast to decide if he/she wants to be an average gymnast or an above-average gymnast.   The recommended “extra” time to spend in the gym to work strength and skills is about 1 to 2 hours per day on an off-gym night.   This does not mean play time or babysitting time.   This extra time is for work-out only.   We still have lots of other classes and activities going on at the gym on non-team nights.   We don’t have time or room for non-sense or for play.   The extra time is for those who are serious about their workout and about their gym.   The other awesome teams you see at the meets are awesome because they spend a minimum of 12 - 15 hours per week at the gym being coached.   Those gymnasts are required to spend that time and they pay for that time.   We charge for the “coached” time only and allow (as well as encourage) our team gymnasts to utilize the gym for free to work on strength and skills.   Two of the forgotten benefits of gymnastics are the self-discipline and self-motivation.   Real gymnasts shouldn’t need a coach by their sides 8 hours a day, pushing them and encouraging them to do the tricks.   If the gymnasts want to be great gymnasts, then they should be able to want the gymnastics bad enough to motivate themselves to work the skills and strength that are needed for improvement.   Just like anything, what you put into it you will get out of it.   As a family, you need to discuss and be on the same page as to what your child’s intentions are and what their goal is.   We realize that their goals will change.   A coach needs to know what the gymnast’s goal for the current year is.   The gymnast needs to be able to talk about his/her goals with the coach so that there are no mistaken expectations.   Communication is the key to getting exactly what we want.          

III. Rules of the Gym:

1)       The extra workout time for team gymnasts are Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 – 7:00.   Beware that the gym is filled with activities and that equipment may not be available for use.   But there is always room for strength and flexibility work.   The gym is for workout, not for play.   If a team gymnast comes in extra to work strength and skills, they are expected to work, not play.   The gym is not a babysitting service.   If the team gymnast is not working like they are supposed to, then they will be asked to call home and are expected to be picked up within 10 minutes from the call.   .  

2)       Please advise gymnasts to stay within the gym building and not outside while waiting for their rides.   We are too busy to monitor if they are going outside.   We need your help in reinforcing this rule.  

3)       No food, drinks, or gum allowed inside the gym.  

4)       Discipline Problems:   1) Warning; 2) Sit out for 5 – 10 minutes or until ready to join in; 3) Send Home.   For Non-Discipline Problem (Hurt, Sick, Whatever Reason can’t do normal practice workout) choices are: 1) Do Scheduled Workout; 2) Do Posters; or 3) Go Home

5)       No cell phones turned on inside the gym.   If gymnasts need to make a call, then they need to go to the waiting room (not outside) to make the call.

6)       Don’t bring valuable items to gym.   We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken items.

7)       Every gymnast should bring own roll of athletic tape or buy one from gym for $5.

8)       All gymnasts should bring or keep a pair of running tennis shoes to gym for running workouts.   Asthma patients need to bring their pumps and/or medication to practice.   All gymnasts should bring a water bottle for summer workouts.   They may do running drills outside.

9)       When eating or cooking food in the waiting room, please advise your child to clean up their mess, throw away their trash, and dump left over food in the garbage can and not in the sink.   The team kids really make a big mess in the waiting room.    

10)   Gymnasts are expected to wear appropriate gym suits for workout.   Fitted gymnastics shorts are allowed to be worn.   Baggy shorts do get in the way of training and spotting.  

11)   No parents inside gym unless received permission from Bridget first.  

12)   The criteria to move up to the next level:   The most important factor is having the ability to perform the critical skills.   We don’t want to move a gymnast up to the next level if they haven’t mastered the necessary skills in their current level and if they haven’t had the opportunity to experience winning.   The last thing we want to do is break their spirit and crush their confidence.   The ultimate decision on whether to move up or not will be decided among the gymnast, the parents, and the coaches.     

13)   Pay tuition and coach expenses on time.   Tuition is due on the first of the month, but we allow payment up to the 15^th of the month without late fees.   We will apply late fees for tuition, meet fees, and coach expenses.  

IV.   TEAM COSTS AND TUITION

                        Level 2 girls:                            $80/month (4 hours/week)

                        Level 3 and 4 girls:                  $100/month (6 hours/week)

                        Level 5 & Up girls:                  $120/month (9 hours/week)

                        Level 3 boys:                            $75/month (3 hours/week)

                        Level 4 boys:                            $100/month (6 hours/week)

                        Level 5 & Up boys:                  $120/month (9 hours/week)

·          We will offer a $5/month/child discount for those that pay 3 months at a time.

·          Optionals will start having Saturday practices after summer; at that time tuition will increase to $140/month.

V. SCHEDULE

                        Level 2 girls                             Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 – 7:30

                        Levels 3 & 4 girls                     Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 – 8:30

                        Level 5 girls                             Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 – 8:30 and Friday at 4:00 – 7:00

                        Level 6 & Up girls                   Monday, Wednesday, & Friday at 4:00 – 7:00

                        Level 3 boys                             Monday at 4:00 – 7:00

                        Level 4 boys                             Monday and Wednesday at 4:00 – 7:00

                        Level 5 & Up boys                   Monday, Wednesday, & Friday at 4:00 – 7:00

·                Tuesdays and Thursday at 4:00 – 7:00 are used for extra strength and skill workout.