Class Descriptions

Member of USA Gymnastics: USAG is the national governing board for the sport of gymnastics in the United States and responsible for selecting the Olympic team every four years. All GRGA coaches are professional members and safety certified through USAG.

Class Structure: All classes will begin with an 8-10 minute warm-up/stretch. This is followed by two event rotations where gymnasts will rotate through stations or follow a circuit of drills and fundamentals for that particular apparatus. A variety of techniques are used to aid in the mastering of skills autonomously. To increase each child’s awareness of skills, the instructors will spot, use demonstrators, set up strength and flexibility stations and incorporate training shapes (octagons, trapezoids, barrels, incline mats, etc.)

Class Ratios: All classes will maintain an 8:1 gymnast/coach ratio or less. Safety and individual attention is our number one goal.

Advancement: GRGA provides a multi-level program where children progress at their own pace. There is no specific timeline for gymnasts to move up. Progress reports will be mailed out quarterly. The office will contact you at any time throughout the year if they feel your child needs to move to a more appropriate class.

Beginner Gymnastics (ages 5 and up)
This class involves basic gymnastics skills on all four apparatus: vault, bars, beam and floor. Tumble Track (60 foot trampoline) is also incorporated to teach jumps as well as floor and vault progressions. An example of skills introduced are forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, handstands and bridges.
 
Intermediate I Gymnastics (ages 5 and up)
This class also utilizes all four apparatus and trampoline. Gymnasts will continue to perfect the skills introduced to them in beginner. They will also begin working on round-offs, bridge kick-overs, front and back hip circles on bars as well as moving their basic floor skills to the low and medium balance beams. Gymnasts in this class must have completed the Beginner class and been recommended by an instructor to move up.
 
Intermediate II Gymnastics (ages 5 and up)
 Gymnasts will be working on front limbers, back walk-overs and back handsprings on floor. Bar skills will include sole circles, stride circles, front and back hip circles. Vaulting will focus on handstand flat backs onto a resi pit. It is strongly recommended that gymnasts attend two days/week at this level.
　
　
　
Advanced Gymnastics (ages 7 and up)
 Gymnasts in this class must attend two days/week due to the increased difficulty of skills. The goal of this class will be to prepare gymnasts for competitive gymnastics if they have a strong desire to do the sport competitively. Floor skills will include: front and back walkovers, front and back handsprings and round-off back handsprings. Bars skills will include all the skills in Intermediate I and II with the addition of glide kips, squat on and long hang pull-overs. Gymnasts will be evaluated throughout the year. When sufficient skills have been attained, a recommendation will be made for the athlete to pursue one of the two competitive avenues that are available through USA Gymnastics.
 
USAG Junior Olympic Program
 
Level 4-6 Compulsory Program - Level 4 is the first competitive level of the junior Olympic program. Gymnasts must be six years old to compete level 4. The term “compulsory” refers to the gymnasts performing the same routines nationwide at each level. USAG has designed routines that ensure the proper fundamentals and progressions are mastered early on. This base will set the athletes up for success and safety in the higher levels of the JO Program. Gymnasts advance by attaining qualifying scores in sanctioned competition as well as mastering the skills required of them in the next level. Practice hours are typically between 6-12 hours per week at the compulsory competitive levels.
 
Level 7-10 Optional Program - The term “optional” refers to gymnasts competing their own individualized routines. Level 7 is the first level in which athletes choose their own floor music and perform routines that show off their personal strengths. Each level has difficulty requirements that must be performed. Gymnasts in levels 8-10 can qualify to regional and national competitions through the JO Program. Most college scholarships are given out to athletes who have made it to level 10 in the sport. Practice hours are typically between 12-18 hours per week at the optional competitive levels.
 
Prep Opt Program
The prep opt program is an additional competitive program through USA Gymnastics. This program offers two competitive divisions: gold and silver. Gold division would be similar to level 6 and 7 and silver division would be equivalent to levels 4 and 5. Gymnasts do not need to compete on all four events in the prep opt program. Gymnasts perform their own routines on each event. Practice requirements are 4-6 hours/week. There is typically 4-6 meets each season concluding with a state meet in March.