2018 Competitive Handbook

Transcription

1 Version 1 Last updated 12/11/2017

2 1 Contents Who do I talk to?... 2 Women s... 2 Men s... 2 Club website... 3 Policies... 3 Gymnast expectations... 3 Attendance... 3 Training free days... 3 Training clothing... 3 Nutrition... 4 Injuries... 4 Homework... 5 Parent expectations... 5 Absences... 5 Watching training... 5 Progress reports... 5 Hours and training days... 5 Cost... 5 Missed classes... 6 Leaving the competitive program... 6 Club uniform... 6 Ordering the uniform... 6 Uniform payment... 6 Competitions... 6 Competition season... 6 Entering competitions... 7 Competition payment... 7 Teams... 7 Competition etiquette for gymnasts... 7 Competition etiquette for parents... 8 Flash photography... 8 Judging... 8

3 Competitive Handbook Welcome! The world of competitive gymnastics can be as confusing as it is exciting. We hope this Handbook will answer any questions you have! This Handbook should be read in conjunction with the Parent Handbook and contains information relevant for girls and boys in competitive programs. Who do I talk to? We hope we ve covered nearly all the questions you might have in this handbook but if you have questions that aren t answered please use the following contacts: Women s Question about Contact Contact method Competitions (including Club website and session times) noticeboard Uniforms Claire O Halloran claire.ohalloran@eurekagymnastics.com.au Progress report Your child s coach Before or after class Senior WAG Coach Caleb Tivendale caleb.tivendale@eurekagymnastics.com.au Training free days Club website or notice board Injuries Your child s coach See page 4 Fees Kara Holland admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au General/other Kara Holland admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au Men s Question about Contact Contact method Competitions (including Club website and session times) noticeboard Uniforms Natalie Howard natalie.howard@eurekagymnastics.com.au Progress report Your child s coach Before or after class Senior MAG Coach Casey Potter casey.potter@eurekagymnastics.com.au Training free days Club website or notice board Injuries Your child s coach See page 4 Fees Kara Holland admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au General/other Kara Holland admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au

4 3 Club website Most information for competitive gymnasts is distributed through the club website. A username and password is required to access the Squad section of the website. You will receive your username and a temporary password shortly after enrolling in our competitive program. If you forget your password, please use the reset link on the login screen. Competition notices will be also displayed on the noticeboard at the gym. Policies There are three policies referenced by this handbook: Competition Entry and Uniform Policy Injury Policy Squad Fee Policy These policies can be found at bit.ly/eureka-docs-policies. Gymnast expectations Gymnasts in competitive programs represent, and we expect that participants in these programs carry themselves appropriately. A high level of commitment is necessary to be successful. Attendance Competitive gymnasts are expected to attend all sessions every week for the duration of the training year. The competitive training year runs for 48 weeks. Our coaches take their responsibility for the well-being of gymnasts in their care very seriously and gymnasts may not be permitted to undertake some activities if training attendance has been poor, when the gymnast is growing, or if required strength and drilling has not been completed to a high standard. Training free days In addition to weeks off during the year there are other days when training will not run, usually coinciding with a long weekend. For a complete list of training free days please visit or check the noticeboard at the gym. Training clothing During training, competitive gymnasts are expected to come dressed suitably and prepared for training. Girls must wear a leotard, and may wear shorts or leggings. Girls in level 4 or higher may wear a crop top although this is discouraged as they are harder to spot. Boys must wear a leotard and shorts, and must bring longs to training. Boys in level 2 and above may train in shorts only. During colder months when the gym is under 12 degrees, gymnasts may wear a close fitting long sleeve shirt and leggings (e.g., Skins, 2XU) without asking permission from their coach. For girls, crop tops and short sleeve leotards are actively discouraged during winter months. Boys may wear a thermal top over their leotard.

5 Competitive Handbook Nutrition It is vital that competitive gymnasts eat healthily. Gymnasts who eat properly recover faster from intense training session, acquire skills faster and are less likely to suffer injury. It also allows them to work harder during training and will help with performance in training and at school. Gymnasts in classes that run for three hours or longer must bring food to training. It is strongly suggested that gymnasts have a snack before training and have food ready to eat after training. The higher level a gymnast is in the more important nutrition becomes. Gymnasts will have opportunity to eat regularly throughout the training session. Examples of good pre-training food include: Apple slices with peanut butter Half a ham and cheese sandwich Pita chips and hummus Crackers and tuna Muffin with cheese Fruit/yogurt drink Some examples of good food to eat during training: Fresh fruit (cut up if necessary) o Apple o Banana o Blueberries o Strawberries o Pineapple o Grapes Dried fruit o Mango o Coconut After training we encourage your gymnast to eat as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes of finishing training. Ideally it would include carbohydrates, protein and good fats. Chicken and fish are great proteins, and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that are needed to increase recovery. If you need any help with choosing suitable food for your gymnast, please the Caleb at caleb.tivendale@eurekagymnastics.com.au. Injuries Gymnastics is a very physical sport and injuries will occur from time to time. As a club, we endeavour to minimise the risk of injury through accredited coaches, good spotting techniques, suitable progressions and ensuring the gymnast is in a level they can perform in. If your child has injured themselves in a training session your child s coach will let you know the nature of the injury at the end of class, and may recommend visiting a physiotherapist or doctor. If your child has injured themselves outside of gymnastics, please ensure you inform us by speaking to your child s coach before class or ing admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au. For gymnasts in level 4 or higher, if the nature of their injury prevents them from doing some activities (e.g., a sprained ankle will prevent them from vaulting) they have the option of training less

6 5 hours, but we strongly discourage missing whole training sessions as this will also result in a loss of strength and conditioning (e.g., a gymnast with a sprained ankle can still hold a handstand or do bar work). Homework As a rule, our coaches do not give gymnasts activities to do at home at any time. The only exception to this is over Christmas where some gymnasts, especially those in higher levels, will be expected to maintain their strength and flexibility during the break. We don t discourage gymnasts stretching at home for example stretching splits while watching TV, practising handstands or using their trampoline but this should always be instigated by the gymnast, not by a parent or coach. Generally, gymnasts should only practise in the gym, supervised by coaches and with necessary equipment to prevent injury. Parent expectations is a not for profit club, and we rely on parent help for fundraisers and maintenance of the gym. If you are interested in joining the parent committee, please admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au. Absences We expect that parents will ensure their children attend as many sessions as possible but if your child will be absent from training please text or phone , or contact your child s coach directly. Watching training We encourage you to come and watch your child at training from the viewing area at the gym. If you want to watch a particular apparatus just speak with your child s coach prior to a training session and they can tell you roughly what time they will be on that apparatus. Please remember our coaches, including the Head Coach, are not available to speak to any parent while they are coaching a class. Progress reports If you would like to know how your child is progressing, please speak to your child s coach before or after class. If they are not able to answer your question, please use the contact information at the start of this handbook to contact the appropriate person. Hours and training days As gymnast s progress through the levels they will be expected to commit to training on weekends and up to four or five days per week. When your child is asked to move up a level please consider the time commitment carefully. Eureka offers classes with less time commitment, and if your child is struggling to keep up with the time commitment we encourage you to speak to your child s coach. Cost As gymnasts move up levels they will be expected to train more hours per week, and the cost will increase accordingly. Hours of training are not negotiable. If your family is unable to make the financial commitment, we encourage you to speak to the club secretary before committing to the class.

7 Competitive Handbook Missed classes Gymnasts who miss training due to a serious injury or sickness may request a fee adjustment. Any fee adjustment is only upon written application to the Committee, accompanied by a medical certificate. Any fee adjustment will be credited to the next term's fees. Make-up classes are not offered for gymnasts in any level. For more information, please read the Squad Fee Policy on the club website at bit.ly/eureka-docspolicies. Leaving the competitive program Written notice of four weeks must be given by gymnasts leaving the competitive program. This must be ed to caleb.tivendale@eurekagymnastics.com.au. The gymnast s family will be charged fees for four weeks from the date of giving notice. Gymnasts can continue to train for up to four weeks after notice is given. Club uniform Gymnasts who represent must wear the club uniform. Ordering the uniform Orders are taken in January for girls in levels 7-10 and boys in levels 5-10, and in March for girls in level 1-6 and boys in levels 0-4. To order the club uniform for your child go to You will need a username and password to access this page which will be given to you when you enrol your child in a competitive program. Uniform payment Payment for all items ordered is taken at the time of ordering by credit card or PayPal. Competitions Gymnasts in competitive programs are expected to attend all competitions the club chooses to attend. Female gymnasts in levels 3-4 gymnasts compete as a team only, although in some level 4 competitions gymnasts also compete as individuals. In levels 5-10, girls compete as a team and as individuals. A team is made up of at least three and no more than six gymnasts. Levels 1-2 are achievement competitions only, where each gymnast receives ribbons based on their individual performance. Male gymnasts compete as a team and as individuals in all levels. A team is made up of at least three and no more than six gymnasts. Competition season Gymnastics competitions do not run all year, but usually over a three to five-month period. Gymnasts will enter different competitions depending on level and division. Level Season # of competitions Final competition NL 1-2 June October 2 NL 3-6 June November 4-6 Junior Victorian Championships NL 3-6 LH June November 4-6 Junior Southern Cross Classic

8 7 NL 7-10 March August 4-6 NL 7-10 LH March - August 4-6 Senior Victorian Championships (pending qualification) Southern Cross Classic (pending qualification) MAG 2-10 March June 4-6 Victorian Championships Female gymnasts in levels 7-10 unlimited hours and male gymnast in levels 7-10 are eligible for selection in the Victorian State Team, based on their performance at the State Team Trials. Entering competitions Gymnasts are automatically entered all competitions they are eligible for. If a female gymnast in levels 1-6 or male gymnast in levels 0-4 is unavailable for a competition you must notify the club in writing no later than 31 March. If a female gymnast in levels 7-10 or male gymnast in levels 5-10 is unavailable for a competition you must notify the club in writing no later than 14 th January. After these dates gymnasts may only withdraw with a medical certificate. Refunds for competition costs are at the discretion of the club. Competition payment Competition payment is included in quarterly fees. Competition costs will increase with the gymnast s level. Teams Teams are selected at the discretion of the Head Coach, in consultation with your child s coach. Competition etiquette for gymnasts The following rules apply to any gymnast representing : Gymnasts must wear the club uniform. Gymnasts must wear the club leotard and tracksuit only, with the Eureka polo shirt if desired. Girls must not wear shorts or leggings with the club leotard at any time, and club leotard must not be worn partially at any time (including after competition). When wearing, the tracksuit pants the tracksuit jacket must also be worn (including after competition). Plain white socks with no branding or logos can be worn during warm up and during presentations (if wearing the tracksuit) if desired. Soft or fluffy toys must not be brought into the competition area. Long hair must be tied back and should not sit lower than the bottom of the ear (for girls, a bun is best; for boys, a ponytail is suitable). Glitter hairspray can be used if desired, but should be used sparingly. Any items needed for competition (grips, drink bottles, etc.) must be carried in the Eureka competition bag. Other bags must not be taken onto the competition floor. Eureka hoodies must not be worn onto the competition floor, but may be worn after competition (but should not be worn with the tracksuit pants or club leotard). endorses the Gymnastics Victoria Codes of Behaviour for Athletes, Coaches, Parents and Spectators. For a copy of these codes please caleb.tivendale@eurekagymnastics.com.au.

9 Competitive Handbook Competition etiquette for parents Parents and spectators must not speak directly to any gymnast or official, including gymnasts and officials from Eureka, during the competition. Doing so may result in your child or the Eureka team being penalised in terms of score or right to compete. Flash photography Do not use a flash when taking photos at competitions. Flash photography is very dangerous for gymnasts and very distracting to officials. Judging At competitions gymnasts are judged by qualified judges. Every club is required to supply a judge for every team they enter in a competition. We are always looking for more judges and if you are interested in assisting the club by becoming a judge please admin@eurekagymnastics.com.au.