Team

Click on the links below and find out more information about our Team program.

• Class descriptions and commitment
• Class times, locations, important dates (including competitions/performances)
• Class fees
• General information
• What will participants learn in class?
• Where will this lead?

Class Description and Commitment (please click here for Team handout)

The Team is the place for gymnasts who really enjoy rhythmics and who want to master more challenging skills and routines. Gymnasts will learn more advanced rhythmic skills (body and apparatus), which are important for both competition and performance. There are three options currently available to Team gymnasts:

1. Team A = one day/week training; attend performance events and one invitational meet (as a demonstration group)

2. Team B = two days/week training; attend performance events as well as Provincial level competitive events and invitational meets in Alberta

3. There is a third option for Team A athletes who wish to improve their skills, but who do not want to compete. These athletes (Team A+) may attend the first hour of the Team B practise on Thursdays to work on fitness, strength, flexibility, body skills and apparatus handling.

Team names are based on the number of days per week that the group practises (e.g. Team A practises 1 day a week, Team B practises 2 days a week).

Team training focuses on GROUP gymnastics (Team B gymnasts may have the opportunity to do an individual routine as well) - group gymnasts have many opportunities to travel, compete and perform provincially, regionally and internationally!

One of our goals on the Team is to develop physical fitness (energy systems, power, strength, flexibility, hand-eye coordination) and explore mental preparation skills (concentration and visualization techniques, goal-setting). 

Team Commitment

Gymnasts commit to attend, at a minimum, one 2-hour practise every week. Gymnasts are expected to attend all practises with VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS (as a ‘rule of thumb’ – a gymnast who trains one day a week, should not miss more than one practise per session).  If you are sick, please stay home and get better faster.  If you must miss a practise, please contact your coach 24 hours in advance so that she can adjust her lesson plan. 

Because our focus is on GROUP gymnastics, it is essential that ALL team members attend practise.  If one gymnast is missing, it makes it much harder for the  rest of the group to practise formations, timing, lifts, exchanges – essentially every aspect of the routine. When  a gymnast misses a practise, we often spend at least part or all of the next practise making the same corrections as the previous practise so that all gymnasts are on the same page.

General class information

Gymnasts must wear a bodysuit (colour and style are at the gymnast's discretion) for classes. Bicycling shorts or tights may be worn overtop of the bodysuit (to keep legs warm).

Gymnasts will be required to purchase a Team bodysuit and/or an additional costume for performances (approximate cost bodysuit = $52).

Gymnasts must bring their own equipment to practise. Team members should have their own:

• Rope
• Ball (Senior TOGU, red)

Team A gymnasts will have the option to purchase new equipment or to rent equipment from the club for $20/year (if the equipment is returned in good condition, 50% of the rental fee, $10, will be refunded).

Team B gymnasts will need to purchase additional apparatus depending on competition requirements. Apparatus can be purchased at United Cycle (10323 78th Ave, Edmonton).

All Team gymnasts should have a pair of toe slippers (RG gymnastics shoes) —no socks or tights.

Hair should be neatly tied back in a ponytail or a bun and kept off the face.

Class starts promptly at 6:00pm – please be sure to arrive slightly early so that to be able to fully participate in warm-up. Gymnasts who are more than 10 minutes late may not be able to fully participate in class.

What will participants learn in class?

At this level, gymnasts will continue to build fundamental movement skills with greater emphasis on the Training to Train stage of the Long Term Athlete Development Plan. Gymnasts will focus on overall sport skills development and development of endurance, flexibility and strength.

Gymnasts will continue to improve their ability to work together in a group. Greater emphasis will be placed on musical expression (through movement and facial expression) and the use of apparatus as an extension of the body.

One of our main goals on the Team is to improve physical fitness (energy systems, power, strength, flexibility, hand-eye coordination) as well as mental preparation skills (relaxation and concentration techniques, goal-setting, visualization).