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What is the Gems Program?

Gems are our pre-competiitve group training two days a week for varying hours, the hours are dependent on both skill level and age to appropriately guide athletes into the competitive stream. We have a 4-hour, 6-hour, and 8-hour program. The 4-hour trains for 2 hours twice a week, 6-hour trains for 3 hours twice a week, and 8-hour trains 4 hours twice a week. As we follow the compulsary level routines in our competitive program these are the same skills that Gems will learn and master. The focus is on the progression of strength, technique, agility, flexibility, and overall skill level. Gems coaches work closely with compeititve coaches. Coaches work with each athlete on all 4 events and their associated routines. While the athletes will learn the same skills in each routine they will not compete and instead focus on the above to increase and improve their gymnastics. This is the next step for Recreational athletes looking to move into the Competitive stream!

When to look into the Gems Program?

Typically, in the Recreational program once the athete has mastered all three levels of rec (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced) this is when coaches begin to let office staff know about the athletes progression and talk to parents about interest in our Gems program. If parents are looking into our Gems program but do not know if their athlete is ready please feel free to talk with the coach after class as they will have the best idea of next steps. 

Skills we look for in Gems:

On floor we are assessing power and strength as well as associated skills including, handstand (off the wall), cartwheel, bridge kickover, splits, back roll, and walkovers are an asset. With beam, confident walking across, ability to walk backwards, sideways, balance on one foot, complete forwards, backwards, and sideways kicks, etc,. For bars, chin-up pullover, casts (hips off the bar), back hip circles are an asset, hold in front support (5 seconds). Lastly, we test for strength and conditioning such as, push-ups, long jumps, sprints, chin-ups and more. 

Testing

For Gems testing takes around 20-30 minutes and costs $20, the coach performing the testing will give immediate feedback to parents regarding what program the athlete would benefit most from. If your athlete passes then we continue to look for which group to add them into.Gems is an auto-renewing monthly payment (requires credit card on file) and goes from September to June for the 2024/2025 Session and the Summer Session runs from July-August. If you are coming from Recreational classes and are already enrolled in the session we will credit the remaining amount for you to use towards Gems payments.