Parents Info

The Men's Artistic Fund Raising Committee

Chair Teresa Reynolds

Secretary Sue Boardman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Competition Secretary Andy Hall

Welfare Officer Louise Morley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kit Andy Hall This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Treasurer Liz Beddall

Parent reps Carl Curtis and Nikki Hutchison This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Committee Assistants Debi Pearce, Michelle Clark, Rachel Welton, Helena Liddiard

Notts Gymnastics Academy Board This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Academy Finance This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For enquiries relating to the boys' squads, please contact Andy Hall This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear parents,
Welcome to Notts Gymnastics Academy, a dedicated elite training facility, with success from county to an international level of performance. Notts Gymnastics Academy is one of the most successful clubs in Great Britain, with a wealth of gymnasts achieving countless success at European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic Games.

This is a guide to help you understand the structure of the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics section.

It is also important for you to understand that gymnastics is the fundamental preparation for all physical activities, to take to higher levels can be very difficult. It can be dangerous and gymnasts may sometimes suffer injuries. Every precaution is taken to avoid this. One important factor to avoid injury is to make sure the gymnast’s body is equipped to deal with the demands of the sport. To achieve this, the gymnast’s training programme will involve a high percentage of body conditioning and preparation. The gymnasts will be advised and encouraged to look after their general health by eating sensibly and getting enough rest. Outside the training environment these aspects must be taken seriously.

Competitive Gymnasts will also have moments when they feel low and moments of feeling high. Please make yourself aware of this and do your best to help them through whatever situation arises. All the coaches are fully qualified and work to set guidelines and all want the best for every child in the club.

COMPETITION PATH

All gymnasts will work towards County, Regional and National competitions. Gymnasts will be informed as to which competitions they will be expected to compete in. Names, dates, venues and preparation process will be put on the notice board or given in writing to gymnasts prior to the event (usually by email).

Trials will be held prior to competition entry date. Boys who are not fit or adequately prepared will not be entered. Once entered, they may still be withdrawn at any time if they are not working to the standard required. Gymnasts will pay their own entry fee. It is therefore important that once entries have gone in they work hard towards achieving the required result. They must prepare accordingly:

Put in extra hours if coaches feel it necessary
Take extra care to eat sensibly and avoid any late nights
Check hand guards (and spares), competition kit fits, etc
Avoid missing any training
For competitions, appearance and the behaviour of the gymnasts is very important and can affect their scores
No jewellery is allowed in competition or training

Gymnasts will begin official competitions at eight or nine years old. There will, however, be several friendly or county competitions before they reach nine. Most gymnasts will be invited to compete in the County Floor and Vault competition and the County Championships.
The parent fundraising committee may be asked to host several competitions at the Centre and everybody will be expected to help in some way. Events like this are very useful for raising funds.

From age 8/9, boys follow two separate but interrelated competition strands up to age 14: Elite Grades and Club Grades. These are part of the national development plan for boys’ gymnastics and though most of the boys will follow one path through their gymnastics career, many will switch between the two paths. Gymnasts compete at Regional Grade competitions for selection to represent the East Midlands at the Club Grade finals and those who compete at Elite Grades have the opportunity to represent the Region at the Regional Performance Grades. From age 14 the boys train for voluntary competitions at County, Regional and National level though there are also opportunities for many of the younger boys to compete in voluntary competitions as well.

All gymnasts will work towards County, Regional and National competitions.

Gymnasts will be informed as to which competitions they will be expected to compete in. Names, dates, venues and preparation process will be emailed to parents/gymnasts prior to the event.

Put in extra hours if coaches feel it necessary
Take extra care to eat sensibly and avoid any late nights
Check, hand guards (and spares), competition kit fits, etc
Avoid missing any training
For competitions, appearance and the behaviour of the gymnasts is very important and can affect their scores – long hair must be tied firmly back away from their face and fringes trimmed
No jewellery is allowed in competition
Correct kit must be worn

INSURANCE AND AFFILIATIONS

British Gymnastics membership, for most of the boys in the Elite Squads this will be the silver level of £40 per year. Boys in the Competitive Squads will pay either silver level if they are competing in-age in the Club Grades or bronze level of £15 if they are too young or competing “out of age”. This will be payable via the Academy on 1 September each year. (Cheques payable to NOTTS Gymnastic Academy).

Gymnasts who transfer from another club need to already have BG membership.

All gymnasts must make every effort to attend their set times. Requests to change their times must be agreed by the group coach, as well as the head coach.

A reminder will be sent in September that the Academy will require you to pay your British Gymnastics Membership and affiliation to the County and Region where appropriate. You will be informed of this at the beginning of September.

TRAINING FEES

The fees are payable on the first on each month. Preferably, your fees are to be paid by standing order, alternatively, you may pay by cash or cheque (cheques payable to Notts Gymnastics Academy). All cash payments must be in a marked envelope with your child’s name, discipline (eg. Boys) and their training group (eg. D2) and then place your payment in the safe located inside the gym. Standing order forms are available inside the gym via your child’s coach, or should you wish to set up the standing order online, please contact our admin department or ask your coach for a standing order form. The club does operate a hardship scheme, where if you are unable to pay your child’s fees, we may be able to assist you. To apply you must send a letter or email to your head coach in the strictest confidence.
If members of the Elite Squads have siblings in the gym, the child of the lesser price will pay half fees.

REGULAR ANNUAL EVENTS

Talent ID sessions are held regularly – usually twice a year.

Parents are welcome to see their children perform on several occasions.

Three of these will be held at Rushcliffe

Christmas Display.
County Championships.
County Floor and Vault

There may be other competitions and displays through the year at various venues and parents are welcome to support their children and the club at these.

Parents meetings will be held monthly and all parents will be invited. Whenever possible these meetings will have at least one of the senior coaching staff present.

There are 2 parent representatives on the boards of directors and these will give information to the parents after their meeting

COMMUNICATION

Any parental concerns must be voiced through the correct channels. Firstly, please refer to your disciplines handbook, which will answer many of your questions. Secondly, please speak to your child’s coach before or after training, or via email, phone or text. If they are unavailable please contact your head coach. If the head coach is unavailable you must speak to the International Performance coach and Director of coaching Claire Starkey. Please note during training hours the coaching team must not be disturbed.
Should you have any queries regarding membership or fees please speak to our administrators on 01159 233 033.
It is your responsibility to check notice boards on the ground floor for us to communicate with you or the online notice board on this website.
Should you have any concerns regarding child welfare, please contact our Welfare Officer, Louise Morley, who will be able to assist you in complete confidentiality.
Each discipline has a fund raising committee and should you have any suggestions or wish to get involved please contact our fund raising secretary.
Should you have any questions or queries on how our club works, please speak to our parent representatives. The parent representatives are your point of communication between the Board of Directors and you the parents. They are invited to meet with the directors once a quarter to find out the answer to any questions you may have and to update you on how the club is moving forward.