OAKVILLE GYMNASTICS CLUB TUMBLING PROGRAM

Communications from the 2015 September Parent Meeting

Congratulations to all the tumblers who were offered spots in the Oakville Gymnastics Club Tumbling Program for the 2015/2016 season. We do appreciate your dedication, commitment and loyalty towards the tumbling program.

Biographies:
Don Holmes – Head Coach/Director of the Tumbling Program Coaching the National Tumbling group
Daniela Petrova – Coaching the Developmental group, Provincial 1&2 group and the Provincial 234 group
Kiana Ng – Coaching the Developmental and Interclub groups
Rob Wilson – Coaching the Provincial 1 and Provincial 2,3&4 groups
Seamus O’Donoughue – Coaching the National Group
See the website under Competitive Staff for more details about the background and certification.

The One Year Contract Policy: As you know the Tumbling program offers your child a space in the program for one year and at the end of each season we do ask all of our athletes to “ReTryout”. By implementing the ‘Re-Tryout’ and ‘Tryout’ protocols we are not trying to be mean or unsupportive of those athletes that we have been working with and developing over the previous year (or years). Our program is a competitive program with a limited number of spaces. We are simply trying to ensure that those athletes who are the most deserving of a spot on the team are receiving those spots. If at some point we do ask your child to leave the program this may be thought of as a good thing allowing the athlete the opportunity to explore other sports where he/she may be more suited physically, mentally or socially. Also, at that time we may invite them to try an alternative gymnastics discipline or program in the gym as we do believe that GYMNASTICS IS FOR ALL and we wish to keep everyone in the gym in some capacity.

Summer Attendance: During the summer session we expect 50% attendance as a minimum. We would prefer that your child attends 100% of their scheduled classes but we understand summer schedules are far more diverse and we would hope that kids take the time to enjoy summer camps, weeks at the cottage and time with family. Please send an e-mail to your athlete’s coach with the dates that your child will not be at tumbling. Low attendance in some groups on specific weeks may allow us to accommodate other athletes who have summer training conflicts and permit them to make the minimum number of training hours. If you will be away for the entire summer you do need to pay for your spot on the team and inform your coaches. Missing summer training altogether may be a factor that prevents you from receiving a spot on team.

Fall/Winter/Spring Attendance: During the school year we expect 80% attendance as a minimum. Obviously the less your athlete trains the less they will progress and the less they will be prepared for competition. It is in your best interest to have your athlete at the gym as much as possible.

Violation of Attendance Minimums and Removal from the Program: We cannot hold spots for athletes who do not attend the program. If you have schedule conflicts that will prevent your athlete from reaching the minimum attendance requirement but wish to remain as part of the tumbling program please e-mail the Tumbling Program Director outlining your situation.

OGC Code of Conduct: We have created a specific code of conduct for our athletes. This Code of Conduct document is mostly for athletes when they are traveling with coaches separate from parents. As we travel to competitions you will see this document and if you have any concerns with it at that time we can address them then.

Schedules: Summer Schedules and Fall/Winter/Spring schedules have been distributed. We understand the logistical difficulties that families encounter by receiving these schedules in June as summer camp registration and vacations need to be booked several months in advance. Please note that we create our schedule with careful consideration. We realize that there will be conflicts and we have outlined how we are attempting to provide concessions for these conflicts. Also note that due to the ever evolving space usage of the gym we may find it necessary to change a scheduled class temporarily or permanently depending on the situation. We cannot foresee these situations but we will try to provide you with as much notice as possible prior to changes.

Tumbling Program Weeks Off during the Summer: Note that these change each year as we need to address the competition schedule that is also, ever changing. We will try to let you know well in advance so that you can plan vacations/camps/etc. Tentatively we plan to take a week in July in 2016 and the last week of August. We will post the definitive weeks off in April or May via the blog.

Active Rest: During the rest periods we expect athletes to remain active. We give the tumblers a checklist of activities to do during their off time in order to keep them fit.

Nutrition: We will post some nutrition information on the blog at some point to assist you with meal planning for effective trainings and competitions so keep your eye on the blog.

Water Bottles Tumblers ONLY: Tumblers are permitted to bring water bottles into the gym and store them in a box under the tumbling bulletin board so that athletes do not have to cross the gym to get to the water fountains. Only OGC Tumblers will be permitted this. Please send your child with a reusable water bottle for all trainings. If water bottles are left in the tumbling area they may be thrown out by cleaning staff so if your child wishes to keep their water bottle they should take them home after every class.

Viewing Area Closure: During the summer months and on some holidays the viewing area may be closed in the evening. On these days there will be no parent viewing. Your child will be let in at the sliding glass doors at the front of the club and be ushered out at the end of their session. When the viewing area is closed no one is permitted in the gym lobby for safety and liability reasons. Our apologies for the inconvenience that this might cause. If there is an emergency and you need to contact us inside the gym we ask that you bang on the back door of the gym to try and get our attention. There is usually someone standing in that corner by the trampolines preparing to take a turn so we will here you knocking.

Individual Parent Meetings: We offer individual parent meetings as we or you feel they are necessary. If you have individual questions that pertain to your specific situation we ask that you not address these in a public forum but leave it to an e-mail or individual meeting. We will be doing Progress reports with all tumblers and their families in December, March and May (just around the ReTryout time).

Chain of Command: Speak to your child’s coach(es) directly for anything you may have questions about. Then you may speak to Don. If I am not able to help you then you can speak to Wayne Hussey the COO of Oakville Gymnastics Club. If you have a question about an event/competition DO NOT contact Gymnastics Ontario directly. DO NOT contact the host club of an event directly. If you have a question address it through the coach(es) and we will ask GO or the event host for you as your question is likely one that other’s have.

Sponsorship: Athletes are able to search for sponsors to offset the costs of training and competitions. The OGC has created a sponsorship package for all competitive athletes. Please enquire if you are interested in sponsorship.

Fundraisers: We do two fundraisers that we try to keep easy and simple. We will be sending out information on the Family Fun Night. Details about other fundraisers will be posted as the events take place. Looking for Fundraising Volunteers.

Event and Competition Schedule: See separate post on the blog.

Competitive Structure Provincial and National – See attachment, previous post.

The Competitions.

Competition Schedules: A tumbling competition usually
last 2 days. The athletes usually need to be there for only half a day as the awards for their flight tend to run within 1 to 3 hours of the tumbler’s final tumbling run. The schedule for the weekend of competition usually comes out the week prior to a competition. We will post the competition on the blog as soon as we have received it and will provide the address of the event as well so that you can use your GPS to locate the competition venue.

National Tumblers: Need to attend an international meet at some point in order to qualify to the Canadian National Team. We will speak directly to those who individuals who this pertains to.

Travel competitions: It is possible that we may attend a competition outside of Ontario. Any competitions that are not Gymnastics Ontario qualification competitions, Ontario Championships or Canadian Championships the costs for the coaches to attend will be “cost-shared” over the athletes that attend the competition. Registration fees for Ontario qualifiers are included in your OGC fees. Registration fees for all other competitions will need to be paid at the time of the competition.

Competitive Wear: We change our competitive singlet and shorts/leotard every two years. More information will be coming very soon about this. Tracksuits will remain the same this year. National Tumblers must buy the tracksuit jacket. Purchasing the tracksuit pants is optional but please show up to competitions with pants on. Provincial and Developmental Tumblers the Tracksuit is optional as we do not use the tracksuit for “March In” or “Awards” ceremonies at competitions. There is a possibility for swapping or purchasing a lightly used tracksuit from another athlete. Information will be distributed via e-mail regarding a Swap or Exchange Day.

OGC Tumbling T-shirts: Are available on the clothing racks in the OGC lobby.

OGC Optional Apparel: OGC hooded sweatshirts, sweat pants and other OGC apparel are available for purchase either by order or on the rack in the lobby.

Therapy Clinic: The Glen Abby Massage Therapy and Sports Injury Therapy Clinic located inside of the OGC is open to all. It is not restricted to the athletes of the OGC. All Oakville Community members are welcome to use the OGC clinic.

Sport Psych: We have a new therapist working in the clinic who deals with Sport Psychology. Her name is Sarah Dybka and was herself a power tumbler coached by Don and Niki. She is available for one on one sessions.

Car Pooling: If you are looking for Car Pooling options please create a simple classified advertisement and email it to Don. Please include your Name, closest intersection or school for pick up location, your phone number or email address. Don will then distribute this advertisement to the athletes in your child’s group or if you wish, to the greater competitive gymnastics community within the OGC.

Any Financial questions please direct to Agnes Jankura in the main office.

Check your e-mails regularly for OGC info.

READ THE BLOG REGULARLY: It is VERY IMPORTANT that YOU keep up-to-date on the blog. It is the online bulletin board for our program. Everything is archived there so you can go back and pull any information that you might need. http://ogctumblingprogram.blogspot.com/

Questions?

Any questions can be directed to:
Don Holmes dholmes_tumbling@hotmail.com
Daniela Petrova dany_ip@yahoo.com
Kiana Ng kiana_ng@hotmail.com
Rob Wilson – robert.liam.wilson@hotmail.com
Seamus O’Donoughue – seamus_o7@hotmail.com