About our Trainings

Find out below more about how we run our not-for-profit club!

Conditioning
Conditioning is an important part of gymnastics. To avoid injury, it is important that our gymnasts are strong and to make sure that their bodies can handle the flexibility. Conditioning is included in every training session from younger girls right through to the seniors. During the first few years the basic techniques are taught and as the girls start to get more competitive, conditioning becomes part of their warm-up!
 
Dance
Ballet is compulsory for anyone competing in the international stream. It is a requirement of NZ Gymnastics. We encourage these gymnasts to attend a Ballet class outside of the gym and for any other gymnasts if interested to attend ballet as it is a wonderful help to your daughter’s performance and presentation on the competition floor. Other forms of dance, such as jazz, that encourage finding “flare” in your gymnasts dance style are also highly recommended as this is a major part of the judging in competition for the current code of points. Having body and facial expression as well as dance technique is a distinguishable aspect of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
 
Training Venue
For Rhythmic Gymnastics we require a wooden floor to train on and for the senior girls a roof that is a minimum of 10 meters high. Dunedin is very limited in the availability of suitable options but we have found our home at the Caledonian Gymnasium. 2021 will again see all the girls training in this facility of which we share with other gymnastics clubs and a variety of other sport and leisure activities from around the city.

Terms
The club follows the Primary school terms, but generally continues through some of the school holidays as these fall during the busy gym time in regards to routines and competitions. If training does continue through a holiday period the girls will get another holiday where possible to make up for it.
 
Parents Attendance at Training 
At GGI we have a closed training policy for all competitive athletes which means that spectating is prohibited unless otherwise arranged with your daughter’s coach. This is aligned with other dance institutions and has been implemented in the best interest of your child. We aim to keep distractions for them and the coaches to a minimum and it is important to keep the focus on training and listening to the coach. We will offer opportunities at the conclusion of each term and at competitions to watch the girls. Our expectations of the closed training is that parents do not sit in on classes. You may to enter the stands 10min before class finishing. Girls should also pack up quickly and leave the training area, so the following classes can continue in a closed manner. Social discussions after class should be out the back or downstairs. You are more than welcome to utilise the back room, where we have provided couches, tables, TV with DVD’s as well as tea and coffee for your enjoyment while you wait for your child to finish training.
 
The Recreational/ Level 1 class on a Saturday is open to parents, however we ask that you refrain from interacting with your child for the duration of the session.

Club Uniform
Training: Club uniform is compulsory for Level 4+. This consists of the club training singlet and black leggings. It is optional to wear a black training leotard under the singlet.
Younger gymnasts are welcome to purchase a singlet as it makes it easy on parents and gymnasts because you know longer have to worry about what your daughter wears to training. It also looks very formal when all our girls are wearing the same thing and therefore is compulsory at competitions. It is important to train in breathable, stretchy and tight-fitting clothing for the safety of the gymnasts. We recommend leggings and a training leotard or singlet/t-shirt. Denim, skirts or baggy shorts are not acceptable training attire.
 
Competitions: The warm uniform consists of tight singlet and black bike shorts/tights for level 1-3 gymnasts, Level 4 and above are to wear club singlets and black bike tights.
 
All other times in the gym (including supporting other members) Gymnasts are to be in full tracksuit including black socks and hair tied back off their face. Black socks are essential at prizegiving and presentations so please ensure your child has these. Tidy (preferably sports style) shoes are to be worn with the tracksuit. Please no ugg boots or slippers while wearingthe tracksuit.  We take pride in our club and aim to be well represented through tidy uniform and polite behaviour.
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Contact
Email is our main form of contact to parents so please check and respond to these regularly. All competition entry forms are sent out electronically and must be returned by a certain deadline, so it is important that you keep up to date with this correspondence. You may also receive emails from your gymnast’s coach, so it is important that you provide an email address that you access often.
Text messages will be sent by coaches to their classes when required. Please respond to these messages to acknowledge that they have been received. You can also text your gymnasts coach with any queries or concerns you may have (find their phone numbers here).
Our Facebook and Instagram pages often have reminders of upcoming events and important notices. We advise following these platforms as an extra way of receiving information.

​Code of Conduct in the Gym

• Gymnasts must be ready to train at the time stated on their timetable.
• Long hair should be tied back off the face; headbands are not acceptable as they continue to fall off.
• Gymnasts should wear clothes that allow easy movement; layers are the best so they can be taken off as they get warmer. Leotards, bike shorts, tights and tight t-shirts are ideal. Polyprops are best for the winter. No jeans or skirts please.
• The training gym is a closed space; parents may not observe classes unless prior agreement with coach is arranged.
• Competition gymnasts must remember to bring their equipment to each class to ensure effective training.
• Each gymnast must bring a drink bottle to training. It is extremely important that when we are exercising that we keep up our fluid intake.
• Should your child not be attending class for any reason, it is important and also courteous to ring and inform their coach. Phone numbers are available in this book, please text them during class time on their cell phone or contact Regan and she will pass the message on. If a coach is sick, we will endeavour to find a replacement however if class is cancelled an extra session will be offered later in the term make up for it.
• We ask all our gymnasts to respect their teammates and also their coach. If your daughter does misbehave, you as her parents will be rung to come and collect her. Bullying or disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated.

If you as the parents or your daughters have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the coaches or committee members. We are here to help you understand Rhythmic Gymnastics. We as a club ensure that all decisions are made in the best interest of our gymnasts, as well as push them to be their best and gain maximum enjoyment and improvement from their training. We are a family club and need everyone to help us keep it this way. We are proud of our girls and we like to make sure that they are happy! ​