Level 4 boys finish their season by competing in the Team State Championships held in late March/early April every year. USAG Boys season begins in late November and culminates in April. Elite gymnasts are often required to attend national training camps, additional competitions and verifications outside of their regular competition season. The requirements and commitment at this level of sport are very intense. Within the United States these rules and guidelines are often referred to as elite gymnastics. Olympic and National level gymnastics follows a set of rules and guidelines set by the Federation of International Gymnastics or F.I.G. TOPs, HOPES, Elite - Often times girls see gymnastics on television and dream of one day seeing themselves on that screen. Junior Olympic athletes train between 12 and 25 hours per week. Many Junior Olympic athletes are selected to receive both full and partial NCAA athletic scholarships. ![]() Optional athletes are required to travel more than compulsory gymnasts because they compete against girls from multiple states and regions. The competitive season begins in January and ends in May with Level 10 National Championships. The second tier in the Junior Olympic path is referred to as Optionals, or level 6-10. The compulsory gymnast competes in a season beginning in late August and culminating at State Championships in mid November. Every compulsory athlete in the United States competes the same routines. These girls compete a set routine on all four events that is determined by USA Gymnastics. athletes are referred to as compulsory levels or level 2 - level 5. The Junior Olympic path is divided into two tiers of competition. It requires a great deal of commitment for both the athlete and the family. Junior Olympic Program (J.O.) - The Junior Olympic program is the largest competitive program within USA Gymnastics. It provides the highest level of training and safety to members and programs including safety and background checking of all coaches and athletes as well as program specific training and certifications for its coaching members. USA Gymnastics is the National Governing Body for all gymnastics within the United States. This program will focus heavily on proper technique in very basic skills, building strength and flexibility in the early years when it the easiest to accomplish, and foster discipline which is crucial to upper level gymnastics.The Klub is a United States Gymnastics (USAG) Professional Member club and participates in USAG sanctioned programs. This program also provides a base for strength, coordination, balance, flexibility, and discipline that will benefit these young athletes in other sports and activities now and in the future. However, the developmental program does give many girls the opportunity to see if competitive gymnastics is a good fit for them. ![]() Participation in the developmental program is by no means an automatic path or right to the Aspire Gymnastics competitive team. The emphasis of this program is on the development of the gymnastics skills and desires of the young gymnasts, not the dreams of their parents. Girls who become bored or simply do not enjoy learning gymnastics with high attention to detail, after a time, may be placed in an appropriate recreational class. This allows parents and coaches to determine whether or not competitive gymnastics is a good fit prior to making a more serious commitment. Participation in the developmental program starts with a lower level of commitment. The time and financial commitment is one that may not be right for all families. The level of commitment required to participate in competitive gymnastics is greater than in recreational gymnastics. This path is not right for all kids, and that is okay. It is important that future gymnasts have the necessary basics to learn upper level skills safely and properly. ![]() This program gives us the chance to see how the girls respond to greater expectations of time, effort, good behavior, etc. While skills are a big factor, the child's desire to learn becomes an even bigger factor. Participation in the developmental program will allow higher levels of training in strength, flexibility, and skills that may lead to future participation in gymnastics competitions. This honor is reserved for students who show an above average ability and an extraordinary enthusiasm for the sport of gymnastics. Girls are placed in Hot Shots or Mighty Mites by coach recommendation or through an evaluation process. The developmental program is by invitation only and is designed to provide an opportunity to young girls showing potential to become competitive in gymnastics.
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