How to Start an Acrobatic Gymnastics Program in Your Gym To paint a visual image of Acrobatic Acrobatics & Tumbling Association, Gymnastics, or acro as it is commonly whose mission is to bring the sport of called, you could say it is a combina- Acrobatics and Tumbling through NCAA tion of artistic gymnastics, pairs figure emerging sport status to become a What skating, and Cirque du Soleil acrobatics fully sanctioned NCAA championship and choreography. The competitors tell sport. This provides another avenue a story with their performances, while for competitive gymnasts to continue is Acrobatic Gymnastics? capturing the audience‘s attention with competing and receive scholarships thrilling dynamic and graceful balance after graduating from high school. skills.
To expand on that visual description, acro is a partner sport. Partners in pairs or groups of three or four perform acrobatic skills like balance holds, hand balancing, pyramids, toss and catches. Routines also include tumbling elements and are set to music with unique chore- ography and synchronization among partners.
The elite competitors in the sport, like most sports, are simply amazing to watch. The beauty and grace, coupled with skills that seem to defy gravity, leave the audience wanting more. The discipline certainly provides tremendous opportunities, fun, and physical activity for the participants. The partner aspect of acro makes it an even more inter- esting gymnastics discipline, promoting teamwork and cooperation along with physical fitness.
Another exciting development is the introduction of Acrobatics and Tumbling at the collegiate level. This sport is 2 governed by the National Collegiate 3 Who is Acrobatic Gymnastics for?
Acrobatic Gymnastics is fun for “Acrobatic Gymnastics has provided athletes of Acro athletes of any age and athletic Explosion the opportunity to see that hard work and determination does pay off. The love the athletes ability. Athletes of varying heights, have for this sport allows them to inspire other kids weights, and body types can in the community to get involved and follow their participate in acrobatic gymnas- dreams. Because dreams do come true, it just takes tics. Smaller, more flexible athletes hard workand determination. are needed as tops, while taller Acrobatic Gymnastics has provided Acro Explosion and stronger athletes are ideal for athletes the opportunity to travel, meeting people base positions. from all around the world, giving these athletes exposure to other cultures, languages, and lifestyles. Acrobatic Gymnastics has provided Acro Explosion Since so many athletes can partic- athletes the ability to build relationships and de- ipate in acro, it can be a great velop life time friendships at the same time gaining addition to a gymnastics club, self-confidence through these experiences. Acro- dance studio, or recreational batic Gymnastics has provided education on fitness, respect for others, setting and obtaining goals, and program. Athletes with gymnas- self-discipline. tics, tumbling, and dance back- grounds find it easy to transition Acrobatic Gymnastics gives children of all shapes, into acro since many of the basic sizes and skill levels an opportunity to compete and be a part of a team. There is a place on our team body positions and skills apply. for every child that walks through the gym door. At Ronda’s Dance Tumble Cheer Center one of our main goals is promoting physically active children. Acrobatic Gymnastics not only does that but it also builds self-esteem and self-confidence in our young ath letes and gives them the opportunities to experience and broaden their perspectives, helping to produce well-rounded and mature individuals.” 4 5 - Ronda Francis Owner and head coach of Acro Explosion / Ronda’s Dance*Tumble*Cheer Center in Blue Springs, MO “Acrobatic Gymnastics is a beautiful sport that combines strength, flexibility, tumbling, dance, and artistic gymnastics. All major gymnastics Various opportunities and benefits clubs in the United States should offer acrobatics are available to athletes through as part of their program. Acrobatic Gymnastics is a unique sport that offers athletes of various participation in acrobatic gymnas- ages with different body types and abilities the tics, such as the following: opportunity to use their gymnastics skills and be successful in a competitive arena. The physical • Physical fitness - especially in the Why demands of acrobatics are less strenuous than areas of strength, flexibility, agility, that of artistic gymnastics, therefore allowing balance athletes more years of participation. As a participate in acro? gymnastics club owner, this program appeals to a broader population and allows us to keep • Life skills - particularly teamwork, athletes in the gym that might ordinarily drop from communication and trust among gymnastics due to physical maturity, injuries, or Here are some of the wonderful partners, responsibility, and friend- time restraints. There are unlimited benefits to ship benefits that can be derived from an having Acrobatic Gymnastics in your club!” acro program at your club: • Variety - gymnasts can do acro in - Yevgeny Marchenko • Quick and inexpensive to add an WOGA Gymnastics co-owner addition to current disciplines additional program to your gym World Champion, European Champion, World Cup Winner in Acrobatics Gymnastics-Mixed Pair • Safety - partners assist athletes • Unique advertising and marketing Coach of Carly Patterson to safe landings with less wear and for your gym tear on the body
• Creates new excitement among • Accomplishment of goals - fewer parents, athletes and staff age limitations which leads to a wider window of opportunity to accom- • Attracts new athletes plish goals and remain competitive in the sport • Retains current athletes • Outlet for Artistic Expression - by • Provides more choices for students combining the love of gymnastics • Offers more competitive outlets with the love of dance
• Captures additional revenue • Continued Participation in Gymnas- tics - acro is perfect for gymnasts • Provides fun activities for recre- who enjoy tumbling and floor exer- ational classes cise, but may not prefer other appa- ratus such as beam or bars • Introduces additional opportuni- ties for college-bound gymnasts
6 7 Equipment: Minimal equipment is Partnering Athletes: When partnering needed for an acro program. The pre- athletes, consider the following: team program and lower competitive • Size levels can be performed on panel mats or carpet bonded foam. Higher levels • Weight How require a spring floor. Other helpful equip- • Strength ment includes a CD player, stop watch, • Personality and chemistry and selection of music. to start an acro program? • Similar goals and ambition As the athletes progress, pedestals [or Athletes may be grouped into pairs or blocks], an overhead spotting belt, and trios, based on the numbers in the class. various mats are helpful with drills, Pairs can be all girls, all boys or a mixture, learning new skills, and conditioning. trios are all girls and groups of four are all boys. An athlete may participate in Class Structure: A typical session may both a pair and a group if desired. run 12-14 weeks, but could be tailored to meet the needs of your program. Learning the Skills/Coaching: The Beginner classes may meet once a week materials referenced below provide a for 1 to 1½ hours. Athletes may also be wealth of information to help get you required to participate in a tumbling class started. The Pre-Team program includes at another time during the week. detailed lesson plans, skill descriptions, and pictures. Online videos are avail- It often works best to have two coaches able to help coaches learn technique for with 6 to 8 pairs or groups of athletes, or Levels 2-6 skills. Another tremendous one coach could work with 4 to 5 pairs/ resource is the A200: Acro Basics course groups. which is offered online through USA Gymnastics University. Each region with The first few weeks of the session are in the Acrobatics Program also conducts a focused on conditioning, individual Regional Athlete Clinic during the winter element work, and partnering athletes. [December - February]. The regional Once the partnerships are formed, more clinics also provide terrific coaches time is spent developing pair/group skills. education and training opportunities for Athletes in a pre-team program may work athletes at all levels. toward a performance at the conclusion of the session.
8 9 The Pre-Team program provides a recre- video/jo_compulsory.html ational program introducing basic acro skills and positions. Clubs can utilize this Growth & Developemnt Committee program for recreational classes or a more formal pre-team. At the end of a session, Please contact a Growth and Devel- Where athletes may perform for parents or the opment committee member to assist club could host an intra-squad meet. The in getting you materials to start your Pre-Team program has three levels which program. to get more information? build upon each other and progress directly into the JO Program, which starts Region 1: Alaska, Arizona, California, at Level 1. All of the information for the Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, JO program is contained in the JO Code Oregon, Utah, Washington Patricia Nobre of Points and the Acrobatic Gymnastics [email protected] & Rion Page Rules and Policies. [email protected]
Another avenue for involvement is the Region 3: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Competitive Blocks Program, which is a Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, coordinated program used to promote Texas Ashley Rosilier [email protected] & athlete participation within the Acrobatic Samantha Conway samantha.conway14@ Gymnastics discipline and develop skills gmail.com within many gymnastics disciplines. Region 4: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minne- Reference Materials sota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North • Pre team program - Provides an easy- Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming to-use program to get acro started in your Marcia DeGuire [email protected] & gym. www.usagym.org/pages/acro/pages/ Amy Arthur [email protected] overview_preteam.html Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mich- • Competitive blocks program - Includes igan, Ohio, Tennessee Angie Layne region- skills and exercise requirements for all levels [email protected] & Amanda Gold amanda_ of the blocks program. www.usagym.org/ [email protected] pages/acro/pages/overview_blocks.html Region 7: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, • JO Code of Points - Includes skills and Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, exercise requirements for Levels 1-10. www. New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, usagym.org/pages/acro/pages/jo_codeof- Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, points.html Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia 10 • Coaches Training videos - Videos of compul- Sean Butehorn [email protected] & 11 sory level routines for all categories and skill Kim Leach [email protected] techniques www.usagym.org/pages/acro/ Mentor Clubs Crescent City Gymnastics New Orleans, LA ww.crescentcitygymnastics.com International Elite Gawain Dupree & Julie Dupree-DeSantis Annapolis, MD [email protected] www.ieacro.com 504-861-1740 Sarah Thomas [email protected] Ohio Sports Academy 410-224-0721 Springboro, OH www.ohiosportsacademy.com Acro Explosion David & Alisha Trifiro Blue Springs, MO [email protected] www.rondasdance.com 937-743-1466 Ronda Francis [email protected] Realis Gymnastics Academy 816-228-7008 Redlands, CA www.realisgymnastics.com Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio Tonya Vorobiev San Antonio, TX [email protected] www.agsaflyers.com 909-478-0020 Vladimir Vladev [email protected] West Coast Training Center 210-481-6361 Livermore, CA www.westcoasttc.com Aerial Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics Marie Annonson San Jose, CA [email protected] www.atagymnastics.com 925-961-7733 Bob Meier & Lanie Davis [email protected] Xtreme Acro and Cheer 408-224-5437 Rockville, MD www.xtremeacroandcheer.com Aerials Athletics Judi Eicher Waynesville, OH [email protected] www.aerialsathletics.com 301-251-5525 Angie Layne [email protected] 937-383-5700
CCoast Acro San Luis Obispo, CA www.iflipforccg.com Rion Page [email protected] 805-234-5322