We have put together the following information from the most frequently asked questions to give you all you need to know ahead of attending class with us – handy info for new members and a refresher for our returning members.
About Us: Athlone Gymnastics Club is a lively and dedicated club that is run on a voluntary basis by a committee made up of the parents along with our Club Manager, Imelda McLoughlin. The mission of the club is to coach our members towards their full potential in a safe, fun and progressive environment.
We provide both competitive and participation training to children from the age of 6 upwards. Our primary aim is to increase the opportunities for children to participate in gymnastics as a general sport and aid in their development through sport.
We are affiliated with Gymnastics Ireland, the national governing body for the sport in Ireland and are, therefore, governed by their policies and procedures.
Athlone Gymnastics Club is primarily a recreational gymnastics club with a limited competitive element. Entry to the competitive classes is by invitation only and is at the discretion of the coaching team. This will involve an assessment along with evaluating commitment, work ethic, attendance, etc. There is very limited availability to the competitive program and parents should not automatically expect that children will progress to this group, regardless of how long they have been members.
We do believe however that it is possible for all children to participate, learn, progress and enjoy the sport within their groups. They will develop good co-ordination, self-confidence and discipline as well as strength, balance and flexibility.
Drop off/collection of Gymnasts:
- Due to health & safety and child protection reasons we are asking all parents and siblings who are dropping off or collecting children to please wait outside the main door. For the safeguarding of all the children using the gym, parents should not enter the gym during training. We ask all parents and children to please assist us with this and to obey the instructions and/or requests of coaches/management in this regard.
- Gymnasts should be picked up on time at the end of class as our coaches have other classes to teach or the gym may be closing.
- Should you wish to discuss your child’s progress with their coach, please email the Club Manager at administrator@athlonegymnasticsclub.ie who will pass your query to the relevant coach and arrange a suitable time for the coach to contact you.
- Please do not request change of class times/days with coaches, this is dealt with by email only to administrator@athlonegymnasticsclub.ie who will endeavour to facilitate this for the following term. We do not move children once a term has started.
Gymnasts Attire:
- Gymnasts are asked to be on time for classes and to bring water with them for during and after class.
- Children should wear clothing suitable for sporting activity.
- Girls may wear a leotard but this is not mandatory. Girls can wear leggings, t-shirt (no crop tops please) and tracksuit top/sweater. No hoodies or tops with strings or tags. Hair must be tied back before coming to class (this is not part of the coaches role). No jewellery/long earrings to be worn. These can become snagged in equipment and cause accident/injury.
- Boys can wear shorts, fitted tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt/sweater/tracksuit top. Again, no hoodies or tops with strings or tags.
- Gymnasts are not permitted to bring mobile phones to the gym. If they are required for a gymnast to contact a parent after class, the phone must be powered off throughout the session and left with shoes. Anyone not respecting this request, may have their phone removed from them until the class is over. This is necessary to protect all the children using the gym.
- No nuts or foods containing nuts are allowed in the gym as a number of our members are allergic to them.
Leotards: For recreational gymnasts, these are only available to order through the club. We send out a link when we are placing an order (normally once a year). Please take note that these are not mandatory.
Safety within the gym: Under no circumstances are any children allowed to use the equipment of the gym without the instruction of their coaches. This applies to gymnasts as well as siblings. This is especially important just before classes start or just after they finish. Please advise your child of this rule which will again be reinforced by all coaches and management.
Codes of Conduct: We abide by the Rules & Regulations set out by our Governing Body, Gymnastics Ireland. All gymnasts & parents at Athlone Gymnastics Club are required to abide by the Code of Conduct set out to ensure the protection of our gymnasts. Please read through Gymnastics Ireland’s Codes of Conduct for Young Gymnasts and Parents/Guardians below. We would especially ask that you discuss the Code of Conduct for Young Gymnasts with your child before the new Gymnastics term begins.
http://www.gymnasticsireland.com/media/GI_CodeSheets_2_YoungGymnasts.pdf
http://www.gymnasticsireland.com/media/GI_CodeSheets_4_ParentsGuard.pdf
Club Behaviour Policy: It is the Club’s policy to encourage and acknowledge high standards of behaviour. It is also Club policy not to tolerate unacceptable behaviour from any gymnast towards fellow gymnasts, coaches, officials, opponents, parents or any other Club members. Please review Athlone Gymnastics Club Behaviour policy below
http://www.athlonegymnasticsclub.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AGC-Club-Behaviour-Policy.pdf
All of the above policies can also be viewed on our website http://www.athlonegymnasticsclub.ie/
Insurance: The annual insurance fee that you pay upon registering every year pays for the Gymnastics Ireland club Insurance and personal accident cover. Details of the Insurance cover for registered members of Gymnastics Ireland can be accessed here.
http://gymnasticsireland.org/files/Insurance/GI%20Insurance%20Handbook%20Sept%202016-17.pdf
Please note that Gymnastics Ireland have informed us that if any members receive gymnastics training outside of the club setting then they will not be covered by their Gymnastics Ireland insurance.
Coaches. Our club relies on the enthusiasm & commitment of our coaching team who have all undertaken Gymnastics Ireland qualifications. All of our coaches must also be Garda vetted & have undertaken Safeguarding training. We are very grateful for their dedication in acquiring qualifications & choosing to coach with our club. Please advise your child to obey all safety instructions that are communicated by their coaches. Coaches will wear recognisable Athlone Gymnastics Club Tracksuit tops.
Illnesses/Allergies: Parents are asked to advise us on registration forms of any medical condition or anything that may require additional attention during a session. Please email us if your child has any recent illness/allergy or injury so that the coach can take this into account for training purposes. Please do not send your child to the club with an injury that may prevent them from participating in all activities as they will be asked to sit out the class. If your child has been sick (i.e. Covid, flu, vomiting bug, etc) in the 48 hours prior to their class, please do not send them in for training. This is unfair on the child themselves, the other members using the gym and also the coaches.
Please ensure we have a current phone number for your child at all times, if parents are away please leave a number for the person responsible for them in your absence, so that we always have a contactable number in case of an emergency.
FUNDRAISING: This club is operated and managed on a voluntary basis by a small but dedicated committee made up of parents of past and present gymnasts. Parents are asked to join the committee and contribute to the smooth running of the club. You can commit to as much or as little as you wish and are under no obligation to take on an executive role. It is through your help and assistance that the club can continue to grow and flourish for the good of all of our children. Committee members will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, Safeguarding & be registered with Gymnastics Ireland.
Thank you to all who have assisted us with fundraising efforts (bag packing, raffles etc) in recent years. We look forward to your continued support.
Contact: Please visit our website www.athlonegymnasticsclub.ie for more information and to subscribe for updates. If you do not find the information that you were looking for elsewhere on our website then you can contact us using the following methods:
Email : administrator@athlonegymnasticsclub.ie
Or Phone: 083 8333171
Please note that our Manager works part time and will respond to your query as soon as possible. However, we are not in a position to reply to queries regarding new spaces as all the information is already on our website.