GAZELLE GYMNASTICS CLUB

Gazelle Gymnastics is a well-established club which has been operating in Castlereagh for over 20 years. The club offers a wide range of classes to accommodate both boys and girls from pre-school to advanced gymnasts. The classes run in 3 venues throughout Castlereagh, namely the Robinson Centre, Belvoir Activity Centre and Loughmoss Leisure Centre. The classes run in 10-week terms throughout the school year. During the summer we run 5-day courses available across all 3 centres.

Gazelle Gymnastics Club is affiliated to British Gymnastics and Gymnastics Northern Ireland, and all coaches working within the club are fully registered, qualified and insured by the foresaid Governing Bodies. All coaches are Access NI checked and have attended child protection training courses held by the council and Sport Northern Ireland.

During the 10-week term courses, children get to experience working on Olympic gymnastics equipment and learn skills through a progressive learning programme designed to accommodate each individual child and adapt to specific needs ensuring a quality of coaching and confident learning on behalf of the child. All gymnasts also take part in the British Gymnastics Proficiency Award Scheme developed to encourage and motivate children to learn new skills and perfect them in order to achieve levels of awards, which are recognised throughout the world.

Gazelle Gymnastics Club also offers an advanced programme of gymnastics for those children who are identified during ongoing class assessments. Occasionally Gazelle will invite children to try out for various squads. There are 3 different squads operating in the club at present including the "Fledglings Squad" (3 hours per week), the "Junior Elite Squad" (5 hours per week) and the "Senior Squad" (4 hours per week). There is also an advanced recreation class, which is by invitation only and runs for 1½ hours per week.

All gymnasts from Gazelle work toward the Annual Gymnastics Competition held during early June. Gymnasts learn set routines and compete in age groups. The squad gymnasts also compete in a separate competition on the day. The competition is a great way for the gymnasts to get to know each other and gain confidence and experience in a competition setting. They also get to see what the squad gymnasts have been working on and how they have progressed! Squad gymnasts also represent the club in Regional Gymnastics Competitions.

Over the years Gazelle Gymnastics Club has continued to grow into a very strong, successful club in the competition programme for Northern Ireland.

Dawn Dornan
Head Coach

Description of classes

Kindergym - these classes are specifically for pre school children aged between 2 and 4 years. Parents/ Guardians accompany their child in the gym with equipment set ups specially adapted for this age group. The children will participate in a safe environment with the guidance of a trained and fully qualified pre school gymnastics coach. They will learn skills, which will challenge their balance, co ordination, strength and mobility and most of all have fun!

Mini Gym - these classes are designed for children age between 4 and 5 years. This is a bridging class between kindergym and recreational gymnastics. Parents do not accompany their children in these classes. Children will be split into groups based on ability and introduced to all the equipment in our fully equipped gymnasium. The programme is designed with each individual child's physical and physiological needs. The class will include a warm up, group apparatus work (on various pieces of equipment) and a cool down/games session to finish off. During the course of the term children will be involved in the British Gymnastics Proficiency awards scheme, designed to encourage and motivate children into gaining levels of awards and being presented with a badge and certificate when complete. All children will be constantly monitored and assessed during these classes and any child who is identified as squad potential will be fast tracked to squad level (this is at the discretion of the coaches and head coach, and with staff constrictions permitting)

Recreational Gymnastics - These classes are for children from 6 years and upwards. The level of gymnastics in these classes will vary with the ability of each child. All programmes are devised by our fully qualified coaches to encourage and motivate children into gaining higher levels of skills according to their ability. Children will have the opportunity to perform on all the Olympic equipment in our gymnasium and become confident and competent within the sport. They will also be involved in the British Gymnastics Proficiency Award Scheme, and encouraged to continue to gain higher levels of skills. All children will be constantly monitored and assessed during these classes and any child who is identified as squad potential will be fast tracked to squad level (this is at the discretion of the coaches and head coach, and with staff constrictions permitting)

Advanced Recreational Gymnastics - This class is designed to accommodate gymnasts who are more advanced than recreational level. They are challenged within the gym, are taught more difficult skills and given more advanced tuition, according to their personal ability level. The gymnasts who have gained all of their proficiency awards will become involved in the Bronze, Silver and Gold British Gymnastics Award Scheme. The older advanced recreational participants will be invited to learn gymnastics coaching skills, to enable them to become gymnastics helpers and eventually qualified assistant coaches. Girls and Boys from the Advanced Recreational Class may also be invited to represent Gazelle in regional floor and vault competitions.

Squad Gymnastics - these classes are by invitation only. Gymnasts will embark on an intense training programme, which will encourage the gymnast to realise his/her full potential within the sport. Squad gymnasts will be physically trained and mentally prepared for various levels of competitions where they will represent the club.