The safety of our gymnasts and coaches is paramount to the running of Tralee Gymnastics Club. Every rule we have in place is geared towards this purpose. All our coaches are trained in coaching, child protection and are Garda Vetted. Tralee Gymnastics Club welcomes participation by all, regardless of colour, gender, creed or background. Participation by children with special needs is actively encouraged.
During the year, you may be entered for competitions. These should be fun. If they cause you stress or if you don’t wish to participate in them, please talk to your coaches. Competitions are not compulsory. However, they are very useful for assessing your progress. They give you a goal to work towards and also provide you with the opportunity to meet with gymnasts from other clubs. They give you an opportunity to show family and friends what you have been working on and, lastly, they’re fun.
Please be aware that gymnastics, like all sports, carries a certain amount of risk and that, while every effort is made to ensure the safety of the gymnasts and coaches, injuries can happen. Your attendance at training is taken as an acceptance of this possibility.
You need to be aware that gymnastics is a very hands-on sport, sometimes with a lot of close contact between the coach and gymnast while the coach is supporting for various moves.
Don’t hesitate to talk to your coaches if you have any problems. Above all, enjoy yourself and be safe.
- When attending training, it is important to wear suitable clothes, i.e. track suit, leggings, shorts, t-shirt or leotard. Jeans, dungarees, dresses and outdoor shoes are not suitable. Neither are pants with a lot of zips, trailing ribbons or belts. Please wear a top or t-shirt that is long enough to be tucked into pants.
- Earrings, including stud earrings, are not permitted. If stud earrings must be worn for a certain time after they are inserted the earrings must be covered with medical tape.
- Hard objects, including pencils, parers, keys, toys should be removed from pockets before training.
- Eating is not permitted during training sessions
- Bring a small bottle of water (not soft drinks) in case you get thirsty
- Club leotards and gymnastics shoes are available but are not compulsory except for the High Flyers class. Club gear is available to purchase on the website.
- Some of our older gymnasts are also experienced, qualified coaches. They are to be obeyed and given the same respect as the head coach. Cheekiness will not be allowed.
- Never interfere with, distract or touch other gymnasts while they are doing gymnastics moves.
- Gymnasts must not leave the hall without permission from the head coach, either during the class or at the end.
- Hair longer than shoulder length in either a boy or girl must be tied back.a
- Belly bars for other piercings are not allowed during training.
- Mobile phones are not allowed in the gym.
- Please visit the bathroom before the training session.
- For competitions or displays, girls must wear leotards or tight fitting t-shirt and leggings/shorts and boys must wear a tight fitting t-shirt and plain shorts or leotard and shorts.
- Please obey the head coach and assistant coaches at all times. There is usually a good reason why you are told to do or not to do something, most likely for your safety or the safety of others.
- Respect other gymnasts, especially those who are just beginning and have not learned certain moves. Jeering or bullying of any sort will not be tolerated.
- While we want you to have fun and enjoy gymnastics, we expect good behaviour at all times and will not permit disruptive conduct.
For Parents
Because of Covid 19, parents and other family members are no longer allowed in the gym. (Parents of special needs children can work out an arrangement with us.) Children are dropped off at the door into the care of a coach and picked up after the class. Parents will form a circle in the yard at dropping off and picking up times.
Children should bring the minimum of belongings with them, ensuring that they have sufficient warm clothes for the cold months.
Children should have water to drink.
Shoes with Velcro straps are preferable so that we can have the gymnasts ready for collection as quickly as possible and so reduce contact.
If you have a query, please ring outside class times. These are on the website.
Do not send your child to training if they are sick or have an injury. It is not fair on the child to have to watch others participating and we do not have coaches available to look after an individual child.
This especially important while dealing with Covid 19. Feel free to call and discuss this with us, if necessary.
Please ensure that we have your most up to date contact details (phone, medical information, email or address).