Recreational Gymnastics FAQs

A person holding a colorful bouquet of flowers.

  • Gymnastics is an inherently progressive sport. Every skill can be broken down into many basics or “progressions” (or steps/drills) as we like to call them. These progressions help to teach athletes the correct technique that will be required when we put the whole skill together.

    Most importantly, doing progressions ensures the athlete’s safety when learning new skill elements (or for a skill in the future). Even our highest level gymnasts at Springers take time to work their basics and they spend hours each week to enhance & maintain their strength. Once they master the basics, they will be ready to tackle the more difficult skills safely and with more confidence & success.

  • We offer as many classes as we can given the space we have and the coaching staff available.

    We pride ourselves on teaching quality gymnastics to our athletes which is why we have strict coach to athlete ratios per class, therefore we are unable to increase the number of children per class. Recreational groups also follow a strict rotation schedule made by the directors to maximize the use of space in the gym throughout the night.

  • To protect every child/family’s right to privacy, no photography or filming of children is permitted during class. On the last day of recreation classes, parents will be permitted to photograph their own child only, while receiving their report card/ribbon at the end of class. Non-parents (friends, relatives, child-minders) must obtain permission from the parent of the athlete prior to photographing them.

    Flash photography is extremely dangerous for athletes as it temporarily blinds them and poses a serious risk for injury. It is strictly prohibited in the facility at any time.

  • All lead coaches of classes must be at least 15 years of age and have completed:

    • Health and Safety Training

    • Child Abuse / Reporting Training

    • NCCP Emergency Action Plan Online Course

    • Respect in Sport Online Certification Course (The standard tool to combat bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination)

    • Foundations Online Theory Course

    • NCCP Foundations Introduction Course

    • NCCP Foundations Artistic Course

    All lead coaches of Trampoline classes must have completed all of the above, plus:

    • NCCP Foundations Trampoline Course

  • All supervisors must be at least 18 years of age and have completed:

    • A Police Check

    • First Aid Certified

    • Health and Safety Training

    • Child Abuse / Reporting Training

    • NCCP Emergency Action Plan Online Course

    • Respect in Sport Online Certification Course (The standard tool to combat bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination)

    • Foundations Online Theory Course

    • NCCP Foundations Introduction Course

    • NCCP Foundations Artistic Course

    • NCCP Foundations Trampoline Course

    • NCCP Intro to Competition Certification

  • Milton Springers is lucky to have a very large facility built to support the growing population of Milton and all of our programs. Both competitive and recreational groups follow a strict rotation schedule made by the directors to maximize the use of space in the gym. We have a number of competitive groups that train each night that require use of Gym 1. When possible, we try to schedule our recreational classes into Gym 1. Please remember that both gyms are equipped with the same quality of equipment for your child with Gym 2 having a variety of equipment to suit all ages and levels of gymnastics.

  • Report cards are given out to athletes on the last day of the session. We use report cards as the standard set of criteria for gymnastics skills in our recreational program. This ensures all coaches are teaching the same skills no matter what group they are in. Each level is designed to be slightly more difficult then the prior, using progressions to help achieve the more difficult skills. Since gymnastics is a difficult sport and can be dangerous, coaches “pass” kids if they can do everything in their current level well and safely. If the skills are not being done properly/safely, coaches have athletes try the level again the next session to ensure all skills are done correctly before moving on. When levels become more difficult, it is very likely (and normal) that they will have to try levels numerous times.