Jacobs Gymnastics Club

Jacobs Gymnastics Team Handbook 2008-09

Welcome to all our families that are interested in the competitive program. We have developed the Team Handbook to better our communication and clarify our goals and expectations. Please read over the information carefully. A successful season begins with knowledge.

Team Eligibility
Gymnasts in the newly formed House Team levels have been evaluated and notified of eligibility to join the AmeriKids team. Gymnasts must demonstrate skills, technique and the form necessary for success in competition. As coaches, we will evaluate on a regular basis, with the aid of charts, in addition to regular practice sessions. Gymnasts may only advance to the AmeriKids team in September, due to the nature of team. The need to order leotards, warm-ups and prepare physically for competition requires the commitment to begin in late August/early September. This allows the girls moving up to AmeriKids team the time needed to learn and polish routines, skills and purchase appropriate competitive leotards and warm-up suits. Current team members are advised as to which level is most appropriate for them to compete. We are always striving to challenge gymnasts and move up in levels, but also realizing that competing successfully means performing solid, strong routines, not competing a harder level with sloppy skills.
Gymnasts and parents will have the opportunity to discuss if the competition and AmeriKids team (afterwards only referred to as "team" but not to be confused with "House Team") commitments are goals that they both want to pursue. Team gymnasts competing under the AmeriKids program, will be required to attend practices twice a week. This commitment allows gymnasts and coaches the time needed to successfully learn routines, gain skills and prepare for success in the sport of gymnastics. We have witnessed a sizable difference in team gymnasts that are only attended one practice a week last season. These gymnasts are not making the same progress or demonstrating the readiness at meets as the girls attending more hours. We are now offering a "House Team" for gymnasts that do not have the time to commit to the AmeriKids program.   "House Team" gymnasts practice once a week for 2 hours and attend 2 meets here at Jacobs, intra-squad style, one in December and one in May. Monthly Team rates are $85 for once per week for House Team or $150 for two lessons per week for AmeriKids team members. Additionally, there will be some optional Saturday practice times available on an open gym or clinic type basis.

Commitment
Amy and I expect a good deal of commitment from the team girls and parents. There is a big time and money commitment behind every team gymnast from both the parents and coaches.

Coaches’ commitment:
We are committed to providing the best instruction and positive attitudes in coaching.
Our roles as coaches are to set a good example as positive role models. We will provide individual and group instruction within practice sessions. We will give gymnasts opportunities to work with coaches as well as independently and with other gymnasts. There are so many ways to learn skills and routines and we will incorporate every method to ensure that each gymnast has the best opportunities to learn and progress.
We will strive to communicate upcoming issues in a timely manner as well. I use e-mail on a regular basis to keep everyone up to date. If you are not a regular e-mail user, you will need to become regular at checking it! The website, "team page" will always have the most current information! http://www.jacobsgymnastics.com/team.html is the team link. I would suggest book-marking www.jacobsgymnastics.com and check it regularly. If at any time your gymnast no longer wants to compete, please let us know right away, in person. We plan on each gymnast starting and finishing the season.

Parent commitment:
We expect the girls to arrive on time and be picked up on time at the end of practice. We expect tuition, meet fees, leotards, and warm-ups to be paid for on time. We expect parents to be supportive of the coaches and their decisions regarding practices, conditioning, and level of competition -basically all areas of team instruction and management. NEW - but common sense - PLEASE keep your cell phone near you and turned on during practice. IF your gymnast becomes ill, injured, has a need, we need to be able to contact you immediately. If your child is ill, they want to go home, not be sick at the gym. If they are injured, they want their mom or dad to take them to the doctor.
We expect gymnasts to be dropped off for practice using the rear entrance. You are welcome to pick up in the back as well. We have a team area set up in the back of the gym.   I have a “Team Envelope” for all meet entries, open gym, apparel orders, and even tuition to be placed in, hanging on the white boards. We do not expect or appreciate parents staying and watching every minute of every practice. In the past we have had trouble with this issue. It was very distracting to the gymnasts, to the point of hindering their progress. No other gymnastic club encourages active participation from parents during work-outs. Other clubs even require parents to leave during practice. I would encourage you to watch from time to time, but give your gymnast the space they need to focus on class and coaches instruction. We expect gymnasts to be picked up on time, every time. We still have "late pick-ups” from time to time. Gymnasts should be picked up at the end of practice time, not 15 or 30 minutes later. If there are classes continuing at the gym, this is not such an issue. When team is the LAST practice of the day, and it is on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, the coaches are locking up and want to get home to their families, this is a BIG issue. We are NOT going to allow your gymnast to wait outside for you, alone. Nor would it be responsible for us to let them start walking home. If you are carpooling, splitting the pick-up duties with your husband, friends, whomever; please make sure you have good communication as to the pick-up times. Make sure your gymnast knows who is picking them up. I hate to go on about this, but it is still an issue. This is not fair to the coaching staff. Child care providers add a “late pick-up” fee, which is quite steep. We will be charging a $20 late fee if you are more than 10 minutes late picking up your gymnast. Emergencies happen – please call my cell 577-5132 in such a case. We often do not pick up the gym phone as the coaches are busy instructing. Make sure you are there at the end of class unless you have arranged with the coaches otherwise. If you are late, an apology to the coaches is just good manners as well. Enough.
If you have questions, concerns, problems with my program, staff, policies, other team gymnasts… Speak to me or Amy directly. Complaining to other parents will not solve your problem. I will hear about lobby discussions in time. Save yourself and other parents the trouble and come to us directly. One parent can detract from the entire “team experience.” No matter how much we love your gymnast, we will not tolerate bad behavior from any parents from this point forward. You and your gymnast will be asked to leave the program. We do this to protect our parents, gymnasts and program in general.
It is your responsibility that your child gets enough sleep, proper nutrition, studies hard in school for good grades, and is respectful, honest and caring toward others.   Parents need to provide unconditional love, encouragement and support to your young athlete, as only a parent can do. Please do not coach your child. Your comments can take away from what the coach is instructing by giving the gymnast another thing to think about; it interferes with the development of the coach/athlete relationship which is critical for long-term success. Please do not compare your child with other athletes. Each athlete is different with their own strengths and weaknesses. It is unfair to you and your child to compare her to another athlete. Rather, try to look for the progress your child is making in gymnastics and celebrate it!

Gymnast commitment:
We expect the girls to be at practice, ready to work hard and learn routines. We expect a good attitude. We insist on good sportsmanship and supportive behavior toward teammates. We will not tolerate any negative comments, rude behavior or inappropriate actions toward teammates, coaches, or parents. Gymnasts will have a properly fitting leotard as acceptable workout wear. Tight elastic waist shorts are ok, but I would prefer a leotard only. This is what we compete in, so it makes sense to not wear shorts. No jewelry, shirts, sweat pants, bracelets… will be allowed. Small stud earrings are ok. Gymnasts need to have hair pulled back off their face and out of their eyes. I realize many girls are growing out bangs or have layers that struggle to stay in a ponytail. Please use clips, bobby pins, whatever to pull it back. This is a safety issue. We also would prefer not to play beauty shop and fix hair constantly.
Gymnasts have the responsibility to come to practice ready to work hard, try their best and this will make it fun! This is important and we expect gymnasts to give it their best effort each time. In gymnastics and life, we need to remember that we all have our gifts, and we all have weaknesses – which are just opportunities to improve and overcome! Every gymnast here has talents and gifts and every gymnast has areas to work on. Stay positive with your attitude and work hard to be the best you can be!
Gymnasts need to let the coaches know if they have injuries or are not feeling well. Please don’t be a constant complainer, this will get you nowhere. But if you are truly not feeling well or you have a recurring injury, we may need to address this with your parents and a doctor to fix the problem.
A good attitude and supportive parents and coaches can help gymnasts overcome fears and frustrations with new skills.   Every gymnast goes through a “mental block” at some time. Gymnastics is the most demanding and difficult of all sports. Gymnasts must overcome the sense of being uncomfortable as learning a new skill. It can often feel as though you will fall or not make the skill. We work up to these skills with progressions, but still it can be scary. All gymnasts suffer setbacks, frustrations, fears, and even defeat. Expect this to happen from time to time, and work to overcome them. You will gain confidence and strength from achieving these skills that give you trouble. Work with your coaches to set goals and stay positive.

Meet Schedule
AmeriKids’ meet schedule runs from January through June, this year July due to floods! One or possibly two events a month is the normal amount of activity. We attended meets last year in Ankeny, Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, and Council Bluffs. We are planning a big meet here at Jacobs as well that I may need some parent volunteers to make it work.
I expect all eligible gymnasts to participate in every meet. State Championships and Nationals are the BIG meets! I want our gymnasts to work toward these meets with big goals!   I do not have definite dates yet, but I will let you know as soon as I hear anything. There is often little advance notice of meets! Deadlines come up fast. I have a team e-mail list, so I can notify everyone ASAP when a meet is scheduled. Again, check your email and the team page on the website for most current info!
AmeriKids team members are expected to participate. A meet is a priority, not just attended if the calendar is open. If your gymnast is too busy, then House Team is the solution. Gymnasts not able to compete in meets will be asked to pursue the House Team option.

Meet Eligibility
Gymnasts are eligible to compete in meets when they have demonstrated all 4 routines (vault, bars, beam, and floor) with proper form and skill completion. We will not allow gymnasts to register for a meet without an appropriate level of confidence and ability. It would not be a positive experience to send a gymnast to a meet unprepared and without confidence. First time team gymnasts will need to prove their routines at the intra-squad meet in December. Gymnasts advancing a level will also need to prove that they can perform all the necessary skills and routines.
Participation in meets will also be dependent on gymnasts having demonstrated good attendance, good attitudes and of course parents need to have entry fees paid by the deadline for each meet. We only offer the invitation to join team to gymnasts that we anticipate having the ability to compete. It is rare, but sometimes a gymnast makes great strides over the summer, and then does not continue the same progress in the fall. When this happens, we do relay the information to both the gymnast and parent regarding her team status to see what needs to be done to motivate the gymnast again.

Meet Information
Meets will typically run one day, usually Saturdays, occasionally Sundays. I have no control over the final schedule. I respect that church and other weekend activities are important, but honestly, I only set the schedule here at our gym. Often, both Saturday and Sunday are listed for a meet. Depending upon the size of the meet, number of entrants, the meet may take both days or just one. The meet director has no idea until the entries are sent in. I have no idea as well as to what session your gymnast will compete. Every meet director has their own way of scheduling, often based on final numbers. Please don’t ask me to guess. Also, do not call the gym and ask them. This is NOT ok! Any inquiries to other gyms should only be through the coaches. Each gymnast will need to be at the meet for one session only – which is typically 3-4 hours, start to finish.
Each meet entry fee can vary between $45-60. Parents sometimes feel this is a lot of money for one medal and 4 ribbons. A meet requires a lot of preparation, planning, and expenses that most folks do not realize. No one gets rich hosting a meet. There are staff and judges to pay, meet insurance to acquire, programs, cleaning, re-arranging equipment, putting it back again, many hours of planning, sorting entries, determining age groups, awards, rotations… It is a ton of work! Please be pleasant and complimentary when going to host gyms. You will see many of the same faces all year at various meets. Don’t make enemies. Don’t make Jacobs Gymnastics look bad because of comments or actions. If this happens, your gymnast will not be attending future meets. If you have problems that require complaining or immediate attention, please talk to me or Amy, not the meet director or other parents. We have good relationships with the other Iowa clubs and want to keep it that way! Be positive!
Gymnasts should arrive at the meet venue, 10-15 minutes prior to “check-in” or “warm-up” times. Most gyms have limited seating and parking. Often one session is ending as another is starting. Arriving too early can put a strain on the parking and building capacity. Some meets do charge an admission or gate fee, usually $2-5. Most meets have programs for a dollar or two. Often times a gym will also host a concession stand and/or apparel sales. Most will not take checks or debit cards. Bring some cash for the admission. Good to know and anticipate.
Gymnasts should arrive already dressed in their leotard with warm-ups. Hair should be fixed prior to walking in the meet. Once the girls are at the meet, they will leave their coats, shoes and other items in their bags with their parents. Snacks, water bottles are not necessary during the meet. Please talk to your gymnast prior to the meet. Do not pull them aside during the meet or expect them to leave the group to come speak to you. If there is an emergency, please let Amy or me know ASAP. Otherwise, trust us to tell them everything they need to know during the meet. Our girls have a reputation of looking good, really good at meets. This includes their leotards, hair and routines. We truly believe that appearance counts!

If your gymnast is unable to compete the day of the meet (illness, emergency, car trouble) please call my cell and let me know. Chris’ cell is 577-5132. You can also send me a text, which may be better if I am already coaching a session, I may not be able to pick up a call.

Apparel
Many of the girls have the team, long sleeve leotards from last year, as well as the warm-ups and bags. The girls looked great attending meets with the required apparel. Level 3, 4 and 5 will continue to wear the classic team leotard. The level 6 and Novice Optional gymnasts will be ordering a new style. After years of proudly wearing the competition leotard, faithful and hard practice necessary to advance to level 6 and N.O., we feel they should be rewarded with a new style leotard! If your gymnast needs either new or larger items this year, I will need the order by September 10. If your gymnast has outgrown the leotard and you are interested in possibly reselling it to another gymnast let me know right away. I will need the size of the leotard.
Team gymnasts are required to purchase team leotards (long sleeve – to be worn for competition only- not practice sessions) at a cost of $90 new or a slightly used leo (if available) for $45. Leotards need to fit snugly, not loose and having gaps. I realize they are expensive, but it would not be appropriate to send a gymnast out to compete in an ill-fitting leotard. Warm-ups and bags are also required. The cost this year is $85 for jacket, pant and bag combo. It will be expected that “team gymnasts” will be ready and willing to participate with the team as fully as possible in the meet schedule. We do not re-sell used warm-ups.   The girls are welcome to wear the warm-ups to and from practice. They can also wear them to school, but let’s keep them nice too. *Please have your order turned in by September 10.   Orders for leotards and warm-ups will be placed September 12. This is not meant to extend the deadline, but to give us a chance to compile sizes and orders.   Leotards usually take 6-8 weeks to arrive (special order!). Warm-ups are 4-6 weeks to arrive. Any orders received after September 12 will be subject to a much higher rate as the quantity discount will no longer apply. Turn your order in ASAP!

AmeriKids vs. USAG
The AmeriKids program is governing body of gymnastics that we compete within. AmeriKids has evolved from the AAU program. It offers the experience of Team Gymnastics to a wider base of athletes. It stresses good sportsmanship, participation and building character through gymnastics. The National Committee staff is dedicated to building a strong nationwide program, currently with 70 gyms, 6600 gymnasts registered. It is growing stronger every day! AmeriKids is for all kids levels 2-Novice Optional. It is not secondary to the USAG program, simply another option.
Many USAG gymnasts are training for an elite program. It limits the number of team spots and selects gymnasts based on size, weight, strength and flexibility. There is extensive conditioning required and diets are closely monitored and specified. Work-outs range from 3-7 days a week, 3-6 hours per session. This drastically eliminates the possibility of other sports, school activities and even family time. There are no guarantees that a USAG gymnast will become an Olympic athlete or even a collegiate gymnast. The body can only take so much and injuries happen with the extensive training. Amy and I both competed in this program as gymnasts and it is intense, even more so today.
With our background and knowledge of the sport, it is our belief that the AmeriKids program offers a healthier all-around program for the majority of gymnasts. Our girls are very talented. Their routines and results from meets demonstrate that. A main benefit is that our girls do have time for school activities, family, gymnastics and time to enjoy being young. Our girls have beautiful leotards, compete well at meets and get all the benefits from being on team, without the sacrificing their childhood.

We take great pride in our girls and coaching staff and our program here at Jacobs. We think it is the best program to fully enjoy gymnastics and reap all the benefits of team gymnastics while leading a well-rounded childhood. We do NOT feel we are in the business of training gymnasts for the USAG program. We are NOT a stepping stone, but rather the direct path that leads to successful, happy gymnasts.
If you feel your gymnast does need to make a switch and train USAG, then that is your decision to make. Once you have moved on to another club, the door here is not open to come back. If you are not satisfied enough to stay, you will not be satisfied returning either.

We also do not want our gymnasts going to other clubs for open gyms, clinics and training purposes. This would include tumbling. It is confusing to hear different coaching methods and techniques. You have been selected to be a Jacobs Team Gymnast, so train only at Jacobs. That is only fair to everyone.

Good Sportsmanship
Good sportsmanship should be a requisite in every youth sport. All the coaches here encourage every gymnast to do their best, have positive attitudes and support each other. The team experience and relationships within each level have everything to do with support and caring for each gymnast. If there were sportsmanship awards, our team would win every time. I am constantly amazed and impressed with our girls supporting each other at meets. You have to see it to believe it! We truly want the best experience possible for every gymnast involved!
We do not tolerate poor sportsmanship on any level. I do not want negative comments between the gymnasts, parents or coaches. I am not anticipating any problems this year! I thank you again for the support you give me, my staff, and mostly your gymnast!

In closing, we are truly looking forward to a great season. When the expectations are laid out in advance, we will all be a step closer to good communication and a successful year. We have enjoyed great success over the last years of competition. We learn new lessons every year and that makes the next year even better. After 18 years of coaching team gymnastics for me, 5 for Amy, you’d think we would have a great program! We have truly learned a lot! We love the girls and this is a great passion for us. Savannah, Jodi, Trina and Michelle also truly love gymnastics. Michelle is an experienced team coach and level 7 gymnast. She will be attending Drake this year. We welcome her to Jacobs!
The bonds with your gymnasts grow deeper every year. We are losing Rachel, Jami and Jill to college careers, but when they step back into the gym, it is a wonderful homecoming. They are just like family to me. My staff is incredible and they all mean the world to me! The team girls are fortunate to have such wonderful role models. We (the coaches) are fortunate to have each gymnast on our team. The girls are truly amazing! I am truly blessed.

Chris Jacobs, owner
Amy Garcia, Head Coach
Trina Graen, Savannah Herr, Jodi Noble, Jill Bednarz, assistant coaches.

Team Gymnast Information Sheet 2008-09

***Please fill out all the information – even if you gymnast does not need to order a leotard or warm-up. Return it to Chris, Amy or the Team Envelope in the gym ASAP.

Gymnast’s Name______________________________
Gymnast’s Birthday____________________________

Parent’s names________________________________

Home phone__________________________________

Mom’s cell phone______________________________

Dad’s cell phone_______________________________

Gymnast’s cell phone___________________________

Email addresses (as many as you like – to receive all my updates!) _______________________________________________________

Home address__________________________________________

School attending: ____________________________

Grade____________________________

***I have read and understand the team information/policies as outlined in the “Team Information” handout. I agree to be supportive of the coaches and policies as outlined in the handout.

Signed _________________________________parent of___________________________.
Date____________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please fill out the remainder according to which items apply.

We need to order a team leotard             $90                   Size: cs, cm, cl, axs, as, am, al, axl
We would be interested in a used if available (yes /no)

We need a new warm-up/bag package $85                   Size: youth s, ym, yl, yxl, as, am, al, axl

We would like the jacket personalized      $10                   Embroidery: (Name)_____________________

AmeriKids Yearly Registration $25 (Required)

September Tuition $150
One check can be made out to include all of the above items.
“Jacobs Gymnastics”

***DEADLINE IS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10!

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