2024 Gymnastics Team Tryouts

Frequently Asked Questions

The following information should answer most of your questions. Please read the details below to be sure the commitment to our team is the right fit for your family.

What skills does my daughter need to have for tryouts?
There are various levels of developmental (pre-team) and competitive teams. Each level has different skill requirements.Tryouts can be viewed as an evaluation to determine if your child would fit into one of those levels. Students in advanced recreational classes automatically receive an invitation to team tryouts. Students at other levels must be invited by a coach recommendation to try out for the team. 

At tryouts, coaches will evaluate where a gymnast’s skill level is now, and where they think skill levels will be by the time we reach the competition season. Skill requirements are set by USA Gymnastics. Below you will find the average age for each level, along with some of the main skill requirements (there are more requirements than listed below – these are just a few of the skills to give you an idea). Skills are progressive in nature from one level to the next. To be prepared for the season, gymnasts must be able to execute required skills safely and with good form.

Pre-Team (average age range: 4-6 years old): Placements are made based on maturity, listening skills, strength, and skill execution. Some of the skills that will be evaluated are: pullover, cast, and back hip circle on bars; comfort level walking on a medium beam and a straight jump on beam; and a forward roll, backward roll, cartwheel, and kick up to handstand on floor.

Level 2 (average age range: 5-8 years old): Handstand, fall to flatback on a mat stack for vault; pullover and back hip circle on bars, and a side cartwheel-to-handstand dismount on beam (with other leaps, jumps & skills). On floor they compete a handstand (hold 1 second), bridge kickover, backward roll to push up position (with other leaps, jumps & skills).

Level 3 (average age range: 6-10 years old): Front handspring over a mat stack for vault; two back hip circles, a front hip circle, and low bar squat on dismount on bars. Handstand on beam and also a side cartwheel-to handstand-quarter turn dismount (with other leaps, jumps & skills); and on floor they compete a handstand forward roll, handstand to bridge kickover, and a round-off back handspring (with other leaps, jumps & skills).

Level 4 (average age range: 7-12 years old): Front handspring over the vault table; kip, squat on, jump to high bar on bars, a cartwheel on beam and also a side cartwheel-to-handstand-quarter turn dismount (with other leaps, jumps & skills). On floor they compete a front handspring, back walkover, and round-off with two back handsprings connected (with other leaps, jumps & skills).

My daughter might be nervous. What do I tell her to expect?
She will not see a panel of judges watching her perform individually. The girls will rotate through each event in groups with similar ages and skill levels, similar to a class or practice. They will already know how to do some of the skills, and may try new skills. 

When will we find out the results from tryouts?
Gymnasts will be notified of their team placement for the 2024-25 season on Monday, April 8th via email from our Team Director, Joanne Docherty. If your daughter is placed in our team program, you will then submit an online form to accept or decline the placement. Responses are due by Friday, April 12th.

What is the difference between the Developmental (Pre-Team) Program and the Team Program?
Pre-Team Program
The objective of this program is to prepare novice gymnasts for competition and to provide an intermediate step between the structure of the rec program and the structure of the team program. In addition, the developmental program acts as a feeder system for the competitive program, as gymnasts learn the structure, commitment, and discipline required to pursue competitive gymnastics. Lastly, this program allows for a team concept, providing the gymnast the experience of supporting and encouraging others in a common goal.

Team Program
Our competitive team participates in meets sanctioned and governed by USA Gymnastics. Levels 2-4 are part of the USAG Compulsory Program. These levels are progressive in nature, building upon the skills required at the previous level. Through hard work and dedication, our team gymnasts will learn not only the sport of gymnastics, but also lifelong skills that apply throughout their adult lives. Emphasis will include building confidence, conflict and time management, achieving goals and realizing their unique worth when they put forth the effort to succeed. There is a lot of pride taken in our team program. This is a demanding sport that requires dedication, desire, and commitment in order to be the best you can be. The rewards and memories can be lifelong!

How long is the season and can we take a break for summer?
Our seasons run from June through May. Practices will begin the week of June 3rd. If placed on a team, your daughter will remain in her rec class until that time. Please note that gymnastics is a year-round sport. Throughout the summer, your child will advance through many different skills, routines, conditioning, and strength and flexibility training. All team gymnasts must practice during the summer as this time is essential for growth in our program.

What is the practice schedule and what is the cost of monthly tuition?
Teams follow a set summer schedule that runs from June to mid-August and a set school year schedule from mid-August through May. There are no weekend practices for team during the summer schedule. There is typically one weekend practice during the school year schedule.

The exact days and times for the summer schedule are finalized once team placement acceptance forms are received and team rosters are set. Those final rosters for each level allow us to schedule based on an appropriate gymnast-to-coach ratio for practice groups. The school year schedule is typically finalized toward the end of July, as gymnasts returning to team from the previous season have the summer to achieve new skills before receiving their level placement for the new season. 

Below you will find the current hours and monthly tuition as a guideline for each level. Schedules and tuition amounts will be sent via email as soon as the details are finalized. 

Little Lightnings (pre-team): 2 total hours/week (2 practices each week) – current tuition $135

Hurricanes (pre-team): 3 total hours/week (2 practices each week) – current tuition $185

Level 2: 6 total hours/week (3 practices each week) – current tuition $300

Level 3: 10 total hours/week (3 practices each week) – current tuition $355

Level 4: 12 total hours/week (3 practices each week) – current tuition $375

What if she is already registered for another sport that conflicts with the practice schedule?
Please inform us of any conflicts once the schedules are distributed so that we can determine how to handle your specific situation. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate conflicts.

What level of commitment is expected when joining team?
Gymnasts are expected to attend all practices and meets, and be prepared to start on time. Makeups are not available for missed practices and tuition is not prorated for time off. If your daughter will miss an occasional absence for illness, vacation, or another conflict, please be sure to submit the absence in advance. While we understand that occasional absences may occur, excessive or extended absences from practice may cause your child to fall behind, cause a disruption to the coaches’ lesson plans, and may affect their eligibility to compete.

What is the competition schedule?
Our pre-team program prepares gymnasts for a future in our competitive team program. While they do not participate in any competitions, they do learn routines. For competitive team, the meet schedule is typically set in August for the upcoming season. Your daughter only attends meets during the time she competes (not the entire weekend), but the exact competition times (“sessions”) are not set by the host club until we are closer to those dates. Sessions typically last 3-4 hours including warm up, competition, and the awards ceremony. For planning purposes, block those meet weekends off on your calendar until we receive specific times for each meet. Meets typically take place from January to April and are held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday throughout the weekend (keep in mind that sessions can start as early as 8am on any of those days).

Level 2 competes in 3 local invitational meets each season. Level 3 & Level 4 teams typically have 6-7 invitational meets (usually a couple local meets, a few within Ohio, and one or two meets in a surrounding state that are within driving distance), ending with the State Championships in April.

What expenses are involved?
Payments for monthly practice tuition are processed through the gym on the 1st of each month. The annual membership fee for team gymnasts is $75 (this fee is pro-rated based on the annual fee you have already paid for rec classes).

Pre-Team gymnasts are required to purchase a leotard (typically under $75). Competitive team gymnasts are required to purchase the full uniform. Uniforms include a leotard, warm up (top & bottoms), and a backpack and are kept on a two-year cycle (this upcoming season will be the last year for our current uniform). The Level 2 uniform cost is approximately $300 and the Level 3 & Level 4 uniform is approximately $650.

Competitive team gymnasts are also required to be members of USA Gymnastics. Memberships are purchased/renewed by July 31st each year. The price is set by USAG ($69 this past season). Competition fees for meets are paid to X-treme Boosters.

What is X-Treme Boosters? (competitive team only – does not apply to pre-team)
X-Treme Boosters is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run by parents who volunteer to be elected to the board of officers. The booster club is a separate business, operating independently from the gym. X-Treme Boosters handles payments for meet entry fees and coaches fees. The primary goal of the booster club is to lower competition expenses through fundraising. The largest profits are earned by hosting our meet, the X-Treme Challenge. Fundraisers that sell a product are kept to a minimum.

How are the competition fees due to X-Treme Boosters determined? (competitive team only)
Competition fees include individual meet entry fees and coaches fees. The gym hosting each meet sets the meet entry fee amount. Once the meet schedule is determined, the exact entry fees are invoiced to each gymnast by X-Treme Boosters. Meet entry fees are due to boosters by September 15th. Level 2 meet entry fees are typically around $400 for the entire season, and Levels 3 & 4 are estimated around $950 for the entire season. Coaches fees cover expenses for the coaches to travel to each meet, and for certifications required by USA Gymnastics. These amounts are estimated by level and are due to boosters by October 15th. If the actual coaches expenses come in under budget at the end of the season, the remaining funds are credited back to your booster account. Level 2 coaches fees are estimated at $300 for the entire season, and $500 is estimated for Levels 3 & 4. The annual membership fee for X-Treme Boosters (estimated $60) covers booster club operational costs (insurance, storage, accounting, etc).