Club Structure and Group Descriptions
The diagram below shows the Club’s current structure. We review our structure continuously and add new classes and make changes as deemed necessary. We currently welcome both girls and boys into our pre-school and recreational classes and are confident that these are hugely beneficial for everyone independent of sex as they improve all body skills as well as confidence, concentration and independence and hence form a perfect platform for active healthy lifestyle and any other sporting activity.
However, at the moment there are only girls in our Performance Squad. In many countries such as Spain and Japan many boys train rhythmic gymnastics competitively and we would be delighted to invite a boy who shows the right ability and commitment to one of our squads. Alternatively, any boys in our recreational program who show natural talent for gymnastics as a competitive sport will be guided towards lubs that can offer high level gymnastics training in boys’ artistic gymnastics.
CCRGC Performance Squad
Entry to Performance Squad is by invitation only. The Squad is divided into four groups:
1) Mini Squad (previously Development Squad)
2) Competition Squad
3) U10 Squad
4) Elite Squad
All Squad gymnasts' training is organised and overseen by the Head Coach of the Club. Please see separate documents for training times, fee structure and squad rules/expectations.
1) Mini Squad (previously Development Squad)
This Squad is for five year old girls and older who wish to develop their skills in rhythmic gymnastics and who have shown keenness and commitment by attending the Club’s recreational classes regularly twice per week. Gymnasts in this Squad work towards Club Gradings and Displays and may also compete as a group in primary/novice level competitions organized at the Club or elsewhere in the UK. Gymnasts in this Squad train two or three times a week, and may move into Competition, U10 or Elite Squad as deemed appropriate. Gymnasts in this Squad are invited to attend extra training sessions during the club’s half-term training camps.
2) Competition Squad
Competition Squad gymnasts train two to four times per week and aim towards novice/primary competitions organised around the UK. The highest level gymnasts aged ten and older in this Squad aim to compete at the National Grades Finals (equivalent of Intermediate British Championships) to which they must qualify via the annual regional grading. The best and most committed gymnasts in this Squad may also compete as groups or duets/trios at national level together with the gymnasts in the Elite Squad.
Gymnasts in the Competition Squad need to show commitment, be prepared to travel to competitions, to purchase their own equipment and leotards, and to train extra hours before events as deemed necessary by their coach. Those gymnasts who work towards Grades Finals or National Group/Duet/Trio events must also be happy to attend most sessions during the Club’s half-term camps.
3) U10 Squad
This Squad is for gymnasts aged six to 10 years old who have a natural talent for rhythmic gymnastics and who have shown keenness and commitment by attending recreational classes or the Development Squad sessions regularly. Gymnasts in this Squad train four times a week, together with other sections of Performance Squad, and will compete in group competitions at National Level (from nine years upwards) and in appropriate individual competitions in the UK and abroad.
Gymnasts will generally move into Elite Squad in the January of the year during which they turn 11 and are expected to qualify for the British Championships by passing the regional grading and the national flexibility/ballet test. Gymnasts in this group must show continuous commitment, and work hard and with great concentration in order to improve in all areas of rhythmic gymnastics.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to enquire about their child’s training behavior and strengths and weaknesses regularly in order to have a good understanding of what is required, and to work together with the coaching team to achieve the best possible results.
Gymnasts in this group complete physical tests regularly in order to monitor progress and to identify areas that need work. The results of these tests should show continuous improvement as they demonstrate a gymnast’s progress much more accurately than any possible competition results. All gymnasts in this Squad should attend all/most of the Club’s half term camps.
4) Elite Squad
Gymnasts in the Elite Squad train a minimum of 15 hours per week and compete at national / international level. Participation in this Squad requires a high level of commitment from the gymnast as well as her family as it involves vigorous training, long hours, regular competitions and both domestic and international travel.
Gymnasts compete at the British Championships (or in the Grades Finals) and other national competitions, and also abroad depending on level and age. Most gymnasts take part in both individual and group events at the coach’s discretion, and must be able to train during half-term training camps. Both gymnasts and their parents/guardians need to be very committed as training is often difficult, there are a lot of events that must be attended and balancing training with school work can be challenging at times.
Parents should regularly discuss their gymnast's progress with the head coach in order to have a good understanding of current aims and expectations, and to be able to be support the gymnast in her hobby effectively. Gymnasts complete physical testing regularly and it is important to see continuous improvement in the results as these highlight the gymnast’s progress more reliably than scores or performance in any one competition attended.