Jump Stars
Jump Start Gymnastics provides a USAG Sanctioned competition team called the Jump Stars. The team competes at eight to ten meets around the state during the season and trains year round.
Team is fun! It builds self confidence, strength, coordination, creates a sense of accomplishment and team unity!
Being on a competitive team can be very challenging, but also rewarding. Gymnasts can build self-confidence by setting goals and overcoming fears to develop higher level skills. Performing in front of large groups and receiving ribbons for accomplishments can give gymnasts a sense of pride in their achievements. There are many reasons for a child to join a team, but it does involve work by the gymnast and the parent.
When a child is on a competitive team, they will practice more hours and travel to meets around the state. At each meet, they will compete and receive placement or achievement ribbons depending on the level they are in. The higher the level, the more time commitment is necessary from both the gymnast and the parent. Gymnasts in Level 4 work out a minimum of 9 hours a week (3 hours, 3 times a week), with upper levels working out up to 15 hours a week.
Gymnastics, unlike other sports, is year round. For most of our teams, the competitive season is from October through March/April. During the summer, we work on new skills for the fall. Quitting for the summer and returning in the fall is not an option. During the summer is when we concentrate on strength and perfection of next years skills. Very few gymnasts can take off for the summer and return in the fall to keep up with the rest of the team. This is only discouraging for the gymnast who now has to compete at a lower level than the year before.
Students may begin competing at the age of 6 for the Jump Stars team. Team consists of Levels 4-6, which are compulsory levels, meaning each member within a level competes the same routines. Once members reach Level 7 and above, they are competing in Optional Levels, which means each gymnast has their own routine.
Not only is team a big time commitment, it is also a big financial commitment. There are monthly team fees, meet installments and expenses, competition leotard and warm ups and camps (camps are optional). We try to disperse the costs over the year so we do not come after you all at once for a large sum of money. We also offer fundraisers to help offset the costs.
What are the steps to get on team?
At Jump Start Gymnastics, we offer a Team Development program. This is a year round program that requires an invitation from instructors to join. Throughout our recreational classes, instructors are evaluating students on a consistent basis and looking for a certain set of skills. Once instructors have seen those skills mastered, they suggest them for the following classes.
Hot Shots
This is the first level of our Team Development program. At this level, students have their choice of one or two days for one and a half hours each day. Gymnasts who join this group, must have an interest in being on the competition team. Instructors have a set of skills that the gymnast must master before suggesting this class (for these skills, please see your instructor).
Super Kids
This is the second level of our Team Development program. At this level, students have their choice of one or two days for two hours each day. Gymnasts who join this group, must have an interest in being on the competition team. Instructors have a set of skills that the gymnast must master before suggesting this class (for these skills, please see your instructor).
Pre Team
This is the third level of our Team Development program. At this level, students must come twice a week for two hours each day. Gymnasts who join this group must make a commitment to the team. This group will automatically turn into Level 4s during the summer, which requires 3 days a week for 3 hours.
If team is something you are interested in, please let your instructor know! We can help make it happen!