Recreational Gymnastics is the same USAG formatted gymnastics program as Competitive Gymnastics, but without the contracts, commitments, and competitions.  Our Recreational Gymnastics Program is designed to allow gymnasts to do gymnastics in a progressive mode without the competitive atmosphere.  Some gymnasts choose to participate in Recreational Gymnastics for the great overall body conditioning, or for the structure and discipline, or with hopes to advance to Team, or just for the love of the sport.  No matter if a gymnast ever competes or not, that athlete is still considered a gymnast and he/she should be proud of what they can do.  It makes no difference if the gymnast is recreational or competitive; all gymnasts are important parts of the gymnastics community and of our gym.

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GIRL'S GYMNASTICS

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There are 4 events in Women's Gymnastics:  Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise.  Although most sports have seasons, gymnastics is a year-round commitment for athletes at the upper level. 
 
The Vault is defined by a strong, accelerated run, explosion off the board with quickness during preflight, and proper height and distance traveled while "sticking" the landing.
 
The Uneven Bars demand strength, concentration, courage, coordination, and split-second timing.  The entire routine should flow from one skill to the next without pauses, extra swings, or additional supports.
 
The Balance Beam is only 4" wide and is considered the most difficult event by many gymnasts.  The gymnast uses acrobatic, tumbling, and dance moves in her routine on the 4" beam just like on the floor.
 
The favorite event for viewing fans is the Floor Exercise.  The floor routines are choreographed to music and various dance and tumbling events are used to reflect the gymnast's personality.

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BOY'S GYMNASTICS

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There are 6 events in Men's Gymnastics:  Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar.  This discipline requires an incredible amount of strength and power.
 
Floor Exercise requires dynamic tumbling skills with multiple twists and flips, showing power and control.
 
The Pommel Horse is considered the most difficult of all men's events.  Each move is defined by complex hand placements performed in continuous circular movements and scissor elements.  The entire routine should flow with controlled rhythm, precise timing, and balance.
 
The Still Rings requires the greatest amount of strength of all the men's events.  The Rings must be kept still while the gymnast is performing the various strength positions and swing movements. 
 
A good Vault is described by the height, the distance traveled, overall acceleration into the vault, and the sudden impact of a stuck landing.
 
A Parallel Bar routine consists of swing and flight elements in which both hands release and regrasp the bars.  Some gymnasts move outside the two rails, performing handstands and kips on only one bar.
 
The Horizontal Bar is known as the High Bar.  The routines consist of continuous swinging parts without any stops and high flying dismounts with multiple flips and twists.

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TUMBLING

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Tumbling is a small potion of gymnastics that deals with the floor and trampoline skills.  At New Heights Gym our Tumbling skills are taught with PROGRESSION in mind.  With each tumbling skill a new skill can be added on to make a tumbling pass series.  For example, once you learn the correct Round-Off, you can then add the Round-Off Back Handspring, and then the Round-Off Back Handspring Back Tuck, etc.  Each skill is taught with easy transitions. One of the main keys for good tumbling is Strength.  Our classes emphasize strength by rotating stations that involve various strength and skill exercises. 

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Our Tumbling classes are divided into two groups:  Beginner/Intermediate and Intermediate/Advanced.  The Beginner/Intermediate Tumbling class teaches the correct technique for a Cartwheel, a Round-Off, and Standing Back Handspring, up to the Round-Off Back Handspring.  Once the Round-Off Back Handspring is mastered basically on your own, you then advance to the Intermediate/Advanced Tumbling class.   This class teaches from the Round-Off Back Handspring to the Running Round-Off Back Handspring, to the Round-Off Back Handspring Back Tuck to the Round-Off Back Handspring Layout, etc.