Class Descriptions

TUMBLE STARS PROGRAM OVERVIEW (18 Months-7 Years)

The pre-school/early elementary school program at Twistars USA is called TUMBLESTARS.

The TumbleStar Gymnastics Program is a motor-coordination, physical education program with a strong emphasis on gymnastics. Not only will your son or daughter improve their loco-motor skill development (hopping, skipping, running, crawling, landing, swinging, leaping, etc) but they also will be introduced to preschool-early elementary social awareness skills (sharing, taking turns, courtesy, following rules, listening and directional skills, etc).

Students also get introduced to basic gymnastics skill development (climbing, rolling, hand support skills, balancing) as well as general physical fitness skills (catching, throwing, eye hand coordination, kicking).

This is all accomplished through a positive, fun, and energetic learning environment.

TWINKLE STARS

This introduction to the world of gymnastics is a parent participation class where Mom/Dad assist with the implementation of the weekly lesson plan. This 45 minute class provides a great parent/child bonding experience while at the same time setting the stage for an active and healthy life style. Our quality staff members will assist the parents with the areas of emphasis as they pertain to teaching the skills, different spotting techniques so as to insure safety, gymnastics terminology and more. Don’t worry Mom/Dad we won’t make you perform any of the skills …. we leave this up to the students!

Class Length: 45 minutes
Ages: 18 months – 3 years old
Gender: Girls and Boys
Parent Participation: Yes
Pre-Requisite: None

SHINING STARS

This is our fun filled 45 minute class designed especially for beginner 3-4 year olds. The students will learn the basic fundamentals of gymnastics but also improve on their loco motor skills (hopping, skipping, jumping, running agility and coordination skills), strength, flexibility and the all important preschool social skills (sharing, teamwork, listening and following directions, problem solving, courtesy and more). Instruction takes place in our scaled down to size, safety oriented, specialized preschool area. Lesson plans center focus on teaching basic tumbling, trampoline, balance beam and bar skills. Mom and Dad, you just sit back and enjoy the show from our parent viewing area. We got this!

Class Length: 45 minutes
Ages: 3-4 years old
Gender: Girls and Boys
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: None

SHOOTING STARS

This class is simply an advanced version of our Shining Star Class. These students know the ropes and are ready to move on to bigger and better things. Although the skill differences are sometimes tough to see, it is the listening and directional skills that provide for a more advance learning experience. Many of the same gymnastics skills and concepts from previous level classes are used but enhanced, improved upon and perfected. Instructors will be working on the proper mechanics of rolling forward and backward, handstands, beginner cartwheels as well and the basic fundamentals on trampoline, bars and beam. This class is also 45 minute long.

Class Length: 45 minutes
Ages: 3-4 years old
Gender: Girls and Boys
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: Coach Recommendation or Approval

RISING STARS

This is a 1 hour class designed for 5-6 year old boys and girls. Some of the boys at the upper end of this age group may prefer joining our Star Boys 1 program. Students here generally have some gymnastics experience but if not, do not worry as it is their exposure to pre school and early elementary school listening and directional skills that will assist their gymnastics skill development. The added 15 minutes allows for greater focus on a wider variety of skills. Instructors will focus on advancing the cartwheel variations, round offs, handstands, bridge kick overs as well as advancing the skills on trampoline, bars and beam.

Class Length: 1 Hour
Ages: 5-6 years old
Gender: Female
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: None

SUPER STARS

1.5 hours in length, this class is for the advanced 5-6-7 year olds. This is the first level where the students get full 15 minute rotations on all of the events. This will be their first exposure to vaulting and therefore the use of the run, run technique, and board technique will be mastered prior to attempting anything over the actual vaulting table. Instructors will continue to progress the basic skills like: cartwheels on beam, lung handstands on beam, back hip circles on bars, bridge kickovers, intro to back walkovers and back handsprings). This class is the training ground for our future COMETS, STARFIRES or FLIPSTARS and thus requires a greater attention to detail in a more serious learning environment…..(this is not to say we don’t have fun after all, fun is an essential part of learning for children.)

Class Length: 1.5 Hours
Ages: 5-7 years old
Gender: Female
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: Coach Recommendation or Approval

DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW (5 Yrs Old and Up)

The developmental program serves as a stepping stone from our recreational program, either TUMBLESTARS or GYMSTARS, to our competitive team program. It is designed for the serious gymnast, the ones who not only have the talent but more importantly the desire to be a competitive gymnast some day. This is where the student will experience a more structured, more detailed approach to our instruction. By no means does this mean that the fun stops here. In all actuality most find the Twistars developmental program very FUN, CHALLENGING and SATISFYING.

COMETS

This is a “by invitation only” group of 5-6-7 year old little hot shots that not only show great potential but also the desire to pursue gymnastics at a more advanced pace. Comets train two times per week for 90 minutes. Their structured training includes 15- minute rotations on all the gymnastics events (Vault, Bars, Beam, and Floor/Tumbling) but also includes trampoline and time for strength and flexibility improvement. Attention to detail is essential for future skill development but our instructors understand that these young athletes need to have fun along the way.

Class Length: 1.5 Hours
Ages: 5-7 years old
Gender: Female
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: Invitation Only

STARFIRES

This is our first level of Pre-Team and is for the aspiring team and pre-team gymnast who is serious about their gymnastics training. This level of pre-team is for the 5-8 year old who is selected based on an evaluation process. Most times these little athletes come from our Comets or Super Star classes and are challenged and inspired to continue their gymnastics growth. They train 2 times per week for 2 hours but also have the option for a 3^rd training day when they feel they are ready (not mandatory).

The added 30 minutes of training per day allows our instructors to hone in and focus on the finer details and techniques needed to advance the skill level. Tumbling time is extended, as is the time for strength and flexibility improvement (3 of the key areas that make for a strong basic foundation).

Class Length: 2 hours / twice per week. 3rd day optional
Ages: 5-8 years old
Gender: Female
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: Selected students using evaluation process

PRE-TEAM

Our Pre-Team groups train 2 times per week for 3 hours and have the option for participating in a 3^rd training session once they desire additional training. These athletes are chosen after a detailed selection and evaluation process which helps determine readiness and desire for this advanced level of training.

Pre-Team members will work on the component skills that comprise the USA Gymnastics Level 2-3-4 routines. Eventually the goal is to offer low intensity, fun filled competitive experiences for these athletes where they get to strut their stuff. The desire to compete should be considered a prerequisite for participation in this level. Our staff will present a selection of available competitions and the families simply choose as many or as few as they would like to participate in.

This is the true stepping stone level into the real world of competitive gymnastics. Athletes simply beam with pride and joy as they reap the rewards of their training all with the dream of someday advancing to the Twistars USA competitive team.

Class Length: 3 hours / twice per week. 3rd day optional
Ages: not specific
Gender: Female
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: Invitation following detailed selection and evaluation process

GYM-STARS

Gym Stars (the name of our age group program for recreational students ages 7 and up)

Our Gym Star program is an age group program designed for ages 7 and up. Students enroll for the 90 minute class that meets once per week BUT have the option for registering for multiple classes (which receive a significant discount). The gymnastics instruction features lessons on all of the gymnastics apparatus (Vault, Bars, Beam), tumbling, trampoline and strength and flexibility training as well.

Since each child will progress at their own pace on each of the events covered. We have devised a unique system for challenging the strengths and improving the weaknesses that each student may have. Students are given their own level 1 through 3 skill card that serves as their specific lesson plan. As skills are learned they are checked off. When a child completes a level on any of the events they are rewarded with a accomplishment ribbon which serves as a great motivational tool.

Class Length: 1.5 hours (option to add additional days at significant discount)
Flip Stars: Ages 7-9
Fun Stars: Ages 10 and up
Gender: Female

ADVANCED FLIP AND FUN STARS

Some of our recreational students simply want more. So, to create a challenging environment, we offer our Advanced Flip and Fun Star class which caters to those aspiring young athletes that desire more of an advanced learning experience. This class meets twice per week for 90 minutes and emphasizes progressing the core gymnastics skills used in our Level 1-3 program. In order to be eligible for the Advance Flip and Fun Star Class students must have mastered:

a back bend and bridge kick over
a pull over on bars
a running cartwheel and round off
a handstand , as well as
possess the desire to move at a faster pace.

For those recreations students with goals and aspirations of advancing to our Pre-Team and Team programs, this class comes highly recommended.

Class Length: 1.5 hours / twice per week
Flip Stars: Ages 7-9
Fun Stars: Ages 10 and up
Gender: Female

STAR BOYS 1

Boys will be boys and there comes a time when they need their own special class. This is a one hour class that introduces the six men’s apparatus to 5-6 year old boys. The instructors will continue to develop listening skills as they teach the basics on each event as well as incorporating trampoline, flexibility, and strength training. No previous gymnastics experience is needed to join this class. Some of the skills that will be covered are cartwheels, headstands, handstands, chin ups, and swings on each event.

Class Length: 1 hour
Ages: 5-6 years old
Gender: Male
Parent Participation: No

Pre-Requisite: None

STAR BOYS 2

This class builds on the foundation taught in Star Boys 1, although boys 7-10 years old wanting to try gymnastics for the first time are welcome to join this class. The boys’ continued physical development will allow them to swing higher on each event and learn more technically demanding and challenging acrobatic skills, including round offs, back handsprings, circles on mushroom, and an introduction to flipping. The class requires the boys to have good attention spans and listening skills. The instructors also introduce more competitions and games into the lesson plan to keep the boys challenged and excited.

Class Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: 7-10 years old
Gender: Male
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: None

Boy’s Comets

To join this class, your son must be recommended or approved by one of their instructors. This class is considered the stepping-stone between our Recreational and Competitive Team Programs. In order to advance the level of skill, we add a second day of training each week to prepare the student for their possible competitive team aspirations. This class continues to teach the basics on the six events, while also introducing more advanced strength, flexibility, and trampoline skills. In less than a year after joining this class, your son will be ready for competitive Level 4.

Class Length: 1.5 hours / twice per week
Ages: 5-8 years old
Gender: Male
Parent Participation: No
Pre-Requisite: Coach recommendation or approval