Gymnastics

A skill based, non-competitive gymnastics program for kids 5-17 years

Classes

Our gymnastics program is designed to help kids to learn and develop a love of movement through the development of gymnastics skills on the floor, beam, bars and vault and trampoline in a fun and supportive environment. We also incorporate some team-based acrobatic gymnastics skills as well as fitness, strength and flexibility to ensure we are developing well rounded athletes. The emphasis is not on who is the strongest or the fastest, but on the adventure of growth and learning. Classes are age-based so that kids can participate with friends.

GymFun - 5-7 Years

60 minutes 1 class per week

This class is perfect for kids who are attending primary school, aged 5-7 years. It’s a fundamental gymnastics class which provides children with the opportunity to develop a love of movement while improving their strength, core stability, fitness and fundamental movement skills like running, jumping and landing, swinging, climbing, rolling, balancing and more. Gymnastics skills like handstands, cartwheels and pullovers are developed as part of this program. We value individual improvements in fundamental movement skills over the perfection of gymnastic skills, and we provide regular opportunities for children to achieve new skills. The structure of the class is as follows:

Group warm up – fun fitness games, stretching, strength and gymnastics shapes and positions
Floor work – developing skills like handstands, cartwheels, rolls, leaps and turns to progress through our unique levels system
Bars or beam work – alternating each fortnight, athletes work on apparatus based gymnastics skills
Fundamentals or trampoline work – alternating each fortnight athletes work on fundamental gymnastics skills like handstand and cartwheel progressions, or trampoline and valuting skills

We believe that in order for a child to embrace physical education as an integral part of their lifestyle it must be challenging, it must intriguing and it must be fun. Our students are taught to break down their dreams into smaller, more manageable steps rather than huge, overwhelming goals. In our GymFun classes we teach kids to cartwheel, roll, flip and fall, and we teach them to do it safely. Using modified equipment and incorporating elements of other sports we are able to help kids to develop the skills to help them enjoy the freedom that being physically active allows.

GymSkills - 7-17 Years

90 minutes 1 class per week

This class is perfect for kids who are 7-17 years of age who want to learn gymnastics in a fun and supportive environment. Classes are age based (7-9, 9-14 and 12-17), so kids can participate with their friends. It is a skill-based, non-competitive gymnastics class suitable for beginners and those with some experience. We provide opportunities for kids to develop skills on the floor, bars, beam and trampoline, as well as some team-based acrobatic gymnastics skills. This class has a strong focus on giving children the opportunity to take responsibility for their learning, as well as to develop leadership and team working skills. The structure of the class is as follows:

Group warm up – fun fitness games, stretching, strength and gymnastics shapes and positions
Floor work – developing skills like handstands, cartwheels, walkovers, leaps and turns to progress through our unique levels system
Bars or beam work – alternating each fortnight, athletes work on apparatus based gymnastics skills
Acrobatic gymnastics or fundamentals – alternating each fortnight athletes work on partner acrobatic gymnastics skills and balances, or fundamental gymnastics skills like roundoffs and backflips
Trampoline – using either the double mini or the tumble track, athletes work on developing trampoline based tumbling skills

Our GymSkills classes are designed to help create well-rounded individuals that are confident and competent risk takers who are willing to venture out of their comfort zone to try new skills in a safe environment. They are given the tools to take ownership of their own health and well-being through activities like helping to lead the warm-ups, as well as completing weekly conditioning exercises to build up the necessary physical preparation for more advanced skills.

Using our unique levels system, we introduce challenging skills and drills when each athlete is ready. We encourage athletes to set goals and take responsibility for working hard towards achieving them.

Kids in this program are given the opportunity to increase their confidence and competence in movement, preparing them for a wide range of sports and activities. Using gymnastics achievements to build these qualities enhances a child’s resiliency and ability to excel in any sport or situation.

AcroSkills - invitation class

2 hours 1 class per week

Athletes who show dedication, commitment, a great attitude and a desire to achieve in the sport of gymnastics can be invited to our AcroSkills class from our gymnastics program. Using the acrobatic gymnastics national levels, our AcroSkills squads focus on developing routines to compete at fun and supportive competitions, including the Victorian State Pennant. Athletes train once per week in a fun and supportive environment designed to give them the opportunity to experience competitions and events. The structure of the class is as follows:

Group warm up including fitness, flexibility, strength and gymnastics shapes
Individual skill work including tumbling, walkovers, backflips and more
Partner acrobatic gymnastics skills (athletes are grouped into pairs or trios and develop skills over the year)
Routine work (putting the group and individual skills together in a routine to music)
Strength and conditioning activities and flexibility development

Our AcroSkills program is an extension of our gymnastics program. It is designed to provide opportunities for athletes to develop and compete in a team without committing to multiple training sessions each week. Athletes will not only develop physical skills, they will develop lasting skills like responsibility, leadership, teamwork and an understanding of risk and consequence. Athletes compete in two or three events throughout the year, with the focus always being on doing ‘your best’ not ‘the best’. Athletes develop confidence and competence in movement, preparing them for a wide range of sports and activities. Using gymnastics achievements to build these qualities enhances a child’s resiliency and ability to excel in any sport or situation.

Parent Experience

My girls love coming to Skylark! It is a very warm environment that encourages children of all abilities. The instructors are fantastic and I have been especially impressed with the planning and thinking that goes into each activity. The facilities are outstanding. There is never much downtime, and my kids come out of class with big smiles and red cheeks - their only complaint each week is why the class can't go on for longer!
Karina
Skylark Sports is more than just a gymnastics class! Jasmin's vision to utilise gymnastics & circus training to create a holistic program for kids is genius. Her understanding of the importance of movement for both physical and mental development is inspirational. We love Skylark and the Team is always welcoming and inclusive.
Mel Gibbs
Gym on Monday nights is the highlight of the week for my ten year old daughter, Lucy. I have witnessed her blossom over the last year - skill wise but perhaps more importantly, in her confidence and self-belief. I attribute this to the supportive yet challenging environment at Skylark, and also to the wonderful rapport she has with her teacher, Mac. I asked Lucy to write down why she loves gym in her own words and she responded with this: "Why I love gym with Mac - it's fun, exciting, skilful, interesting, friendly and helpful". This is why at the start of each term, Lucy resolutely wants to come back to Skylark for another go.
Angela Bourne
Wow, I cannot contain Charlotte (5)! Each Saturday morning she bounces out of bed, excited to attend her Skylark GymFUN session. The Skylark team I couldn’t recommend enough the way she has developed in both co-ordination and confidence. To the fact that I have been told dad –“You need a new house as the hall isn’t long enough to do my cartwheel!!!!” GREAT !!
Michael
My six year old has been doing GymFUN after school at Skylark Sports every week for over a year. This is a really great activity for energetic kids to have a lot of fun and acquire and improve their skills in a safe environment. The coaches have a great rapport with the children and they have a lot of fun. But they also take the time to explain what an activity is about, and how to do it correctly and safely. The activities and equipment are appropriate to age and skill level, and the great variety of activities means that the children are kept interested, involved and moving. My daughter wouldn't think of missing a week, she absolutely LOVES it! The school holiday program, which includes gymnastics and circus skills, is terrific for working parents too, and we've taken advantage of this a lot. I would absolutely recommend the GymFUN class for parents of active kids who are thinking of trying gymnastics.
Christine Worthington
My daughter attends GymSKILLS at Skylark Sports. Since starting she has grown in confidence, which is invaluable.
Loving Mother

Gymnastics

Classes

5-7 Years

7-17 Years

AcroSkills