INFORMATION ON OVERNIGHT EVENTS

At all future events, when staying overnight, the Club is adopting an ‘Open Door’ policy for the safety of all concerned. If any individual visits another person’s room for any reason, the door MUST be kept open at all times up to 8pm. This does not necessarily mean fully open, but certainly unlocked. Also those concerned must inform a coach where they will be.

After 8pm, children under 18 in a room must be supervised by a responsible adult.

The following guidelines must also be followed:

18 years+
Preferably in their own room by 1am

15-17 years
Must be in their own room by Midnight

Under 14
Must be in their own room between 9pm-11.30pm depending on age and at parents’ discretion.

Over 18’s
This is a Child Protection Policy and as such, Team Members over 18 are not included. However we would ask these individuals to respect the Club’s rules in regards to the Open Door Policy and Curfew. We would also ask that alcohol is not consumed 2 nights prior to competing.

Also, due to the latest Child Protection Policy, no Team Member, male or female, will be allowed to stay in the same room as a male coach. Any Team Member that is to be supervised MUST have written permission from a parent to stay with a chaperone and the parent/s must agree that the child will abide by the Club rules.

The Club requires written permission to drive Team Members to and from Competitions or training sessions and also to act in loco parentis should the need arise.

Parents who accompany their child/children are responsible for them at all times apart from when they are competing.

In addition, for any Competitions abroad, all individuals MUST have an E111 Medical Form in the event of a medical emergency, which can be obtained from the Post Office

HELPFUL HINTS

Being at a competition with your child – some helpful hints

Just some notes for new parents to competitions and for those who are still at a total loss!!

Some are rules some are just practical advice when dealing with talented children.

Preparation:

Preparation is very important. The more prepared for the competition the more confident the performance. We endeavor to ensure that your child is prepared for their competition by ensuring that they know their routines and can perform them confidently. To further help you should make sure that they have everything they require for the competition: Hair done, Leotard, Tracksuit, new white socks. Always be at least ½ hour early. Your child is bound to feel nervous and will over worry about any little thing that’s not quite right.

On arrival:

Sit with other parents from our club and support their children. Our club and British Gymnastics rules state that parents should not enter the competition area, so please do not at any time go onto the competition floor to speak with the coach. As you can appreciate they have their hands full calming down and helping those about to compete. Your child should report their arrival themselves to their coach at an appropriate moment. Please do not drop your child and leave, as we will not be able to be responsible for them other than when they are competing.

Competing:

Generally there are 2 warm ups (need a tee shirt or shorts) and then they perform one compulsory and one voluntary routine. Once competition warm up has started your child cannot leave the competition floor (except going to the loo, with permission) they must stay in the benched area for their panel. If you don’t understand your child’s score then please wait and speak to their coach at another time (preferably at the next training session) sometimes due to technical reasons (i.e. one footed landings) what looked like a perfectly good routine will score very low marks. Most of our top international performers took quite some time to get through the grading system, all’s not lost if they make a mistake, being able to deal with failure is a very important part of their training. We never tell a child off for any mistakes, we know how upset they already are and no one ever makes a mistake on propose. No child is ever dropped because they haven’t yet learned to deal with their competition nerves, indeed we see it as part of our job to help them.

Dealing with success/failure:

We all want the best for our child, here are a few hints that may help.

Try not to be too competitive for you child’s progress, until their about 16 you can’t tell how they’re going to do. Children that fly through the grades may or may not be as good as one that has progressed more slowly. We have examples of both.

Never get into comparative/competitive type discussions with other parents, it always lands up in tears.

If your child makes a mistake and comes to you crying, you obviously will feel terrible for them, none of us like to see our children upset. Don’t tell them it doesn’t matter as it really does to them. Please don’t let them know how disappointed you are or how much this cost you in time/money. Let them know how proud of them you are. Discuss how well they did before the mistake and how pleased you are with their progress. What a lovely time you’ve had having a day out. (Ok, lie a little) You can suggest that later they speak with their coach who will reiterate what you have said. Get them to congratulate the winner

Your child’s coach will probably not be able to come and console them, this is not that they are mad or don’t care they will be with those still competing. Helping your child accept that it was only a mistake and they will recover to compete another day. Never compensate with gifts.

Wow finally success!!. It’s a great feeling for yourselves and your child after all its what they’ve been working towards. Let them see that you’re happy for them. Whatever you do don’t equate it to how much time/money it’s cost you to get them there! Never buy gifts to reward success, as this shifts the motivation for entering competitions. Don’t forget take any medals etc. to school.

It’s not worth pitching your child’s performance/progress with any others, either, within or outside the club. We pride ourselves as a club on bringing out the maximum potential from each child. So if it’s in there it’ll show eventually.

Leaving

Tell or ask someone to let the coach know that you are going.

Competitions General

URGENT

For every 3 entries our club has to produce 1 official/volunteer please offer your help. Without which the only alternative will be for the coaches not to be on the floor with your children and to limit the entries.

Please remember all coaches are there voluntary, leaving their own families at home, and working their day off. If your not happy for any reason the competition day is not the time to sort any problems out.

My whole family are heavily involved in international and lower level competitions. We know what your going through so please if you feel your not coping to well with this new world your child’s dropped you in then speak with any of us.