Five Dock Leisure Centre is well known for providing high quality training programs for competitive gymnastics and offers opportunities for those gymnasts who wish to train more seriously to become a member of a competitive squad.
Our competitive programs include Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) and Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG), and our gymnasts have won awards in State and National competitions.
Gymnasts selected to compete at State, National and International competitions have the opportunity to travel and compete with gymnasts from other clubs and states.
All competitive gymnasts must be registered with Gymnastics NSW. Find out more below.
Men’s gymnastics provides a fun and safe energy outlet for boys of any age, where strength and discipline are key factors. Applying strength across six differing apparatus will build confidence and test any young thrill-seeker, through the development of mobility, endurance, flexibility, and co-ordination. Men's gymnastics competition levels are split into Junior and Senior events, catering from gymnasts as young as six up to adult competitors in the Masters division.
Competition apparatus (in Olympic order)
Floor exercise
A floor routine combines exciting and explosive power tumbling and acrobatic skills with composed balance and flexibility elements. A gymnast will perform somersaults, twists and static elements in connection to demonstrate gymnastics artistry.
Pommel horse
To master the pommel horse goes a long way to building the all-around confidence of a gymnast, as one of the harder men’s gymnastics events. Consisting of circular movements of the body (with legs together) and pendulous swings with the legs separated (scissors), the gymnast’s routine will consist of smooth combinations of these movements whilst turning and travelling along the horse.
Rings
The rings provide a perfect illustration of a gymnast’s shear strength in undertaking several challenging hold elements. A gymnast’s composure, control and discipline is tested in combining the strength holds with free swinging movements, before demonstrating their aerial abilities on the dismount.
Vault
A 25-metre sprint is required, in an effort to generate the necessary power to achieve the sufficient height to complete their aerial skills before landing. The gymnast will provide an explosive take-off , where the aerial acrobatic skills are completed in a matter of seconds.
Parallel bars
A predominately swinging apparatus, that is interspersed with only a few held or strength elements. Swings are completed above and below the bars and consist of acrobatic flight elements, changes of direction and swing types. The gymnast's routine ends in a dramatic dismount off the side or the end of the bars.
Horizontal bar
A spectacular apparatus sees the male gymnast combine swinging movements with strength and hold elements on a 2.8-metre high bar. Acrobatic releases and re-grasp flight elements provide heart in mouth entertainment, finished with a display of acrobatic talent in the dismount.
Women's competitive gymnastics provides girls with the opportunity to challenge themselves while building their strength, co-ordination and confidence in a fun and challenging environment. Focused on the four Olympic apparatus (vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor), the gymnasts build routines based around strength, flexibility, skill, balance and body awareness.
Competition apparatus (in Olympic order)
Vault
Beginning with a 25-metre run, followed by a dynamic take-off, the gymnasts demonstrate their strong vaulting abilities. Vaulting involves the demonstrations of strong repulsion form the vaulting table and aerial acrobatic skill.
Uneven bars
Requiring strength, precision, rhythm, concentration, and courage; the gymnast moves from one bar to the other, alternating grip changes, releases and regrasps, saltos and changes of direction with circular swings.
Balance beam
A beam routine combines acrobatic elements, including leaps, jumps, turns and other gymnastics movements. With each move performed across the 10-centimetre wide beam, balance is an essential whilst gymnasts demonstrate choreographed elements with elegance, flexibility, and confidence.
Floor exercise
A gymnast’s floor routine is performed to a piece of music, where dance movements are combined with tumbling and acrobatics elements. Higher level gymnasts are required to use the whole floor area in expressing their individuality, originality and artistry, where creative input is a fun, yet important factor.
The competitive program in women's gymnastics follow routines and guidelines devised by Gymnastics Australia on the four apparatus. Classes vary in the number of hours and days the gymnasts train, the competitions they are eligible for and the overall commitment of each gymnast. The programs follow nationally set requirements that are assessed at competition in front of a panel of judges. Gymnasts are split into Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels when competing.
The coaching staff at Five Dock Leisure Centre provide the optimal learning environment for each gymnast. The coaches cater for different learning styles and adapt the training program to suit the individual.
Once a gymnast has mastered the skills in a level, they may compete those skills in routines at the club for in-house competitions, invitationals, Regional, State and National competitions. As the gymnast progresses through the levels, they achieve a sense of accomplishment and confidence. This allows gymnasts to achieve success in a fun environment. Competitive squad gymnasts currently train 5 to 18 hours a week according to the level, age and goals of the gymnast.
Within the competitive program, a very important component of training is physical conditioning. Gymnasts need to have prerequisite strength and flexibility prior to learning some of the more advanced skills required at higher levels. Physical preparation and the refinement of basic skills will take up a proportion of the training time each session.
A note on attire...
Gymnasts must come to training properly attired. They should also bring a water bottle to training.
Leotards, crop tops or fitted singlets and gym shorts are appropriate because they will not get caught in gymnastic equipment and allow the coaches to assess the shape and provide physical assistance to gymnasts when skill learning.
All gymnasts are required to compete in the club leotard and club tracksuits at competitions. Gymnasts are allowed to wear their own choice of leotard at in-house competitions. A club polo shirt is also available.