AGREEMENT FOR PARENTS THINKING OF SENDING THEIR CHILD FOR A TRIAL OR WHO HAVE JUST JOINED A SQUAD

Following feedback over the past few years we have made the decision to provide more context on what being in an advanced/PLUS Recreational class or the squad pathway looks like. We have learnt that aligning our expectations prior to trialing gives everyone the best possible chance of enjoying the experience that being in squad has to offer. This enjoyment includes the gymnast’s, the parent’s and the coach’s! Hopefully it is useful and shapes the way you approach the decision and discussion with your gymnast.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS - BUILDING RESILIENCE

We want our gymnasts to feel comfortable trying new things at SAADI. We want them to push their abilities, and yes we also want them to accept that sometimes we all fail. Building resilience is just one of the many attributes that leads to success in sport and accepting that ‘failure’ is a part of this journey and understanding how we deal with it is critical.

One of the most difficult parts of being a competitive sports club is the management of expectations. SAADI work closely with Working With Parents in Sport (WWPIS) to promote a healthy relationship between the coach, gymnast and parent that facilitates an enjoyable journey for the child. WWPIS compares the chance of reaching the highest level in any sport with winning the lottery. The chances of achieving it are incredibly small but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the small wins in trying. When we buy a lottery ticket we do so understanding the odds. When we frame an experience like this we manage our expectations so that any disappointments along the way are easier to accept and we are more likely to try again.

BEFORE A TRIAL - EVERY JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT

At SAADI our vision is for every gymnast to reach their full potential and enjoy the journey getting there. Every gymnast’s full potential is different and every gymnast’s journey is different. It is a fact that the vast majority of gymnasts will follow their journey and reach their full potential within our Recreational Programme, and for those gymnasts this should be celebrated.

For a few it maybe that being in one of our advanced/PLUS Recreational classes or squads is the correct pathway. If they attend a trial, we will try to help them enjoy the experience of being in a different environment and of pushing themselves a little outside of their comfort zone. However, it remains a fact, that the vast majority of children will not get into an advanced class or a squad, and for many reasons.

We would encourage parents to be open with their children about the high possibility of not getting in to a squad. They should consider how their child may cope with the decision and how they may use this as an opportunity to further develop their skills.

WHAT DO COACHES CONSIDER?

Coaches take into consideration a lot of things when deciding on a new advanced class or squad members. These include ability, work ethic, attitude, ability to apply corrections, behaviour, strength, flexibility and neatness of skills among others. In otherwords, just being able to do a skill does not automatically mean they get a place. It’s therefore very important that parents avoid comparisons to other gymnasts present especially in front of their child.

Club’s manage post trial feedback in different ways, some provide no feedback at all, whilst others do. We generally do not. The risk of providing feedback is that parents take this as a direct criticism of their child rather than a great opportunity to learn. Parent’s should avoid asking for feedback on the day especially in front of the child as a coach will simple say they did very well and hope that they enjoyed it (this does not mean they have a place, rather that they have been put in a difficult position!). Working With Parent’s in Sport describes failure as ‘an opportunity to learn’ and the coaches at SAADI agree.

If you are entering your child into a trial please consider how you are framing the experience to yourself as well as your child in preparation for not getting in.

If your child is unsuccessful in a trial then we ask all parents to consult with the club before they apply for another one.

ADVANCED/PLUS AND SQUAD CLASSES ARE A CONTINUOUS TRIAL

The key difference between being in any sporting advanced class/squad and attending recreational classes is that you are always on trial. This is something that all parents of sporting children need to understand and accept at some point if they are to help their child get the most out of the experience.

If you take a look at our Squad Brochure you will see that we have multiple pathways both within squads and in and out of squads. Again, understanding this point and aiming to maximise your child’s enjoyment at every point of the journey is a very important factor to consider.

Our senior coaches ‘live’ to coach squads. It’s what they continually train to do and what brings out their passion. They will work hours outside of work to study, develop plans, attend competitions and all to ensure they can maximise the potential of their gymnasts.

In return it’s important that the gymnasts also show commitment. If your child is successful in their trial they will be asked to train more hours and they will be expected to be punctual and attend all training sessions. If you are not prepared to commit to the hours please do not attend the trial. Yes, it sounds like a basic request but all too often it isn’t! If you have any questions about the hours etc we will be more than happy to explain them to you and how they may change over time.

The coaches will be continually assessing the squad members against the multiple attributes outlined earlier as well as against our core values. If a member is slipping against these measures it will be emailed directly to the parent or guardian. If the slip against measures continues it’s possible that the child will be asked to follow a different pathway. This may be another squad or our recreational classes. Movement out of any squad or team is common in every single sport and should be discussed openly with the child as a possible outcome from the outset of their squad journey.

AGREEMENT

We have read an understand how the trial process works and have explained this to our child.

SIGNED _____________________________________________