Y STEPS (RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS)

Eligibility: No prior gymnastics experience required
Class duration: Generally 1 hour
Coach to gymnast ratio: 1:8 to 1:12 (depending on centres)
Class frequency: Once per week
Uniform: Tight-fitting clothes are recommended to be worn – no hoods/cords/jewellery. YMCA T-shirt, training leotards and singlets are available to purchase for all members and are the best option to wear.

Explore the exciting world of gymnastics from a young age – where play meets exercise! At the beginner gymnastics level, it’s the perfect time for kids aged five and older to develop fitness foundations, explore body awareness and follow simple instructions.

In these classes, children learn simple gymnastic actions and safe movement awareness tumbling on the floor, swinging on the bars and balancing across the beam. Your child’s confidence soars and their independence shines one bold step at a time.

We’re also going to let you in on a secret only gymnastics parents know about… Gymnastics classes provide children with skills that will help them thrive at school. They increase grip strength and hand-eye coordination, which assists in handwriting ability. Core strength developed at gymnastics can improve your child’s attention span and posture – something they’ll need when sitting at their desk during class. Lastly, gymnastics classes teach children problem-solving skills, listening skills and turn-taking.

No experience is required to join our Pre Step to Step 3 classes – just a desire to have fun, learn and have a go.

Gymnastics classes after Step 3

Once children complete this stage, they can move onto recreational gymnastics classes by either:

• Progressing onto Step 4 with more advanced activities; or
• Joining Tumbling, Junior Ninja or Free G classes in our Y Gym Sports program. This option is perfect for those looking to continue gymnastics as a casual hobby.

Enquire at your nearest centre:

Eligibility: Pass Step 3 (or have equivalent skill)
Class duration: Step 4 - 1.25 hours | Step 5 - 1.5 hours | Step 6 - 2 hours
Coach to gymnast ratio: 1:8 to 1:12 (depending on centres)
Class frequency: Step 4 and 5 – once per week | Step 6 – option to come twice per week
Uniform: Tight-fitting clothes are recommended to be worn – no hoods/cords/jewellery. YMCA T-shirt, training leotards and singlets are available to purchase for all members and are the best option to wear.

Find out why gymnastics is considered a high-energy, thrilling and rewarding sport in Step 4-Step 6. Gymnastics lessons will become more challenging at this stage, as children improve their skills and expand their abilities for junior levels.

Children aged eight to 12 will get hands-on practice trying more advanced movements using a range of gymnastics equipment. Our qualified and passionate coaches will guide your children through exercises such as cartwheels, handstands and walkovers – to name a few! Our supportive one-on-one coach feedback allows children to develop their performance, while team activities help friendships flourish.

Determination in these steps pays off, and children who complete Step 6 will be on their way to developing Australian National Level 3 equivalent skills. From Step 5, children are also given a chance to shine in our YMCA end of term events and end of year showcases.

Gymnastics classes after Step 6

Those who wish to elevate their gymnastic ability in our artistic disciplines (Men’s and Women’s) can move onto Step 7, where they can refine their skills. From Step 7, children have the opportunity to try out for our Y Competitive program.

If you love gymnastics as much as we do but don’t want to train competitively, we encourage you to join our Y Gym Sports program.

Contact your nearest YMCA Gymnastics centre

Eligibility: Must have completed Step 6
Class duration: 2 hours
Coach to gymnast ratio: 1:8 to 1:12 (depending on centres)
Class frequency: 2-3 times per week
Uniform: A YMCA training leotard is recommended to wear at this level.

Opportunities are opened up for gymnasts to compete at the YMCA or other local events and display their skills to the world! Gymnasts get the chance to delve into artistic gymnastics, learning more complex moves on artistic apparatus.

Those who meet the competitive team membership criteria may be invited to train for competitive performance. These opportunities include team gym, tumbling, women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics (WAG and MAG) and rhythmic gymnastics, through the Y Competitive program. Some of our gymnasts also love trying out other disciplines and gym sports related to gymnastics classes.

At this level, strength and conditioning are an integral part of the program and enhance performance. Goal setting and risk assessment are continued to be developed as gymnasts perform front and back handsprings and forward and backward somersaults.

You will see your child shine as they become confident, talented gymnasts.

Non-competitive and competitive pathways available. Request more information: