Following the Junior & Youth Squad selection announcement, there remain a few spaces unallocated. It is the intention that the squad only operates with those capable of working to a high level, but it is entirely possible that some gymnasts may have recovered from injury, resolved move issues or are worthy of consideration now for other reasons. If any Coach has such a gymnast, they are invited to submit a request for review to the squad coaches (squad@trampoline-east.org), stating why they feel they should be offered a space. Squad coaches will hope to view such applicants at the forthcoming grading.
With the Tracks 2000 League now having released their confirmed dates and handbook for 2015, the year appears to have changed shape such that a previously advertised Open Competition in May now clashes and so will be deferred. The updated calendar linked below aims to provide an overview of all competition & squad events (as well as main school holidays).
A number of dates have been highlighted as being Potential Regional Open Events; please note that these are not committed dates as yet and are dependant on clubs offering to host one – any such will be recorded on the region’s Google Calendar.
It is understood that the National League organizers are about to launch a National League for Regional Competitors.
As has been reported previously, in 2015 we are splitting our development squad into two parts, a Junior and Youth section, each comprising just 20 members. The 2015 squad purpose is to focus on those most capable of moving forwards and helping spearhead our region’s recovery as a force to be reckoned with; in doing this, with a wide selection of coaches from many clubs, it is also to be hoped that coaching practices will develop towards those supporting high performance pathways throughout the region.
Accordingly selections have been made for both squads taking into account factors including prior squad attendance, competition performance, the junior selection day and other factors that have become known to the squad team such as injury or limited hours. The team have been particularly conscious in the selection that they do not include those with:
Squad coaches are particularly keen to ensure, this year, that those attending are able to function fully in all squad activities, i.e squad is not seen as part of a remedial or rehabilitation process.
Looking, in particular, at the junior squad selection day, where many many new gymnasts were presented for consideration, the squad coaches were very pleased by the levels of commitment & enthusiasm exhibited by all those attending and would like to congratulate and encourage them in that, sadly not all can be accommodated and they look forward to seeing them progress over the coming year with a view to filling spaces in future.
Both squads will remain under constant review throughout the year and any noted as being more worthy of a space than incumbent members may be invited to future squad events.
The squad selections are as follows:
| Junior Squad | Youth Squad | ||
Name |
Club |
Name |
Club |
| Amber Bradley | Hi Tension | Amelia Edbrooke | Sprung Loaded |
| Carys Verdicchio | Rotations | Austin Pannell | Independant |
| Chloe Caley | Pegasus | Caitlin Houston | Pegasus |
| Chloe Harrison | Rotations (Conditional) | Freya Grundy | Dragons |
| Evie Hood | Colchester GC | Georgia Berry | Comets |
| Evie Joseph | Cambourne Comets | Georgia Tyrrell | Brentwood |
| Evie Stokes Shinn | Brentwood | Haidee Spence | Dragons |
| Freya Williams | Hi Tension | Hannah Hodgkinson | Hi-Tension |
| Hal Ottley | Ipswich Four | Hannah Morris | Rotations |
| Hana Scillitoe | Dimensions | Maddison Merritt | Brentwood |
| Jared Smith | Brentwood | Matthew Burson | Cangaroos |
| Liam Whistler | Cambourne Comets | Monica Dowling | Brentwood |
| Lilia Kearney | Ipswich Four | Olivia Watson | Brentwood |
| Lilly Patrick | Hi Tension | Reece Norden | Sprung Loaded |
| Max Felton | Dimensions | Sam Hodgkinson | Hi-Tension |
| Max Gaeta | Pegasus | Space | |
| Sydney Kelly | Cangaroos | Space | |
| Willow Lynch | Colchester GC | Space | |
| Space | Space | ||
| Space | Space | ||
There remain some spaces to be filled in the Youth Squad and coaches are invited to submit nominations for these spaces for those aged over 12 this year and under 18, who they believe can meet the selection criteria (discussed above), explaining how they feel that the nominated gymnast can meet those criteria. Such nominations may be submitted for those who have attended squad previously but have not been selected at this time.
Spaces in the Junior Squad will be by invitation only from Squad coaches taking into account competitions or other opportunities to view in action.
This is to announce a few changes to the previous updates:
All other aspects of the previous announcements remain unchanged.
Further to the recent announcement about selection for squads in 2015, we can now confirm bookings have been made to hold Junior & Youth trampoline squads on the following dates:
These avoid all previously announced competitions (see – Trampoline Dates 2015) so should ensure optimum levels of attendance. The venue will be Brentwood School Sports Centre and the sessions will be lead by Jack Kelly & Paul Kitchen.
Since ECGA are no longer subsidising these events, they will need to be self funding, and so whilst the cost per squad has been set at £15 per performer, this will be reviewed as the squads occur to ensure that no loses are incurred.
Coaches/ Gymnasts, thank you for all the enthusiasm and support during the last squad programme. 2015 will see some changes in the way the squad days will operate and how the initial squads will be selected.
Selected trampoline gymnasts will be given the opportunity to attend 4 squad sessions, undertaking a programme of activity deemed suitable to prepare gymnasts for potential future National and International selection.
Squad days will be divided into two 3 hour sessions.
This is a long term plan and our aim is to be flexible. As such, the squad will be the goal to either remain in or be selected for.
The criteria below have been set to identify trampolinists aged 8-11 who demonstrate the potential to move upwards through the performance pathways, showing the qualities needed for future years of progressive training and competition.
The selection method will involve recognition of technical expectations, strength and conditioning testing and gymnastic versatility.
We intend to begin with an Opportunity Test Day on the 11th Jan 2015 beginning at 10am and finishing around 3pm.
Each club will be eligible to send a maximum of 3 gymnasts whose coaches feel meet the criteria below. If we fail to reach sufficient numbers, we may ask clubs to add a fourth gymnast to their list.
We advise coaches to be highly selective before nominating any gymnast.
Following testing the group will be reduced to 20 gymnasts.
Gymnasts will be continually assessed and may not be invited to subsequent squads if the squad coaches feel the expectations are too great.
There will be opportunities for entry to the squad throughout the year depending on recognition at regional competitions and place availability.
1) Be aged between 8 and 11 inclusive as of 31st December 2015.
2) Hold a minimum of British Gymnastics Bronze membership.
3) Demonstrate strength, flexibility and gymnastic versatility.
4) Show competent straight jumping skills.
5) Demonstrate competent forward/backward somersaults.
6) Linking skills into and out of 5 above.
7) Drills.
8) Routines.
Gymnasts will work with their coaches allowing squad coaches to assess work undertaken through the normal coaching environment.
Coaches of gymnasts aged 8-11 should send nominations to paul@brentwoodtc.org by December 20th providing evidence that nominees meet the criteria above.
Cost for the day will be £15 payable on the day.
As a result of low numbers of applications, due to a clash of dates with other events, the proposed DMT squad session on Sunday 18th May will not go ahead.
Phil Dodson, Regional DMT Squad Coordinator, extends an open invitation for coaches to bring performers to his club sessions on a Saturday evening (5:15 – 7:30) at Hitchin Boys School Sports Centre.
Please contact Phil at </span>dmtsquad@trampoline-east.org to arrange.
The squad coaches are inviting the following gymnasts to the upcoming May squads (please see earlier news release for details), being held at Brentwood on Sunday 25th May.
The order of activity on the day will be as follows:
| Activity | Junior Squad | Youth Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Arrive, check-in | 8:45 | 11:45 |
| Intro, non-directed warm-up with own coaches | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Bed warm-up & jump drills | 9:15 | 12:15 |
| Refresh session from previous squads | 9:40 | 12:40 |
| Free training | 10:30 | 1:30 |
| Session review/depart | 11:45 | |
| Session review, equipment clear-down, depart | 2:45 |
As we approach the end of the second year of the regional development squad we have been reviewing the progress achieved so far and considering how to become more effective in working towards the objectives we set. Those objectives were:
We believe that, although the ball has ‘started to roll’, the process needs to be refined and become more accurately targeted towards high achievement. Regardless of criteria, at a minimum, squad sessions will always remain open to the attendance of ANY COACH in the region to further their knowledge and development.
Starting on Sunday 25th May, the squad will be split according to age in order to focus more directly on the appropriate stage of gymnast development and ensure that the younger gymnasts (age groups under 13 and below) begin their careers on the correct technical path. It is clear that the existing squad members (under 17 years) have made significant technical progress and we want to maintain this momentum, but most of these older gymnasts would have benefited even more from an earlier introduction.
It will be difficult to set out specific selection criteria for each age group, but the older group will be based on criteria similar to those adopted in the past. The younger group will be assessed initially on a combination of factors:
Of course the most important criterion will be an obvious desire to ‘do what it takes’ to achieve excellence, because physical talent on its own is never enough.
As always, we may need to modify criteria slightly from time-to-time as circumstances dictate.
| Venue: | Courage Hall, Brentwood |
| Times: | 9.00 am to 11.50 am Junior Squad 12:10 pm to 3.00 pm Youth Squad |
| Numbers: | We expect numbers at each squad to be lower ensuring greater opportunity and bed choice. |
| Cost: | £12.00 per gymnast. |
Jack Kelly & Paul Kitchen – squad@trampoline-east.org
Despite having a number of regular attendees at squad missing, we have found ourselves oversubscribed for the next development squad on March 23rd. This means that, unfortunately, we are unable to meet all the requests for wildcards. Since the purposes of the squad are to promote excellence we have decided to select the wildcards who have shown the best form results in recent competitions and, accordingly, the squad list is as follows:
After the last squad we set up a short on-line survey and asked those attending to respond to a range of questions intended to inform the Squad Coaches on how squads are (i) being received and (ii) could be improved.
Both coaches and gymnasts were asked to respond, in total 13 of 28 gymnasts did so, and 9 of approximately 15 coaches (excluding those related to the squad and its operation) – so approximately 50%. The summary results are:
| Questions | Options | Coach | Gymnast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Responses by: | 9 | 13 | |
| Have the squad sessions helped you to make changes? | Yes | 8 | 13 |
| No | 1 | 0 | |
| Which area of approach has been affected? | Attitude | 2 | 7 |
| Technique | 6 | 7 | |
| Training Method | 7 | 11 | |
| Skipped question | 1 | 0 | |
| What has changed? | Text responses | 8 | 12 |
| Skipped question | 1 | 1 | |
| Do you believe the change is sustainable? | Yes | 8 | 12 |
| No | 0 | 0 | |
| Skipped question | 1 | 1 | |
| Please suggest improvements | Text responses | 6 | 7 |
| Skipped question | 3 | 6 | |
| Name | Given | 6 | 9 |
| Not given | 3 | 4 | |
| Club | Given | 6 | 9 |
| Not given | 3 | 4 |
Some written responses to specific questions (summarized/truncated in some cases) are:
| Question: | Coaches | Gymnasts |
|---|---|---|
| What has changed? | More attention to basics, technical criteria at an earlier development stage. More emphasis on lower grade coaches within the club to adhere to these principals.Changes to the organisation of club squad sessions.Insisting not just on good technique, but aiming towards excellence. We use drills every session now with the whole club.Hoping to introduce the perpetual training to some of our sessions.
Adding conditioning to the circuit also more work on the control of jumping. I will use more of Jack’s drills/exercises with all my club classes (I already used some from reading his articles on the Brentwood website but it’s much better so see them for real!) After last Sunday I will be putting even more emphasis on balance than before too. [truncated] I believe that my training method and technique has changed in small ways, helped by picking up information from the higher level coaches around at the squad sessions. After both the squad sessions I have attended, I have come away feeling inspired and wanting to put into place things I have learnt. Very focused on take-offs now – what is happening in the bed as much as what happens in the air. Introduced the perpetual motion concept for our elite gymnasts which seems to be working well.
|
The coach has improved our warm up session by including the warm ups we did on Sunday. We now use training diaries on a regular basis. The squad training has helped me focus more on my technique and it makes me want to improve myself as much as I can.At the training we did the perpetual motion system that kept me busy in between goes. The log books have been helpful cos I could write down what I’ve done and what I need to improve on. So at the next training sessions I know what I need to think about.Direction and the ability to control my take off into moves.I do drills, which I learnt from squad, every training session and this has improved the accuracy of my straight bouncing.
Use of Perpetual Motion at clubs squad sessions. Warm ups have become more focused on straight bouncing and control rather than doing what we want, I find it useful because I have a better idea of how to prepare for the session. I have started to use the perpetual motion hour rota and it’s made me work harder. We are using more drills in our warm up and they are improving. The squad sessions have helped me focus more on my moves and where my body should actually be on certain moves. I liked the way that even our basic moves were shown how to perform better, I loved seeing the really good trampolinists and feel inspired to be able to do the same skills and moves as them Thinking about the best way to bounce, positioning of arms. I now know what I want out of my training and it all ha a purpose also it’s good seeing other gymnasts that want the same thing I think my attitude towards trampolining has changed, and towards what I want to do. Also, I think I have improved some of my moves and I liked doing the Perpetual Motion Hour as a training method |
| Please suggest improvements | More written handouts to take back to clubs to ensure nothing is forgotten and all the information gets handed on.Introduce other HPC coaches into the delivery team and encourage club coaches to bring other coaches from their club to support their own performers so they can circulate either with jack and Paul or just to listen in to other coaches for a spread of ideas.I can’t fault how the day is run! Well organised, useful and appropriate coach feedback. I think 4 per bed is an ideal number. I think that selection should be made from top end D’s and all C’s. As our coaching improves the ages should naturally get younger. Having wild cards is a must in order to ‘raise the game’ as a region.Nothing yet has changed though I have taken away ideas for further thought before making a change, holding for an alternative reference or discarding. There are changes I would like to make, as in better use of time between goes. Though this will be a very hard thing to change as teaching older jumpers who have become set in their ways. Will try and see how it goes. There seemed to be a large range of ability and the numbers I thought were also on the high side. [Truncated]
The squad sessions are good as they are they differ each time we come which allows us to take back to our club different things each time , I know that all our gymnasts have loved the sessions and found them helpful. That’s difficult as I thought the whole day was brilliant and really useful! The only thing is personally I would like to be able to bring more of my trampolinists to have input from the squad coaches rather than just 1, as it was really hard to choose 1 & they would all benefit, but I can see that’s not really viable. Alternatively is there any way a squad coach could possibly come to my club and do a 1 off session for all my competition squad children (& all my coaches)?? |
There were quite a lot of interruptions which sometimes made it difficult to focus.There are no improvements that could be made in my opinion.I think it would be more useful if we spent less time working on basic things such as straight jumping and maybe just give a note about it to coaches during the session as it is hard to keep focused doing things like this. Additionally last squad session I think there were slightly too many people there as when there is 5 people on a trampoline you didn’t get a chance to do a lot. But overall it is a useful session especially in terms of coaching points.I would like it if I got some advice from other coaches from different clubs.
One of our coaches was involved in the squad, we didn’t get enough coaching time. [Truncated] I just hope that I will be able to keep coming even though I’m not a grade C and because I learnt so much there. I like the way they are done now I’ve been to them since they started and enjoyed each one. |
We would like to thank all those of you who took the time to respond and to assure you that in planning the upcoming squad, we will be conscious of the comments and trying to take them into account as much as is feasible. The questionnaire is now closed to further responses, a new one will be opened after the next squad.
Trampoline-East is pleased to announce the formation of a new DMT development squad for 2014. The first of a number of squad days will be held on Sunday 18th May, at Hitchin Boy’s School Sports Centre from 10am – 3pm.
Clubs are invited to nominate gymnasts who meet the minimum eligibility criteria set out below. Nominations should be sent to the Squad Director, Phil Dodson at dmtsquad@trampoline-east.org by Sunday 4th May.
There are 24 places available, and these will be allocated by the Squad Director once all nominations have been received.
When nominating please include the following information:
Selected gymnasts are to be accompanied by a coach who is aware of their current training programme. There is an open invitation for any coach who wishes to attend for the purpose of mentoring. The cost to each attending gymnast will be £15, which will be collected by Phil on the day.
Eligibility Criteria
There are no age restrictions.
Eligibility criteria will be reviewed after the first squad.