INDIANAPOLIS, December 8, 2016 – USA Gymnastics has chosen the first two clubs for the 2017 USA Gymnastics Trampoline Development Center program. The TDC program debuted in 2013 to help develop trampoline and tumbling in the United States by incorporating competitive trampoline into the curriculum in gyms across the nation to expand its Olympic pipeline. The two clubs that have been selected for 2017 are Branch Gymnastics in Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy in Mills, Mass.

USA Gymnastics will select additional Trampoline Development Centers for the end of 2017. The deadline for applying for the spots is May 1, 2017. Member clubs of USA Gymnastics are eligible to apply for the Trampoline Development Center program, and additional information and the application are available online at usagym.org/tdc.

The 18 clubs that have been designated as TDCs are: AcroSports in League City, Texas; California Sports Center in San Jose, Calif.; DC Gymnastics and Tumbling in Wildomar, Calif.; DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics in Indianapolis, Ind.; Gymfinity in Fitchburg, Wis.; International Gymnastics Centre in West Sacramento, Calif.; Legacy Training Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Mills Gymnastics USA in Southgate, Mich.; Mini Hops Gymnastics in Plymouth, Minn.; Montgomery County Sports Performance Center in Harleysville, Pa.; Oconee Gymnastics & Cheer in Watkinsville, Ga.; Orange County Sports Club in Florida, N.Y.; Roots in Westfield, Mass.; Suncoast Gymnastics Academy in Odessa, Fla.; Summit Sports Center in Nolensville, Tenn.; Wendy Hilliard Foundation in New York City; Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex of Williamsburg, Va.; and World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas.

As part of the Trampoline Development Center (TDC) program, Joy Umenhofer, a member of the national trampoline coaching staff, makes three visits to each selected club to educate the gym, its coaches and athletes about trampoline. When Umenhofer visits the TDC clubs, she hosts clinics to educate club staff on scheduling, coaching and teaching trampoline, basic skills, conditioning and flexibility, and progressions; talent identification development programs; and interactive coach and athlete training sessions. Each club also receives marketing materials, operational guidelines and curriculum support. In addition, other clubs in the area are encouraged to attend the coach education sessions and learn about expanding their programming to include trampoline.

To complete the training program and earn the Trampoline Development Center designation, the selected gymnastics clubs host training sessions for coaches, athletes and officials; select a club trampoline team; and stage a local trampoline competition. The TDC program’s format provides clubs with the trampoline knowledge needed to establish their programs by the conclusion of the third visit.

Umenhofer is a member of the USA Gymnastics national coaching staff for trampoline and tumbling and junior men. She has coached several trampoline and tumbling national and World Age Group champions, as well as placing athletes on all trampoline and tumbling developmental teams.

Athletes of all ages and body types can enjoy and benefit from trampoline, which also enhances skill development across all gymnastics disciplines. Trampoline may also retain athletes who are looking for something different from gymnastics or need to adjust to accommodate outside scheduling challenges. Additionally, the artistic gymnastics and trampoline competitive seasons complement one another, which makes it is possible for an athlete to participate in both. Many gym clubs in the U.S. already have trampoline as part of their programming, which has proven to be very successful.