INDIANAPOLIS, December 12, 2017 – USA Gymnastics has chosen two clubs to join its 2018 Trampoline Development Center Program: Desert Gymcats Flip ‘N Twist in Las Vegas, Nev.; and Platinum Sports Center in Simi Valley, Calif. Additionally, Legacy Training Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif. has been selected to participate in the 2018 Elite Trampoline Development Center Program.
The Trampoline Development Center (TCD) program debuted in 2013 to further develop trampoline and tumbling in the United States by incorporating the sport into the curriculum in gyms across the nation, expanding its Olympic pipeline. Since the launch of TDC, the Trampoline and Tumbling program has grown immensely and provided USA Gymnastics the opportunity to enhance the program by adding an Elite TDC track.
Member clubs of USA Gymnastics are eligible to apply for the Trampoline Development Center program, and to be eligible for the Elite TDC track, all clubs must have gone through the original TDC program and have athletes participating in Level 8 and above. Additional information and the application are available online at usagym.org/tdc.
The 21 clubs that have been designated as Trampoline Development Centers are: AcroSports in League City, Texas; Branch Gymnastics Academy in Kalamazoo, Mich.; California Sports Center in San Jose, Calif.; DC Gymnastics and Tumbling in Wildomar, Calif.; DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics in Fishers, Ind.; Gymfinity in Fitchburg, Wis.; International Gymnastics Centre in West Sacramento, Calif.; Legacy Training Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy in Millis, Mass.; 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.; United Gymstars and Cheer in Montgomery, Ala. 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 program, Joy Umenhofer, a former member of the national trampoline coaching staff who coached several trampoline and tumbling national and World Age Group champions, 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.
Once a club has gone through the initial TDC program, they are eligible for the Elite TDC program. The Elite TDC also consists of two three day visits, with one day designated to the free workshop. Classroom presentations include: training plan development, athlete leadership, coach leadership, club administrative guidance for a healthy successful team, skill/drill/sequence techniques, and routine construction. Hands on training sessions cover spotting, drills, sequence, routines, and more, with athlete’s who participate in level 8 and above.
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.