The Battlefords Gymnastics Club provides an important outlet for local youth to express themselves and stay physically active, while pursuing their passion. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Unique Fall Season

Local Gymnastics Club reflects on past year ahead of holidays

Dec 14, 2020 | 4:15 PM

The Battlefords Gymnastics Club is winding down this week, ahead of the holiday break.

Saturday marked the final day of rec classes, while this Friday, Dec. 18, the competitive classes will wrap up their training as well, until the turn of the calendar to 2021.

Both competitive and rec divisions are then hoping for a quick return to classes in the New Year. Jan. 4 is the club’s targeted return date, should they be permitted to do so by the government restrictions in place.

It has been a uniquely challenging year for the local gymnastics club, as it has for so many organizations within the community.

Due to restrictions, they have had to cut back on training hours across the board, while limited capacity, and no additional spectators has led to the cancellation of its annual Christmas showcase.

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The rec division and overall registration numbers for the club saw a pretty significant rollback this year, due simply to mandatory cut backs on the number of overall classes offered, and available hours to train.

“We had to cut classes pretty much in half, and we could only offer so many classes per-day because we could only have so many people max in the gym at one time,” Office administrator Natalie Elliot explained. “We went from having about 180 rec kids in the fall of 2019, to this year having 80; so our number of rec athletes was pretty much cut in half.”

Despite the challenges though, the competitive group actually grew this year in number. Eight additional students made for a total of 43 throughout the competitive ranks at various age groups.

Elliot said this year has been made possible in large part due to grant support and dedication shown by the staff, athletes, and their families.

“The community support has been great, and the athletes and the coaches have all really adapted well to all the changes we’ve had to make,” she said, “From coaching with masks on, to athletes having to wear masks in class, everyone has really stepped up and we had a very good fall season.”

Elliot said that level of support has been vital to keeping the club going this year, and allowing them to continue to offer a service integral to the development of the community’s youth.

“We feel as a club, the kids need to be able to get exercise, make new friends and get out of the house and socialize, even if it is just for 45 minutes a week,” she said. “It’s really important for their mental health and physical activity that they get to have some kind of normalcy in their lives being able to come to gymnastics, and we’re happy to provide that outlet.”

Battlefords Gymnastics Club is planning on hosting virtual competitions in the New Year that parents will be able to stream online. The club is also hopeful to be able to host some level of competitive showcase in-person, before the end of the spring.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1