Rowan delighted to get back to normality as sessions re-start
Gymnastics is incredibly important for young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. I don’t think young people have received enough credit for all the ways they have had to adapt over the last year
A GYMNASTICS club from Cheltenham has reopened its doors for under 18’s group sessions.
After making do with home-based training and zoom classes, Rowan Gymnastics Club can finally enjoy hosting in-person sessions.
Clubs across England began the return to normality on Monday April 12, with all age groups planned to be able to take part in socially distanced gymnastics sessions from May 17.
Beth Holland, Head Coach at Rowan Gymnastics Club, said: “We’ve had a wonderful reaction from our members, we’ve been very lucky to receive such wonderful support over the last year.
“We are running ‘camp sessions’ as it will be the second week of the Easter Holidays and we were thrilled when they sold out in around a week.
“We’re over the moon to have the gymnasts back in the gym. We’ve had a Beth Holland skeleton staff working in the gym and in the office over this lockdown and we have all remarked on how horribly quiet it is.”
“Gymnastics is incredibly important for young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. I don’t think young people have received enough credit for all the ways they have had to adapt over the last year.
“It also provides huge benefits towards gymnast’s mental health; for example, some of our gymnasts see their team mates and coaches more than some members of their own families. So them having to be apart for such a long time has removed a very important support base.”
A focus on positivity has kept the club strong through the most difficult periods.
Holland reflected: “We’ve been lucky enough to be able to offer online activities/ sessions for our members to stay involved but it doesn’t compare to being able to have the children here doing what they love.
“We’re also excited to have lots of our coaches back” she added, “as many of them have been on furlough for the last three months and for the majority of 2020.
“Our immediate hope is that we can get back to our normal day to day running of the club as soon as possible so we are able to welcome all our gymnasts back every week.
“Then our big dream is to find a bigger home so we are able to expand and give more children and young people the opportunity to get involved in gymnastics.
“We have followed the Step Forward Plan provided by British Gymnastics so have incorporated the guidance there. The big things we have done that are a bit different to normal are that we had to close our changing rooms, reception and viewing gallery.”
“We have also had to work at half capacity in the majority of our classes so many of our gymnasts are only able to attend every other week.
“We have also closed our car park in order to use this as a queuing system, so we have been able to allow gymnasts and coaches to get in and out of the building safely.”
To find out more about Rowan Gymnastics, visit https://www.rowangymnasticsclub.org. uk/ or follow them on their social channels.