International Development Program Clinic

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Gymnastics Australia's International Development Program (IDP) Clinic was held in Canberra last week following the National Championships in Sydney. 87 of our best young gymnasts and their personal coaches attended the clinic, representing 12 different High Performance programs from around the country. 

The clinic was lead by National Junior Development Co-ordinator, Jo Richards, with experienced coaches – National Coach Peggy Liddick, Jeb Silsbery and  Choreographer Stacey Umeh. We also welcomed input from Acrobatics expert Dmitri Zorin, his first time working at this clinic.   All of the participating gymnasts actively compete in the IDP, and were selected from their performances and ranking on the National IDEAL Skills test. The focus of the clinic was refining the girls basic techniques whilst also extending them in appropriate areas of advanced skill development.   The clinic was divided into two groups: Clinic 1 and 2. Both clinics trained 5 full training sessions over the 3 days – so it was a busy schedule for their coaches! In between training sessions the girls were involved in numerous gymnastics activities which included watching the recent European Championships videos and utilizing the hot and cold spa in the state of the art AIS recovery centre.   Also held during the three days was an update on National Planning procedures for the coaches.   During the clinic all girls participated in Physical testing.  Congratulations to the following girls who excelled, to be named the best physically prepared gymnasts for each age group:
• 13 years: and overall Physical Test Champion Brooke Callcott (WAIS), 2nd Darcy Norman (WAIS), 3rd Maddy Clark-Carlile
• 12 years: 1st Paige James (WAIS), 2nd Kate McDonald (MLC), 3rd Nikita Hartley-Marschner
• 11 years: 1st Lily Gresele (WAIS), 2nd Hannah Triantafilis (Balance), 3rd Eadie Rawson (VWHPC)
• 10 years: 1st Sophie Hubball (Balance), 2nd Dayna Sulaiman (WAIS), 3rd Samantha Fynn (CCEGA)
• 9 years: 1st Sophie Mahoney (WAIS), Hana Chorley (Epping YMCA), 3rd Sophie Prince (WAIS)   The following girls were highlighted as having achieved 10/10 for their cast to Handstands and kip to Handstands: Emma Curry (MLC), Darcy Norman, Brooke Callcott and Aya Meggs (all from WAIS).   The Team Future Squad and the Team Future High Achievers Squad, for 2012, were announced.  More gymnasts who reach the qualifying standard during the year will be added at the next IDP Clinic in November   The next IDP clinic will be held in Melbourne following the National Club Championships in Geelong, in November.