Coaches from Invercargill Gymnastics Club, Dunedin Gymnastics Academy, and Queenstown Gymnastics Club collaborated on a recent training day where coaches and gymnasts STEPs 6 and up came together for a day filled with training and team-building activities.

To break the ice some conditioning games created some initial bonding, before the group split into apparatus training with gymnasts focussing on refining skills. The morning ended with a trip to Queen’s Park for an outdoor scavenger hunt followed by a relaxing picnic lunch and ice creams to recharge.

The day resumed at the gym at 2:30 pm with a game to get everyone moving again, before diving into two more apparatus rotations.

It was an action-packed day that balanced physical training, team bonding, and personal growth, with several gymnasts walking away with new skills they hadn’t mastered before.

Looking ahead, plans are in the works to bring the clubs together more regularly with potential training exchanges in Dunedin at the end of the term. Whilst logistics are still being finalised there’s hope for these exchanges to become recurring events in terms one and four. There is also the possibility of holding a pre-nationals camp focussing on routine refinement and final preparations.

Ultimately, the aim is to foster collaboration between coaches and strengthen the relationships between gymnasts. The day’s success showed the value of creating opportunities for gymnasts to train in different environments, gain new skills, and bond with one another.

It’s clear that the connection between the clubs is growing stronger, and everyone is excited to see what future events will bring.