Thanks to generous funding from Community Trust South, Southland gymnastics clubs came together for an inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and skill development. Coaches from Flite Trampoline Te Anau, Invercargill, Gore, and Queenstown gymnastics clubs, along with visiting club Balclutha Gymnastics, gathered at the Fiordland Community Events Centre on 29 January to exchange ideas and enhance their coaching techniques.

As an added bonus, each club received a bag of small manipulative equipment, also made possible by Community Trust South, to help enrich their training sessions.

The event kicked off with an engaging morning session led by Nicci Glanville from Dynamic Gymnastics Club in Ashburton, who demonstrated creative ways to use small equipment across various gymnastics disciplines, including aerobics, artistic, trampoline, and Gym for All.

Coaches fully immersed themselves in the activities, embracing the hands-on approach with enthusiasm. The event centre was filled with laughter and energy, fostering stronger connections among clubs while reinforcing key coaching techniques.

“Nicci has such an amazing wealth of knowledge across so many skills and techniques that are applicable across all codes. There were so many amazing ideas to take back to help our athletes improve and have fun at training!” – Sarah Spargo, Te Anau Aerobics.

The day wasn’t just about gymnastics techniques—it also provided valuable insights into athlete well-being and training balance. During the lunch break, Casey Brown from Grounded Movement Co. delivered an informative session covering

• athlete nutrition
• when to incorporate active vs. passive stretching
• age-appropriate conditioning and weight training
• training periodisation and balancing life with sport.

Coaches left the session with practical strategies to support their athletes both inside and outside the gym.

“Amazing, amazing! The course was so informative and interactive, I learnt so many new techniques and games to implement. It was an absolute great time with loads of laughs. Super grateful to Community Trust South. Can’t wait for the next one!” – Aeron Van Den Berg, Queenstown Gymnastics Club.

The afternoon session built upon the morning’s foundations, focusing on safe and effective skill development. Coaches explored advanced vault, double mini, and trampoline techniques, with Flite Te Anau members joining in as demonstrators—an incredible opportunity for both the athletes and the coaches in attendance.

A huge thank you to Flite Trampoline Te Anau for hosting and Nicci Glanville for sharing her expertise. This event would not have been possible without the fantastic support from Community Trust South, whose funding enabled Southland clubs to connect, develop skills, and access valuable resources—all essential for growing gymnastics in the region.

With such a successful day behind them, coaches are already looking forward to the next opportunity to come together, learn, and further inspire their gymnasts.