Every child should take gymnastics. It's not only fun but it helps children develop important life skills. Physically, gymnastics is the perfect building block for success in all sports. It helps children develop strength, flexibility, poise, balance, rhythm, speed, agility, and power.

Research has shown children who participate in gymnastics have an increased performance in social and organizational skills, sensory processing, postural control, bilateral integration and body awareness. Children in gymnastics learn how to set and achieve goals and benefit from increased self-esteem, confidence, determination, and drive.

Click on these links to find out more about the Mahaska County YMCA Gymastics Program

About | Preschool Gymnastics | Girls Recreational Gymnastics | Boys Recreational |
Aerials Junior Olympics | Aerials Xcel | Boys Team | Did You Know

About our program…

The Mahaska County YMCA runs a year-round gymnastics program with new classes available about every 12 weeks; however students are allowed to join the program in the middle of a session if space is available. There are boys and girls recreational classes, Tots & Rollers (preschool), and competitive girls and boys teams. The Xcel team is a competitive team for girls ages 5 & up and is designed to include as much gymnastics as possible from beginner to advanced competition levels. The JO (Junior Olympics) team is for advanced girls only. The Oskaloosa YMCA Aerials are a USA Gymnastics Member Club.

Preschool Gymnastics: The Mahaska Co. YMCA offers Tots classes for girls & boys ages 2-4 and Rollers classes for girls & boys in Pre-K (ages 4-6). Preschool classes are divided by age, regardless of ability. Classes are obstacle course based to keep little ones moving and minimize down time. While the young gymnasts still learn and progress through gymnastics skills, we do not do evaluations in these classes. Tots class ratio is 4:1. Rollers class ratio is 5:1.

Back to the top.

Girls recreational gymnastics classes at the Mahaska Co. YMCA are for girls in grades Kindergarten and up. Classes are divided into three levels, by both age and ability. All girls will begin at the appropriate beginner class for their age: Level 1 for grades K-2 and Level 2 for grades 3+. Gymnasts who have taken gymnastics at another gym must still enter the Y program at the beginner level and will be moved up by the Mahaska Y Coaches as needed.

Classes are skill-based and girls will advance as they master current level skills. Throughout each term, coaches will evaluate the gymnasts’ progress and skills. Each gymnast will bring home an evaluation sheet at the end of the term that will indicate whether or not she is ready to move up to the next level. Girls will learn skills on all four women’s Olympic events: Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. Each gymnast will advance through the levels at her own pace. The following information is provided to give a summary regarding what gymnasts l be learning at each level:

• Level 1 — Beginner. Key skills needed to pass this class are handstands, cartwheels, forward and backward rolls; casts and supports on bars; walks and balance skills on beam; running and jumping drills on vault. Strength & flexibility activities include bridges, splits, push up & sit up drills. Class ration is 6:1. Class length is 60 min.

• Level 2 — Advanced Beginner-Intermediate. Some key skills needed to pass this class are back pullovers and back hip circles on bars; one arm cartwheels, handstand forward rolls, and backbends or kickovers on floor; jumps and forward rolls on beam; proper hurdle technique on vault. Strength & flexibility activities include sit ups and push ups, chin ups and leg lifts, splits and straight arm bridges. Class ratio is 8:1. Class length is 75 min.

• Level 3+ — Intermediate-Advanced. Some Level 3 key skills are back walkovers, round offs, and front limbers on floor; leg cuts & stride circles on bars; handstand drills on beam; dive rolls and handstand hops on vault.

• Some Level 4 key skills are back handsprings on floor; glide swings and front hip circles on bars; handstands, turns, and leaps on beam; and jump to handstand on vault. Strength & flexibility activities include hallow & arch body positions, increased numbers of sit ups, pushups, leg lifts, and chin ups; and increased flexibility in bridges and splits.

Back to the top.

Boys Recreational Gymnastics classes at the Mahaska County YMCA are divided by age, regardless of ability. Boys will build muscle while learning skills on all six men’s Olympic events: floor, pommel horse, parallel bars, high bar, vault, & rings. They will benefit from increased strength (especially in the upper body), flexibility, confidence, and coordination as they progress through the levels. Classes are 60 min for grades K-2 and or 90 min for grades 3+.

Back to the top.

Aerials JO Team: The Y's JO (Junior Olympic) team competes though USA Gymnastics and consists of gymnasts who want to take their love for gymnastics to the next level. Team members are very dedicated to the sport and practice year-round. Compulsory team gymnasts (Levels 4-6) practice 9 hours/week and compete in 6 or more meets throughout Iowa. The compulsory season is September-December. Optional team gymnasts (Levels 7+) practice 12 or more hours/week and compete in 6 or more meets throughout our Region (Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). The Optional season runs January-May. To be eligible for the team, gymnasts must master the skills in Levels 1-4 and pass specific strength and flexibility exercises given by a certified skill-evaluator. Team try-outs are held in June and December.

Back to the top.

Aerials Xcel Team: The Y's Xcel team also competes through USA Gymnastics and is perfect for gymnasts who love gymnastics and want to compete but are either not yet at the skill level for the JO team, or prefer not to make a commitment of 9-12 hrs of practice/week. Xcel is a wonderful program that begins competition for girls at Level 2. The team practices year-round, but summer months are optional. Gymnasts learn the skills and routines from June-December and compete in 4-6 meets from January-May. The team welcomes new members each year in June and again in October. Xcel team gymnasts practice 3-4 hours/week.

Back to the top.

Boys Team: The Mahaska County Y Boys Gymnastics Team competes through the AmeriKids Gymnastics program. Boys can begin competition at Level 3. The team practices year-round, 3-4 hours/week, but summer months are optional. Gymnasts learn the skills and routines from June-December and compete from January-May.

Back to the top.

Did you know…

• Our Y is currently the only YMCA in the state of Iowa that still has a competitive gymnastics team as well as a thriving, well-respected recreational program.

Back to the top.