FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS

Is any gymnastics experience necessary?

No. Current club member's abilities range from complete novices to very advanced. Many members did gymnastics previously but elected to stop at some point in high school and decided to pick it back up again in college. There are no tryouts. Your love of gymnastics and your commitment is all that is needed to be a member of our club.

Do you have a coach?

Yes. We have a paid coach for our women's team and a paid coach for the men's team. In addition, our faculty advisor is a former NCAA Div. I gymnastics coach who now advises and coaches both teams.

How much does it cost and what does the club provide?

The cost to you is minimal. There are club dues. For 2007-08 dues will be $35 per semester or $60 for the year. Also, you are responsible for paying for your grips and your meals at away meets. However, most things are provided by or paid for from the club budget such as: competition uniforms, competition warm-ups, meet entry fees, van transportation costs for away meets, hotel rooms for away meets, gym supplies such as chalk and tape.

Where and when do you practice?

We practice at the newest private gymnastics club facility in the State of Vermont, the Hruska Gymnastics Academy (www.hruskagym.com), just 10 minutes from campus. Visit their website and tour the facility. Practices are held M-F 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Sun. 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Are practices mandatory?

It depends. Most practices are optional; however, when preparing for meets, some practices become mandatory for competition team members.

Are carpools to practice available?

Yes. Our club officer in charge of practice transportation oversees all our carpool schedules so that everyone who needs a ride to practice has one.

Who do you compete against?

We compete against other collegiate clubs such as Cornell, Syracuse, BU, Univ. of New England, Gordon College, and Penn St. In addition, our men's teams will compete against some NCAA Div. III teams as MIT and Springfield. We usually have 4 meets during the year as well as attending the NAIGC National Championship. Meets with other clubs are always fun and very low pressure. Generally, everyone who wants to compete can. Occasionally, the coach, captain and faculty advisor has to decide who makes the competition line-up.

How do you travel to competitions?

All intercollegiate club meets are within driving distance and the club provides rented vans. Certain members of the club, who are UVM van safety certified, serve as drivers. Occasionally, the NAIGC Nationals requires air travel. When this occurs, the club arranges for the flight reservations, however, individual club members are required to pay for their flight.

Will I miss much school due to competition?

Very little. Most meets are on Saturdays and the team will leave on Friday after classes. Rarely, some classes on Friday will be missed if an earlier departure time is necessary. The only meet that involves two or three missed class days is the NAIGC National Championships. Most professors understand the significance of this national championship and will allow missed work to be rescheduled.