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Giant Gymnastics joins Xcel program

| 05 Sep 2014 | 02:48
    Giant Gymnastics coachesMargaret Witt and Carly Krohnattended the P&G Junior Championships, which were being held just across town from the convention. Competitions were scheduled during class breaks, allowing coaches to attend both classes and to catch some of the countries Elite gymnasts performing their routines. Along with seeing some of the country’s top up and coming gymnasts perform, Witt and Krohn were treated to meeting five of the most recognizable names in gymnastics today— Gabby Douglas, Nastia Liukin, Aly Raisman, Danell Leyva, and Jake Dalton. Dalton and Leyva competed at the P&G Championships, as well.
    Giant Gymnastics coachesMargaret Witt and Carly Krohnattended the P&G Junior Championships, which were being held just across town from the convention. Competitions were scheduled during class breaks, allowing coaches to attend both classes and to catch some of the countries Elite gymnasts performing their routines. Along with seeing some of the country’s top up and coming gymnasts perform, Witt and Krohn were treated to meeting five of the most recognizable names in gymnastics today— Gabby Douglas, Nastia Liukin, Aly Raisman, Danell Leyva, and Jake Dalton. Dalton and Leyva competed at the P&G Championships, as well.

SPARTA — Giant Gymnastics recently announced it is joining the USA Gymnastics Xcel program for the recreational competitive teams in both Sparta and Hackettstown.

Carly Krohn, team coach and manager of the Sparta office, attended many of the Xcel trainings.

Transitioning to Xcel for Giant Gymnastics will take some adjusting of choreography for routines, but not much else.

“We always pushed for basics first for safety and good form anyway," said coach and co-owner Jennifer Packard. "This is Xcel’s focus so it’s what is more in alignment with what we’ve always tried to do. I am not forcing this program to fit our needs; it already does.”

The school is aligned with USAG’s competitive program — with a focus on foundational skills and progressions, which gives the recreational competitor a safe environment to grow their skills while enjoying the benefits of competition.

The Xcel program is 3 years old but it sprang from PREP Optional league which had been around for a long time. Where the Prep-Op program was run state by state, when it became Xcel 3 years ago it transferred to a nationally run league by USAG. Last year it came to New Jersey, and this year approximately six gyms are participating. New Jersey was slow to implement it because there were so many leagues in New Jersey already. Now New Jersey has decided to truly put in place.

Helping this cause, Packard has been named adviser to the Xcel program for New Jersey. This was an appointed position on the State Committee, which is chaired by Brant Lutska, a national figure in both USAG and Xcel. Packard’s job is to oversee the program’s growth in New Jersey, making sure coaches and judges are educated appropriately, passing new information to the gyms in New Jersey participating. It’s also to educate all gymnastics coaches so they can make the choice of what is best for their individual gym.

“I’ll be giving a presentation at the state’s micro-congress Sept. 13-14,” Packard said. “National Congress showed a strong following with full classes from coaches doing it already and questions to help follow up with more updating. It’s established everywhere else in the country now it’s our turn.”

Packard hopes in Phase 2 to host workshops for coaches so they can learn the ins and outs of Xcel; and eventually hopes the state will host a “move-up” meet where gymnasts will get placed in the correct levels as they transition from other leagues into Xcel.

For more information about the USAG Xcel league or Giant Gymnastics’ classes and special events, call 973-579-9400 or visit online at www.giantgymnastics.com.