~Back~ The developmental programs of the Northstar gymnastics team have their own separate names. This helps the children develop an identity within the gym and gives them specific goals to work for as they come to practice each day. The girls are called the Shooting Stars. The boys are the Soaring Stars. The rhythmic team is the Morning Stars. Each director establishes the curriculum and guidelines for the team with the specific objectives of preparing the children to join the Northstar program. Children must be selected by the staff for entry to the developmental programs. Shooting Stars Selection into this program is made by the developmental coordinator through a series of tests offered during the school year. Gymnasts must be ages 5-8 for entry into the Shooting Stars. The goal of the Shooting stars is to prepare girls to become a wonderful gymnast. Children will pass through three fundamental groups during their participation in the Shooting Stars. The four hallmarks of the Shooting Star program are fun, physical preparation, body shaping and core skills development. The prime mover of the Shooting Star program is FUN. When kids are having fun we can teach them the fundamentals. One of our main ways to have fun is to play games. Our coaching staff has a variety of games appropriate for different ages and levels. Games are used to develop cardiovascular fitness, to teach listening skills, to develop leadership and team camaraderie. Games also teach about winning and losing, fair play and sportsmanship. Games teach children how to be competitive. Games provide a basic understanding of the rules of play. To further our goals of creating a champion gymnast, strength and flexibility tasks are incorporated into games or contests. Gymnasts need a good strength to weight ratio. Learning is safer and easier when a gymnast has maximum flexibility. Judges reward great flexibility in competition. The job of the Shooting Star is to have fun and to get strong and flexible. Fitness testing, in-house competitions and local level 4 meets become part of their competitive training. Early in the career of a Shooting Star, general fitness is main concern. In later training, the Shooting Star strength workouts become more sport specific. Physical preparation makes it easy to learn gymnastics. In gymnastics the object is not to be the fastest, the strongest or the most graceful; it is to be perfect. Gymnastics is a game about self-control. In addition to the physical aspect, a Shooting Star also learns how to be a good listener, so that she will be a good learner. The more a child learns about the sport of gymnastics and the more she understands herself, the better gymnast she will become. SHOOTING STAR I The Shooting Star I program is designed for children ages 7 and under, chosen from the Big or Little Dippers or Lucky Stars. She is selected because she is fast, flexible, a bundle of energy, an intense listener, she loves gymnastics or all of the above. The Shooting Star I program is about coming to the gym and having so much fun, that coming to the gym is what she wants to do all the time. Primarily her workouts build strength and flexibility wrapped in a program of fun and positive encouragement. Shooting Stars fall in love with coming to Jewart's. Games and challenges, circuits and basic skills are the corner stones of their gymnastics foundation. Manual shaping of core body positions builds a strong base for the future. In addition to physical preparation, the Shooting Star begins to expand her gymnastics vocabulary. Locomotor movement and basic rhythms are explored. When the gymnast has sufficient strength and skill foundation, she will move to the Shooting Star II program. If standards are not met, she will join the Lucky Star Recreation program to help her prepare for Level 4 gymnastic competition. Shooting Stars at Level I come to the gym 2-4 hours per week. FOCUS: Strength, flexibility, positions, fun GOALS: Love of gymnastics, good listening and work habits, development of core positions SHOOTING STAR II Shooting Star II is the second phase of the Pittsburgh Northstars developmental program. Gymnasts continue their training with an emphasis on strength, flexibility and they begin to work on skills for the future. The body positions they have learned are incorporated into more dynamic rather than static activities. They begin to train core skills. Gymnastics coaches define core skills as those skills that allow the gymnast to reach her highest potential. They are the foundation for advanced level skills and must be a consistent part of their training. Most experts agree that core skill development should take place as early as possible before size, fear, and competition become a factor in the athlete's training. Shooting Star II's also begin physical ability testing. Shooting Star II's have more trampoline time and begin formal ballet training. Level II Shooting Stars train 6-9 hours per week. FOCUS: Strength, flexibility, positions in tricks, GOALS: Love of the sport, understanding of putting positions into tricks, importance of conditioning, core skills SHOOTING STAR III In addition to physical preparation and core skills the Shooting Star III program also focuses on the basics of the USAG Level 4 program. Gymnasts learn about competition at this level. The emphasis is on meet preparation, performance in front of a judge, competitive protocol, adjusting to environments for doing routines, cheering for teammates, scoring, etc. The skills in Level 4 are progressive to Level 5, when the Shooting Star officially represents the Northstar team. Shooting Star III's train 8-11 hours per week.Although the gymnast will begin to learn about competition at this level, the emphasis is on continued developmental training on core skills and preparation for a future career in gymnastics with great physical preparation and a true love of gymnastics. The Shooting Star phase for the gymnast is important to their long-range development. Equally important is the development of the parent in the sport of gymnastics and the Northstar philosophy. Communication with the parents should be honest about their child's strengths and weaknesses. Parents should understand their role in providing support, nutrition, and realistic expectations to the athlete. The parents should also be educated on the role of the Northstar Parent's Club and the vital link they provide to Jewart's Gymnastics and their success. The role of the coaches at the Shooting Star level is extremely important. They have the awesome task of providing a strong base for their gymnast's entire career. Individual needs of each child should be addressed at the developmental level. Safety, proper technique and fun are essential. Teaching the kids to understand technical applications and the process of perfection that will be the foundation of their competitive success is the final link to creating a champion. ~Back~ Phone: 412-487-5999 - Fax: 412-487-7333 - Email: ejewart@jewarts.com or gymnastics@jewarts.com Gym Address: 2468 Wildwood Road, Wildwood, PA 15091 - Mailing Address: 111 Oakhaven Drive, Wexford, PA 15090 We are located just outside North Park on the Yellow Belt