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Hi Everyone It's been a while since we wrote a blog and a lot has been going on here at AAAsports. This week alone, we are hosted the Tyne and Wear Schools Finals. It was a great Event showcasing the hard work of school students who are involved in Trampolining. We had a few members from AAAsports entered which was great to see! Well done to everyone who took part!! We have also been planning for Assessment Week which takes up a lot of our time. Hopefully our new system will make things a lot more accurate for all our Members! Assessment week takes place every 8-9 weeks and it's a time where Members can showcase what they have been learning and earn badges for their hard work. Sometimes Members don't achieve their badge, but that's okay, some of the badges are really hard and you can always try again next time! Assessment Week starts on the 24th November and finishes on the 30th November. Badges are available to purchase from Satellite Venues for 2 weeks after this. After that, they are only available to purchase at AAAsports Sunderland. For anyone who has passed a badge in Trampolining, you will also be able to purchase your badge! All badges are £5 and can be bought at the start of your Class – Good Luck!!  In addition to this, we have started preparing for the Christmas party and fancy dress parties! This is our favourite time of the year!!! For those who weren’t here last year, for one week we dress up as anything we want and play lots of games on the trampoline, the air track and the apparatus, and best of all- lots of sweeties!! We have had Members dress up as Rubix Cubes, Elf, Micky Mouse, Super Hero’s, Elmo and so much more! It doesn't have to be Christmas related, We also have the Christmas party on the 17th December. This was a great addition to the programme last year. In this party, you get to dress in your sparkly dresses or favourite shirt. We play party games, dance to disco music and sometimes, it even snows!!!! Last year, Santa came to see everyone...I wonder if he will come this year? The Christmas party is at AAAsports Sunderland with the time being released in the Weekly Newsletter. The Weekly Newsletter goes out to all Members every Friday afternoon. It lets all our Members know what is going on at AAAsports, upcoming Events and any offers we have. If you aren’t receiving this, email membership@AAAsports.co.uk to get added back onto the mailing list! This is on top of the new Membership system and taking on a new apprentice. You might have seen Kane around helping out on the reception desk and taking photos. Soon we will have another apprentice and a host of new coaches from January when we run the Coach Education Programme for the 4th year. AAAsports are dedicated to providing training in a range of areas - from learning to Coach, to customer service skills, to dealing with the shop and organising events, the list is endless. The apprenticeship is a great opportunity for those who want to learn while they work (and want to be part of a great team)! The Coach Education Programme is an amazing opportunity for members of the community to get into the sport. We are very proud of this programme. It has helped a lot of people and gained us some amazing Coaches! It's not too late to apply. If you are 16+ and want to become a Coach, send your CV into membership@AAAsports.co.uk by the 24th November.  As for the new Membership process- this needs to be completed by the 15th November! This system is operated by British Gymnastics so unfortunately, we can't help as much as we would like. However, if you are struggling with it, speak to a Coach who can walk you through how to do it or alternately, you can contact British Gymnastics!! Finally, we have a great offer running at the AAAsports Shop! From just £35, you can purchase a AAAsports Training Leotard and a pair of shorts!! The Training Leotards are unique to AAAsports and come in colours red, black and shinny white. You can purchase this amazing offer at AAAsports Sunderland OR check out our shop online by clicking here!
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 Every year, we run the AAAsports Championships, a participation Event that allows every Member of AAAsports to take part and be rewarded for their hard work throughout the year! Following the day time Event, we have the Presentation Ceremony which is down in Houghton-le-Spring at Rainbow Meadows Arena. Starting at 5:30pm, we are hoping that it will follow in the footsteps of our successful ceremony last year and for it to be our most successful one ever. With over 300 Members attending, we celebrate the achievements of every Member, inviting them onto the Stage to receive their Medal and Certificate. Everyone is treated to a meal and a soft drink whilst we show videos of what everyone has achieved throughout the year! And we even have Chris Cross the Magician coming!!! Everyone will get to let down their hair and have a good time; the seriousness, the concentration and the drive from the past year, can just be let go for the night and you can have fun! If this sounds like a fun idea, you know what to do! But wait... There's more! At the ceremony, we will also find out who will be crowned the Elite Champions of AAAsports! In this Event, Members perform their hardest tricks and only a small number of Members will become finalists. This is where they where they will get the chance to prove to the Judges that they are the best of the best! All results are kept a secret until the Presentation Ceremony!! After this, we will be treated to a performance by the AAA Tigers! We will also have a disco, games including Game of Throws, Adult Musical Chairs, Finders Keepers and a brand new Quiz! Plus the chance to win a AAAsports Birthday party...and maybe even something extra! Does that sound even better? But wait, you guessed it... There is even more! We will also announce the winners of the AAA* Awards!! The AAA* Awards are chosen by the AAAsports Coaches. They are awarded to 1 Girl and 1 Boy- the 2 Members who throughout the year, have demonstrated hard work and commitment. They bring along a good attitude to every class and can be seen to help others and are a generally, an all round role model to other AAAsports Members! However, the AAAsports Coaches don't know who has won until it is announced at the Presentation Ceremony - so it is a surprise for everyone!! If this sounds like a good day, hurry and get yourself a ticket as they will sell out fast! You can purchase one by clicking here!!
 On 27th May, the AAA Tigers travelled to Newcastle to compete in the BCA Super Classic! It was a very long day for everyone but we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! We started off the day with the Youth Level 1 Stunt Group. For most of the AAA Tigers in this group it was their first time competing! They performed a fabulous routine to place 2nd in their category!
Next up we had the Junior groups. All the groups performed clean routines and hit every stunt, they really wowed the audience and judges with their performances! The Junior 1 Stunt Group placed 2nd, with the Junior 2 Stunt Group placing 4th. This was closely followed with the Youth Level 2 Stunt Group. With lots of teams entered in tot he event, the competition was very tough but both Mel and Catherine were really proud of everyone who took part! After a trip to Frankie & Benny's to celebrate the success of the whole team, we sat down to watch some of the more experienced Cheerleaders perform. This really helped to inspire our younger Members - it's always great to see what they can achieve if they keep working hard! To end the day, we had the opportunity to showcase the Big Group routine. This routine is comprised of all the AAA Tigers meaning it's a real team effort! The routine placed in the Top 10, which is a huge achievement given how many teams entered the event! Congratulations to everyone who took part in the event, can't wait for the next one when we will be performing at the AAAsports Presentation Ceremony! We'd love more AAAsports Members to come and try out our exciting activity - if you'd like to tryout for the AAA Tigers, apply through your myAAA account!  The Coach Education Programme is a scheme set up by the Head Coach, Andi Revell, for people who are eager and willing to be Coaches of Gymnastics and Trampolining. It is open to anyone in the Community and no prior experience is necessary. AAAsports will provide the British Gymnastics Coaching Courses and if you pass, you will be guaranteed work for at least 1 year!! Many candidates who joined the Coach Education Programme have gone on to work with AAAsports Full Time! We spoke with AAAsports Coach, Dan Carr, who took part in the Coach Education Programme in 2015 to find out his thoughts. How did you hear about the Coach Education Programme? Gymnastics was something I had been interested in for a while. I was taking part in the University Trampoline and Gymnastics Team at the time and one of the Coaches there had mentioned it and advised me to apply. What Coaching Courses were you enrolled on? In 2015, AAAsports put me through my Level 1 Gymnastics and Trampoline Qualifications. I was assigned a Mentor in both disciplines and worked closely with them to learn how to Coach the skills. In 2016, I was then enrolled on the Level 2 Trampoline Course which helped me to improve my technical knowledge, learn to Coach harder skills and enabled me to take up more work for AAAsports. How long did the Programme last for you? The Level 1 Coaching Courses were all 3 days long, and the Level 2 was 4 days long. After these days, you are given a 3 month period to work with your Mentor. I attended the classes once a week, although if you wanted to do more, you could. We all had to complete a Log Book, which is like a record of what you have been doing, including Class Plans and Feedback from your Mentor. After the Assessment (which sounded really scary but wasn't), I was then given classes to Coach. What do you think it takes to be a good Coach? I think Candidates need to be enthusiastic! It is really important to AAAsports that all their classes are fun and engaging, whilst offering a challenging environment to help Members progress. Coaches need to be outgoing, approachable and eager to learn. They also need to have good time keeping skills and be reliable as it is vital all our Classes start on time and Members can build a rapport with their Key Coach! How has the Coach Education Programme helped you? Since passing my Level 1 Assessments, I have been offered around 10 hours Coaching per week. This increased once I passed my Level 2 as it allowed me to run Outreach Classes i.e., going into After School Clubs. I recently took part in the Level 3.1 Trampoline Coaching Course which was really exciting as the skills were a lot harder and it will allow me to help Members in my Class progress. I was also recently offered a Full Time Contract with AAAsports which has allowed me to help out at AAAHQ, learning what goes on behind the scenes!! The Coach Education Programme was an amazing opportunity and I really have no idea what I would be doing right now if I hadn't done it!  This is the 3rd Year AAAsports has ran the programme and helped create Trampoline and Gymnastics Coaches, ready to inspire the next generation of Gymnasts! Successful candidates will be assigned a Mentor who will introduce them to the world of Coaching. Starting off small, Mentees will learn how to deliver Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs before moving onto skills and Class delivery. Your Mentor will be your go to person and will support you through the process. We asked Head Coach, Andi Revell to comment on the programme: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Members of AAAsports or people in the Community to get involved, achieve qualifications and join our Team. We have had candidates from all different backgrounds; those who used to compete to a high standard, those who have tried Gymnastics at school and those who are just looking for a new adventure. We are the only Trampoline and Gymnastics provider that offers this type of Programme, especially on the scale that we do and so it is something we are immensely proud of. We want anyone with a passion for the Sport to be able to access Coaching and this Programme helps create these opportunities." If this is something you are intrested in, or would like more information, email you CV or Questions to info@AAAsports.co.uk before the closing date on Wednesday 31st May 2017!
 With the AAAsports Championships quickly approaching, we thought this would be the perfect time to tell you all about the history of the AAAsports Championships, our highlights and what you can expect from this years Event. For many of our Members, this will be their first (and the best) Competition, and it can be a little nerve wracking- especially for all the Mam's and Dad's! Hopefully, we can put your mind at ease by letting you know the ins and outs, including what the Judges look for and everyone's most important question, what to wear!! This is the 10th year we have ran the AAAsports Championships and it's by far the best Event of the Year! It started out in a little Church Hall with about 50 Members and it's amazing to see how much it has grown. In the 2nd year, we had too many members for the Church Hall so we held the Competition and Presentation Ceremony at Sandhill, which used to be one of our main centres. We had to hire a van and borrow chairs and tables from different venues. A rally of parents and members would join us late Friday Evening to help unload the Van, move Trampolines into the bigger hall, arrange the chairs and organise the Tombola. We had to race against the clock as we only had 2 hours to set everything up, including: podiums, judging equipment, the lighting system, the back drops, Market Stall, posters- the list was never ending! It was a great Team effort and we really couldn't have done it without the help from our Coaches and Members volunteering their time! However, we soon got too big for that Hall and we just couldn't find enough chairs for everyone to sit on- so we had to relocate...to Rainton Meadows Arena! Andi used to always say he would love to hold the Presentation in a big Arena but the prospect of it happening scared us all!! Thankfully, it worked really well!!  Last year was the first time we held the AAAsports Championships in our dedicated centre. For those Coaches who have been apart of it from the start, it was emotional to see how far we have come. From that Church Hall with 50 Members to our own centre and an Arena with over 500 Members...crazy!! However, the reason behind the AAAsports Championships hasn't been forgotten. We wanted to ensure that all our Members, regardless of age or ability were given the opportunity to demonstrate what they have been learning and were rewarded for working hard and taking part. We used to even have an Adults Fancy Dress Event where parents and Coaches would take part, and were judged by our younger Members. The adult who made them laugh the most used to win!! The Cheerleaders always provide us with Entertainment on the Evening, showcasing their latest routines! Last year, we had an amazing, breathtaking routine dedicated to baby Ava, a special little Cheerleader in the Sky. There was silence in the room as they performed their memorising routine. We have already had a sneak peak of this year's routine, and it's filled with lots of stunts, dance and more advanced tumbles!! We can't wait to see it!!! During the Presentation Ceremony, Andi will call out Categories to go back stage. These are the Categories that you were entered in during the Event. Once backstage, our Coaches will put you in an order and hand you your Certificate. Members will then walk out onto the stage where you will be awarded with a Medal and parent's can come and take a photo. We always save the best Award till last, the AAASports Star Award! This Award recognises the most dedicated, hard working Male and Female in the Club. It is the only Award that is chosen by the Coaches and they take into account the whole year. It could be anything from achieving great results at a competition, to always working hard, to helping out at Events or pushing through fears. The 2 Members who receive this Award are allowed to keep the Trophy which is engraved with their name for a year, before its passed onto the next winners! After everyone has been presented with a Medal/Trophy and Certificate, we always finish the night with lots of games and a disco! Some of our best games include: Shelia's Wheel- where the winning Member can win a AAAsports Party, Adult Musical Chairs- where the Adults get VERY competitive, and Finders Keepers! In the past year's, we have had a Photo Booth, Photographer and even a Trampoline at the Event! However, one of the highlights of the Presentation Ceremony is always seeing the final video which showcases our best moments from the year. Often filled with embarrassing photos, it reminds everyone of all the great things that our Members have achieved and how far everyone has come!  So, what can you expect from this years AAAsports Championships? Before the Event, there will be an online Timetable available. This will have all the information you will need for the day, including the time you will be participating, what time you should arrive and what to wear. But just in case you wanted to be prepared - you can wear anything that you would wear to your normal class! This could be shorts and a t-shirt, leggings, leotard, AAAsports Clothing, tracksuit bottoms...anything you feel comfortable in! For anyone taking part in the Elite Events, where our Members battle it our to be crowned AAAsports Champion- you will need a AAAsports Leotard (no shorts!) and white socks or Trampoline Shoes (if you are in the Trampoline Event). You can bring anyone along to watch you and cheer you on during the day, but anyone who would like to attend the Presentation Ceremony will need a ticket. You can collect your tickets on the day of the Event, along with your AAAsports Championships Programme. The Morning will start with the Pre-School Display, followed by their Presentation. During the day time Event, we will have our AAAsports Shop open and our Market Stall for refreshments, along with a Tombola and a Raffle! It is also a great time to see what some of our top competitors have been working hard on. If you are taking part in the Gymnastics Event, you will perform 1 Vault and 1 Floor Routine. In the Trampoline Event, you will perform 1 Set Routine and 1 Voluntary Routine, and in the Cheerleading Event, you will perform 1 Set Routine. Your Coach can provide more information on what Routines you will be performing, but don't worry if you can't do the Set Routine, speak with your Coach and they can adapt it for you! The Judges love nice straight arms, straight legs and pointy toes, but most importantly, they love to see you enjoy it and have fun!! We can't wait for this years AAAsports Championships. Every year it gets bigger and better and is always filled with lots of surprises. So now you know a little more about the AAAsports Championships, we hope you be there to help us celebrate your hard work this year!! Want to join us in making more memories? Visit here to sign up today!  Hope everyone has had a great Easter break! School might have been out for some, but the fun doesn't stop for us at AAAsports!! This half term, we had 4 AAAdays running, plus a Squad Training Day for our Gymnasts and Cheerleaders! For those members who don't know, our AAAdays run from 9am - 4pm. They are filled with a taster of all our activities that we offer, along with games, challenges and team building activities.  In February, we had the Spaghetti and Marshmallow Challenge, where Members were racing against the clock to build the biggest tower! But this week seems to be the week of Hide and Seek- even the Squad Members wanted to play! With the lights turned down, and the Disco Lights turned up, the detective hats went on whilst members explored the Gym to find their Team Mates! The AAAdays are the perfect opportunity for our Members to try out all our activities! They are open to any Member who is in School and parents can leave them for the day with a Packed Lunch, meaning they are also great if you have to dash off to work!! The Squad Training Day was also a huge success, with lots of parents commenting on how much improvement their child had made in just one day! These are perfect for working on the trickier skills or practising routines for upcoming Competitions. We had Riley who learnt how not only to do a Round Off, Flick, but also connect two! Margita started working on some tricky Vaults and the Cheerleaders worked hard all day practising their Routine for their next Competition! It's great to see how many dedicated, hard-working members we have, but also, how much fun everyone was having!! But we don't want you to miss out on the fun! So, we have a quiz for you! If you would like to enter, email membership@aaasports.co.uk with your answers! Those who get the answers correct will go into a prize draw with the chance to win a AAAsports Bag and Water Bottle!!! 1. What year did AAAsports open? 2. Who has just made history in the European Gymnastics Championships? Extra point if you know how! 3. How often does AAAsports run an Award/Badge Week? 4. How many Coaches work at AAAsports? 5. What famous Gymnast was recently apart of Strictly Come Dancing? 6. Who was the first AAAsports Member to complete the highest Tariff in a routine at AAAsports? - An extra point if you know what the Tariff was! 7. In Trampolining, what Badge is Front Landings on? 8. What date is the 2017 AAAsports Championships on? 9. Where does AAAsports take its Members in August? 10. Who is our Governing Body? 11. What Award did AAAsports Win in September 2015? 12. What is the correct/full name for the Bars in Gymnastics? 13. How many Adult Classes does AAAsports run a week? 14. What Radio Station do AAAsports Advertise on? 15. Complete this sentence: Cheerleading is an _________ and _____ _____ that combines music, dance, stunting and tumbling to create team routines that mesmerise audiences and judges around the world! Hint- Most of the answers can found on the AAAsports Website and/or Facebook Page!! Good Luck!!
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Look out for Bradley competing at the AAAsports Championships where he will be performing his hardest routine yet!
Good luck Bradley and all our members taking part!!
For the past 4 years, AAAsports have been working closely with many organisations to increase the participation of Members with a Disability and ensure everyone receives a high quality experience of the sport. In 2016, AAAsports signed up to the Autism Charter and through intensive training and our experience in working with Members with Autism, we believe we can offer Inclusive Classes for everyone.
Many of our members have a diagnosis of Autism, which is a communication and developmental disorder. The spectrum of Autism is so great, one Member might struggle to use words whilst another Member's diagnosis may be unrecognisable at times. Here at AAAsports, we recognise each Member as an Individual and find ways to adapt the Class to allow everyone to learn and have fun in a calm, safe environment.
For Autism Awareness Week, we spoke with a parent who brings their child with an ASD Diagnosis to AAAsports.
What sport does J take part in:
J takes part in Recreational Trampoline once a week.
How has attending AAAsports helped J?
J gets so much both physically and socially from coming to his Trampoline Class. He has made lots of new friends and will now initiate interactions and conversations with both the other Members and the AAAsports Coaches. This is something J struggled massively with before, so it is great from a parent perspective to see how much he has developmentally progressed.
What has AAAsports done to ensure the Classes are Inclusive?
The AAAsports Coaches have all gone above and beyond to ensure J is having fun and progressing. Every class he attends he is engaged with the activity. He has built up a good rapport with his Coaches and they understand what works well, and not so well for J. The Coaches created Glitter Shakers to keep J occupied when waiting for his turn and use crazy vocabulary when Coaching him. This works really well for J and has helped him break down communication barriers within the Class.
The Coaches are always on hand to provide additional support to J in the Warm-Up’s and Cool Down’s and use different techniques to ensure he understands all the instructions.
How has attending AAAsports classes helped J?
J gets so much out of attending his Class. Bouncing on the Trampoline is a great way to regulate his emotions and allows him the freedom to express himself physically. From learning skills to making friends, the Class is focused around having fun and it is lovely to see how happy and confident J now is in an environment other than home.
What does the future hold for J at AAAsports?
We know that J will continue to progress and most importantly, have fun in the Classes which is the driving factor in bringing him. He has already achieved Awards and we are looking forward to seeing J compete in this year’s AAAsports Championships in July. Last year, J had a great time and with the help of his Coach, he came 1st and managed to go up on stage to receive his Trophy. We’re hoping he can replicate it again this year, but as long as he is enjoying himself, that’s all that matters!
What would you say to other parents thinking about bringing their child with ASD to AAAsports?
J always has an amazing time and looks forward to his Class every week! Through attending Trampoline Classes at AAAsports, J has overcome many social/emotional and physical development difficulties. He once struggled to take part in any group activity but with the patience and expertise of the Coaches, J will now happily take part. We have also seen a massive improvement in both J’s physical and mental health. He is now able to make new friends, whilst improving his fitness and just be himself!
If you would like your child to get involved in one of our Classes, please visit www.AAAsports.co.ul/disability or email emily.morritt@AAAsports.co.uk for more information.
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