1) Is gymnastics a year-round sport?

Yes. Gymnastics is too demanding to be seasonal. The training year is broken down into several parts. Gymnasts who take off for any extended period of time will find themselves falling behind quickly and may forfeit their spot. The training year follows closely the school year. A third of the year is devoted to routine building, another third to the competitive season and the remaining time is a "new skills" time of year. Generally, we ask new children to join the team in the summer to get a taste of team-style workouts. Meets are their way of showing off or performing what they have learned. Crenshaws and the coaches DO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL out of winning at the earlier ages. This the kids do all too well by themselves. Coaches look for improvement from meet to meet.

2) How can my child join team?

3) How many meets do gymnasts attend?

Generally, the season includes 5-6 meets including the State Championships. At the upper levels, the gymnasts may even qualify to regionals or nationals. This will extend the season. Out of the initial 5-6 meets, half or more are in Central Texas and other half in some of the other larger Texas cities. (i.e. Dallas, Houston, etc.) Every couple of years, the team may choose to travel to a special Invitational that might be hosted across the country. These meets are strictly optional to attend.

4) How much do the meets cost?

Every meet will have an entry fee. This fee will run from $65-100+ per gymnast. To enter the team, Crenshaws must send in the entry fee for our team at least 6-9 weeks prior to the competition. Once the money has been sent, your child is responsible for paying this fee even if they do not attend. There are generally no refunds from the host clubs. Coaches are given a small per session stipend and their lodging and travel expenses. These expenses are split among those gymnasts traveling to the meet. Breakdown on costs are figured at least five days prior to the meet and parents will be responsible to pay these fees even if they make last minute changes. Crenshaws does not make a profit on any of the traveling meets.

5) How much do the uniforms cost?

The boy's team tries to keep the same uniform for a period of at least three years. The only item that we add each year is a traveling t-shirt. A full uniform will include a competition jersey, competition shorts, team duffel bag, traveling shirt and a warmup top. Crenshaws will order these items in the early fall. Cost for these items is around $125+. Parents will generally order workout grips for their child. We will supply order forms on these items. These additional items may cost $50. When possible, pre-used items may be purchased from ex-team members. Uniform ordering time is late September. Crenshaws does not make a profit on any uniform ordering. The girl's team follows much of the same guidelines with the exception of their competition leotard that is changed annually.

6) Who governs the competitions?

Crenshaws competes under the rules and guidelines of the USA Gymnastics. This is the organization which fields a team for all of the major national and international meets including the Olympics. A set of compulsory routines, Level 4-Elite are prepared by this organization. Most boys and girls entering the program will begin competition at the Level 3 or 4 level. At the 3-6 Levels, the routines are an exact set of skills or compulsories. Level 7-Elite routines involve the gymnasts and coaches to prepare their own "optional" routines under certain skill requirements. Each fall our gymnasts join the USAG which will cost about $61 per year.

7) How are the workouts set up?

At the beginning levels, girls and boys workout three times per week for a couple of hours each day. As they move up to higher levels, Crenshaws will add additional days. Somewhere around 12 years of age, and a few years of experience, they are moved to senior team and will begin working 5-6 days per week for 3 hours per day. In the summer, the upper level boys may have workouts in the morning. Workouts are physical. Kids will come home with bumps and bruises or "rips" on their hands. We work very hard to insure the safety of each gymnast and have a VERY LOW accident rate. Except for minor bumps, it is generally the rule that the gymnasts will go the entire year without even medium injuries. Kids who are bothered by minor problems in workouts will be allowed to work around these problems.

8) How much do the workouts cost?

Team fees are set up monthly with payment due at the beginning. To view boys and girls team pricing please check out the tuition page for each team. Most of the parents choose to automatic debit (ACH) their team tuition and meet fees.

9) How many gymnasts are in a workout with a coach?

The coaching ratio goal is one coach per 7-9 gymnasts, sometimes lower.

10) Where do you get your coaches?

Crenshaws is very lucky to have a wonderful staff of coaches year in and year out. Currently, most all of our coaches are ex-competitors. Several of our coaches have been with us over 10 years. Currently, the coaching staff of six has a total of over 70+ years experience coaching gymnastics.

11) What are the ages of the team members?

The age range on the team is from 6 years to 18 years of age. Workout groups with the beginning levels generally show a 3 year span in ages.

12) How are decisions made concerning my child's gymnastics?

A great deal of time, not to mention years of experience, go into every decision. Our foremost concern centers around each boy or girl and their continuing to maintain a positive experience at Crenshaws. We welcome questions from parents, but please approach us as though we are all on the same side....your child's!

13) Do upper level gymnasts have trouble doing both gymnastics and schoolwork?

Actually, we have found that gymnasts who are unable to "put off" doing school assignments are far more diligent toward getting their work done before their workouts. Our graduating seniors over the past years include college students at Michigan, Stanford, LSU, Penn State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, University of Texas, Navel Academy, West Point, William and Mary, Brown University, etc. Gymnastics teaches goal setting and time management. Not too shabby!

14) Can my child workout at other clubs in Austin?

We do not allow our team boys or girls working out with other clubs in the Austin area, especially without our prior permission. Under these circumstances, they will be asked to leave the team. We do not have a problem, with coaches permission, in having your child workout at an out-of-town team if you are on vacation. Boys or girls may want to attend summer gymnastics camps. Please check with coaches to see if the camp you are choosing will fit your child's needs.

15) What happens if we change teams and leave Crenshaws?

Your child is welcome to leave the team program at any time with the proper 30 day notice, but the door revolves only one way. If he/she leaves, unless very special arrangements are made in advance, he/she will not be given a future place on the Crenshaws team.

16) How does Crenshaws compare with other clubs?

Crenshaws has placed boys and/or girls in Junior Nationals every year since 1976; something almost no other club can boast. There is more to coaching than the coach alone. The organization is a major part in seeing that a program is great year after year. Even though our younger gymnasts work out less than other teams, we consistently finish in the top three in state team competitions. Remember, it is not the quantity of time, but the quality. Furthermore, we have less "burn out" from our team members because we work them out less at an earlier age.

17) Is my child allowed to do other sports throughout the year?

Especially at the beginning levels, we do not discourage participation in other sports. We are concerned if boys or girls begin to miss too many workouts because they fall behind the group. As children begin to reach our senior level, we would rather them begin to concentrate their energy rather than be a "jack of all trades."

18) Must my child attend all of the meets?

Attendance to meets is not mandatory. However, boys or girls who do not have goals to work toward begin to fall behind in workouts. Workouts during the meet season are centered around preparing for the meets. Gymnasts feel left out if they are not allowed the anticipation of an upcoming meet. If boy or girl qualifies for the State Meet, they should attend this competition. Winning is fun, but it is the working toward one's goal that is far more important. We are all born knowing how to win, however, many of us need to learn to lose graciously.

19) Is there a formal Parents Club and fund-raising

The team has a fairly informal parents' club although it is not as active as other teams. Generally parents help run the one or two meets that are held here annually at Crenshaws. Most of the parents have said they are opposed to burdening their child with lots of additional fund-raising. The Spinner Invitational, a very large boys' home meet in February, is the largest source of team income. Crenshaws will always host this meet. If the coaches choose not to run a girls' meet, then the girls' parents are asked to pay a one time fee of $60 to help with purchasing concession items for the Spinner Invitational. The fee can be avoided if one or both parents work at the Spinner Invitational. The profits from the meet(s) provides funds so that all coaches travel and meet expenses are paid for State, Regionals and Nationals. This includes both the boys and girls team. At the lower levels, the might not be a great deal of savings, but at regionals or nationals, it can mean savings of several hundred dollars per child in assistance.

20) How involved should I be as a parent?

It is our belief that parents should encourage their child in all of his endeavors without being the push behind the motivation. Kids need to learn to participate from within. Parents who become overly involved tend to expect more out of the sport than often can be gained. The child will sometimes become squeezed between the parent and coach. Coaches push and parents should praise. Parents need to be an oasis that their children can seek. Parents are welcome to occasionally visit workouts to watch for a short while. It is our policy that we would rather not have parents in the gym nightly, especially if there are other classes in progress. The nightly visit by parent is distracting to the gymnasts and coaches. We have even had parents on the floor coaching their children.

21) I understand my child may receive school credit for being on the team at Crenshaws.

Since Gymnastics is an Olympic Sport, boys and girls who are in middle school (usually starting seventh grade) and above are eligible for receiving P.E. credit for their participation on the team. Over the years, we have worked closely with many area schools. If your child is eligible, please see your school to ask what is required. Each ISD has different expectations. We will prepare a letter to the school if needed. Every six or nine weeks, we will send a grade to the school for your daughter or son. There is a minimal charge for this service for the time spent preparing grades.

22) After my child graduates from High School...

There have been cases where a gymnast continues working out with the club after he graduates from High School. Each case is considered on an individual basis. If a child stays with the team through the twelfth grade, he or she will be granted a “lifetime” membership to the Adult Health Club at Crenshaws.

23) Should my child choose to leave the team...

We appreciate those children who make a commitment for the main portion of the year. (September-May) However, there is a specific requirement of notice for those children who choose to leave the team.  There is a 30 day written notice if a child leaves from July 1 until March 31st.  After March 31st, tuition is due in full until May 31st.  There is no required notice during the month of June.  If a child just drops from the team, the parents still own for any notification period.