SOUTH AFRICAN GYMNASTICS FEDERATION

SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Context• School Sports Program launched in 2011, with the primary goal of redressing the imbalance of every school

going child to have access to sport• Sport is an essential component of the learning process – making learning holistic• Initially only 5 codes of sport included• Gymnastics was included as a priority code of sport in 2012 – when the number of codes of sport was increased

to 11 codes • In 2014, 16 codes of sport are included and gymnastics has shown a significant growth in the number of

schools selecting this code of sport• Under the stewardship of Minister Fikile Mbalula , the National Schools Tournament was born. This National

Event takes place annually. 2014 marks the 3rd National Schools Tournament.• A proper structure is in place for athletes to participate at District, Provincial and finally National platforms.

Provincial and National Federations together with Provincial and National sport code committees provide the Schools Program for each of the approved sporting codes

• The National Schools Tournament serves also as a platform to identify talented participants, where these selected athletes are channelled with the support of Federations into Clubs, to develop their skills further.

• Educators, the broader Parent bodies (SGB’s) & Sports Federations play a vital role in ensuring that the selected codes of sport at the school become entrenched in the ethos of the school

• Sport has the power to transform lives and provide hope to a better future filled with dreams and aspirations.

Gymnastics Schools Program • Gymnastics is one of the 16 approved codes of sport in 2014• Gymnastics has the closest resemblance to Physical Education ( PE ) that was part of the school

curriculum in the past• The Gymnastics Schools Program focuses on Health & Fitness, with an element of Fun as well• The Program is an elementary one which covers all the core foundational physical literacy skills which

are required in all other sports• Gymnastics prepares children for successful participation in most sports• As a foundational sport gymnastics helps develop motor and cognitive skills which help a child to

function holistically• Gymnastics is a competitive sport and encourages children to perform at their best at all times –

precision and discipline are some of the skills that are synonymous with Gymnastics• Gymnastics is an early developing sport – hence it is best introduced in the Foundation and Intermediate

phases of schooling to achieve best results

How to get involved

Select Gymnastics on the Provincial DBE “Code of

Sports” document that Schools need

to complete at the beginning of the school

year

School to allocate suitable

educators to coach

gymnastics at school.

Elementary coaching

programs are provided by

the Federation

Contact Provincial

school’s rep or the Provincial

gymnastics office for

support on the coaching & mentoring program.

Learners will be coached by

Educators on the elementary program for gymnastics.

Learners participate in a

series of competitions at

District, Provincial &

National level ( National Schools

Tournament held in December)

Coach Development• Gymnastics is a complementary sport and will allow pupils to learn techniques & physical literacy through a fun filled program• The Schools Gymnastics Program can be easily implemented at school - selected teachers would need to attend the Elementary Coaching Workshops (elementary skills workshop followed by a discipline specific workshop – 11 hours in total) by SAGF accredited Facilitators. A certificate of attendance will

be awarded to each participant. • The Program includes both team and individual participation• The Program covers:• - Dominant Movement Patterns ( DMP ) • - basic gymnastics skills• - competition and recreational prescribed routines

• On completion of the training educators will be able to :• - prepare the school team for competitions• - use the same skills as part of the PE lesson requirements, as numerous skills conform to the CAPS requirements for Physical Education• Further accredited training is available through the gymnastics federation for coaches interested in developing their knowledge set further

• All coaches who have been through the workshops are placed on the SAGF coaches database

The Schools Program• Schools Program consists of the following gymnastics disciplines : Artistic ( Men & Women ) Aerobics Rope Skipping • The Program is a modified version of these disciplines, which introduces beginners to the sport and helps establish the

interest• Minimal equipment is required to implement the program• Gymnastics is a year round program, with competitions taking place in Terms 2 and 3• Talented learners will have the opportunity to be selected through the Talent Identification initiative that is conducted at

district, provincial and national competitions• Learners that are identified will be assisted to develop their careers in Gymnastics through clubs in the vicinity of the school

who are members of the Federation• Schools who are on the Federation database will receive information about events and competitions taking place in their

District and Province. • By being exposed to other gymnastics events, coaches and learners further develop their learning, awareness, motivation &

inspiration • Registration with the Federation involves filling in a form and submitting to the relevant person – there is no cost to

registering

Why choose Gymnastics Gymnastics develops health and fitness, eliminating obesity which is fast becoming a

problem with our youth. Gymnastics is a fun sport which can be pursued as a competitive or recreational sport Gymnastics develops our youngsters holistically - creating a healthy mind and healthy body,

the building blocks for a successful school career Discipline and respect are developed through the sport Gymnastics keeps the youth active, off the streets and builds health lifestyles. Gymnastics can be a team sport or individual sport, creating many opportunities for

participation

Place a tick next to Gymnastics on the Schools Code of Sports Form for 2015

Contact UsProvince Provincial Federation Provincial Schools Rep

Gauteng 012 643 9873 Meisie Ndala0824280091

North West 072 1266 302 Thea Steyn0763033933

Limpopo 015 295 2139 Margaret Malatji0828336742

Mpumalanga 017 819 7898 Patricia Ntlatleng0761657637

Free State 051 5220739 Ketlareng Rapulana 0784268720

KwaZulu - Natal 031 702 1768 Bongiwe Ngcungama0723275649

Eastern Cape 083 5747628 Lulama Genge0726922981

Western Cape 021 554 3252 Salaamah Davids0826076493

Northern Cape 053 8410167 Sandra Mapatsi0828582452

National contacts:Federation: Caron Henry – 082 327 3823 caron@sagf.co.za

National Schools Chair: Melvin Edwards – 0826556944 head@imaginet.co.za