A senior staff member of Delta Gymnastics has been selected for a revitalization project to revamp the way recreational gymnastics programs are delivered to all children throughout Canada.
"We are very proud that Richard Woo, a long-time member of our staff, was selected to represent B.C. on Gymnastics Canada's CanGym Revitalization Project Resource Team," said Ana Arciniega, Delta Gymnastics Executive Director. "Gymnastics BC assessed all candidates who applied and based on Richard's demonstrated leadership in recreational gymnastics programming, knowledge, skills and experience in his field, he was selected to take part in this exciting five-year initiative."
The current CanGym program includes three levels of skill progressions based on Gymnastics Canada's fun, fitness and fundamentals Educational Philosophy, which helps to create a friendly and stimulating environment for all participants.
Each level focuses on mastering fundamental movement patterns, progressing to mastering fundamental skills on apparatus and continuing to mastering identified target skills.
"Much like learning math, movement is based on building blocks of progressive skills," explained Arciniega. "As you would not be able to teach a child to learn division before mastering addition, in movement you cannot teach certain skills until the body has prepared itself to accomplish a certain movement."
After consultation done by Gymnastics Canada with coaches, administrators, club owners and parents, a number of suggestions were brought forward. "The selected team from across Canada have the goal of reviewing the skills inventory currently being taught, develop content, support materials and tools for the CanGym program to be more comprehensive and accessible," added Arciniega.
The cross-Canada team met earlier this month in Toronto to start working on the revised philosophy and first phase of development of the revitalization project.
"I am very excited with the ideas, passion and expertise of this team," said Woo. "Our ideas align in the changes and improvements we want to make on how we teach gymnastics as the foundation of all sport for children and youth in different stages of development."
Delta Gymnastics Society offers a variety of programs from infants to seniors at their Ladner facility. For information about their programs and events, visit www.deltagymnastics.com
