Yorkshire Women’s Artistic Technical Committee (WTC) operates as a technical sub-committee of Yorkshire Gymnastics Association Ltd.
5 Key Development Areas are offered to Yorkshire WA Members. The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers who are committed to providing development opportunities to Yorkshire WA Gymnasts. The 5 development areas aim to offer enjoyment, aspiration, progression and recognition for gymnasts, coaches and judges. These are structured to endeavour to offer support and opportunity to partake in a Yorkshire WA activity at all levels.
WA Competitions
These operate on a regional structure providing opportunity from beginners to FIG standard and incorporating national qualification competitions. These are structured to support gymnasts to develop through the stages and progress. A team of volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes to run (in a non Covid year) 6 full weekends of regional competitions in leisure centres as well as a couple of smaller qualification competitions in clubs. The Competition Co – Ordinator organises dates, venues, equipment provision, seating, tables, scoring systems, refreshments, door management, spectators as well as many on the day activities. The Competition Floor Manager oversees the schedule, equipment on the day, the timings, warm ups, rotations and medal ceremonies. The Competition Administrator organises the hundreds of entries, medals, certificates, banners. (As this role is currently empty the tasks are covered by the Vice Chair and Secretary.) Its all hands to the deck for set up and set down! A team of judges nominated by the member clubs or as independent volunteers are arranged by the Judging Co-Ordinator to ensure each competition has one or maybe two full panels per piece.
WA Performance
This programme operates around supporting gymnasts who qualify or selected to represent Yorkshire at national level either as individuals or teams. The purpose of this programme is to support gymnasts entering at National level to perform to the best of their ability. In a non Covid year the performance programme aims to run 4 training sessions with invited coaches and/or judges to support and feedback to the coaches and gymnasts. The Performance Co-Ordinator overseas this area arranging the sessions dates, venues and programme.
WA Regional Squad
An annual trial allows gymnasts to qualify for positions as a Yorkshire squad gymnast. The purpose of this programme is to provide recognition to those that have achieved competition and gymnastics success as well as providing talented gymnasts to develop to achieve that success. Focus is on developing conditioning, skills and artistry. Gymnasts who secure a place and their coaches are able to attend a development programme with direct coaching input from a Scottish National Coach, Sandy Richardson as well as additional invited expert coaches. In a non – Covid year the WTC aims to run 5 to 6 dates with 2 squads on each date. The Squad Co-Ordinator overseas dates, programmes and arranging expert coaching input. A Deputy Squad – Co-Ordinator role has recently been created to support this programme.
WA Development
Open to all, the development sessions are focussed on gymnasts and coaches from different clubs working together in a different environment. Judges are also welcomes to see development in person and to familiarise themselves with moves. These sessions were formally known as YES sessions the name being derived from “Yorkshire Embraces Synergy, say YES to working together.” Yorkshire aims to provide a minimum of 3 development sessions in a non – Covid year. The Development Co-Ordinator arranges the dates, the venues, the invites and the programmes for each session, overseeing and inputting on activities on the day.
Judge and Coach Education
This programme covers workshops, clinics and other education opportunities. The number per year varies dependant upon the requirements of the region. This programme includes the organisation of the judge qualification courses every 4 years. In addition Yorkshire WTC have provided in recent years clinics or workshops on judging Yorkshire levels, coaching and judging WA grades, visiting expert coach sessions on bars and beam, artistry workshops. The Judge and Coach Education Co-Ordinator obtains the feedback from the region for what is wanted or needed, arranges the dates, experts, venues and signups.