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February 2024 / Issue 31Do you have friends and family that are interested in gymnastics? Share this newsletter and ask them to hit: |
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In case you missed it...- The Arctic Winter Games take place next month at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in Alaska. Competitors from eight contingents make up the Games, including Alaska, Alberta North, Team Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), Nunavik Quebec, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Sápmi (northern Norway, Sweden and Finland), and Yukon. Incorrect info appeared in last month's issue.
- Clubs, make sure to register your Gymfest 2024 team before March 29th! Gymfest will be held at Mount Royal University from April 26-28. Click here for more info.
- The CanGym Active Start curriculum is available. As a member benefit, AGF is covering the cost of one user account per club. To access this benefit or to add additional users, click here.
- The Winning-Well Safe Sport Speaker Series is a monthly webinar series which aims to foster a culture of safety within our community. Check it out here.
- Our Parkour Program Curriculum is ready for purchase!!! See here for more info.
- W&W Dispute Resolution Services Inc is our independent third-party partner for Safe Sport concerns and questions. You can find their contact info on our website.
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Photo Courtesy: Alberta Winter Games via Lethbridge News Now WAG NewsAlberta Winter Games was a huge success! We had 63 athletes, 24 coaches, and 8 judges participating at the Grande Prairie Gymnastics Centre. Carolyn, our WAG manager, attended and says the weather was perfect, and everyone involved had a fantastic time. Also, all of our WAG athletes looked great in their colourful new bodysuits from Gym Gear. 👍👍 Click here for all results. Last week, we also learned that the next Games will be hosted by the Town and MD of Bonnyville, City of Cold Lake, and Village of Glendon in 2026. The area last held the AWG in 2010, and it'll be great to be back. |
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MAG NewsThe season seems to be flying by as we have already arrived at our first Team AB qualifier! This Trials event is taking place in Spruce Grove at the Aerials Gymnastics Copeland Classic. MAG athletes from all across the province will be competing March 2nd and 3rd with the goal of representing Alberta nationally. It's also a qualifier for Westerns which will be held in Langley, BC in April. Following Copeland, the next qualifier is at the Grizzly Classic which is next month in Airdrie. We also have an eye toward the 2024-2025 season. In the office, we are already busy preparing the budgets and plans for next year. It'll be here before you know it! Stay tuned for updates on Team Alberta trials and good luck to all the athletes and coaches who will be competing! |
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Ortona is hosting Cup #3 in March TG NewsFebruary is a busy month of preparation for the TG Program; Athletes are getting into their stride, judging courses are underway, and at head office, we are assisting with all of the planning and execution of the events. We're also already prepping for next season! Cup #2 took place at the Calgary Gymnastics Centre alongside a Tumbling judging course. This allowed many course participants to get in some shadow judging, and they did fantastic. There are DMT and TRA judging courses coming in the next few weeks which means we'll soon have a lot of new judges. So exciting! Our final Cup is hosted by Ortona Gymnastics and takes place on March 15-16. We are well on the road to Provincials and Elite Canada at the beginning of April. A lot of time and dedication goes into the preparation for these competitions, and there are so many positive signs for a great season ahead! |
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Athletes from our Acro training camp in January at Salto Gymnastics Acro NewsLast month, we talked about our training camp at Salto gymnastics and our guest presenter, Scott Middleton. It was a great event for everyone, and Scott imparted so much of his knowledge. He was even gracious enough to donate his time for the camp. Thank you so much, Scott! We are just a few weeks from our first local competition of the season. Gymnastics in the Park starts on March 8 with Podium Training and runs until Sunday. We cannot wait to see our Acrobats on the big stage! I'm sure you're all polishing up your routines and will be doing your very best. We'll see you at Salto; don't forget to show off your new hoodies! |
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January (top) and February (bottom) Regional Workshops in Edmonton The first two rounds of regional workshops hosted by AGF have been a great success. We've been so happy to welcome all the eager coaches to come together and add to their toolboxes! With presentations ranging from Active Start, to Class Management, to Technical Skill Development, we’ve been having a terrific time learning as a group. Each session has both a North and a South workshop, with a guest presenter speaking on a topic important to them. The January sessions were held at Altadore Gymnastics Club and Phoenix Gymnastics Centre, and in February we were at the North Edmonton Gymnastics Club and Airborne Trampoline & Tumbling. The best part is that they were offered for FREE! All workshops are fully sponsored by GFA's portion of the Legacy Fund. Keep an eye out for future workshops, and if your club is interest in hosting one, click here! |
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Wednesday February 28th is Pink Shirt Day! Join the AGF staff by standing up and being strong against bullying. Pink Shirt Day Story: Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and online. Over the month of February, and throughout the year, CKNW Kids' Fund's Pink Shirt Day aims to raise awareness of these issues, as well as raise funds to support programs that foster children's healthy self-esteem. Now a movement celebrated across the globe, Pink Shirt Day has humble beginnings. Inspired by an act of kindness in small-town Nova Scotia, CKNW Kids' Fund, working with partners Boys & Girls Clubs and 980 CKNW, was inspired to raise funds to support anti-bullying programs. Read more about the Pink Shirt Story here. Pink Shirt Day Resources: With one in five students affected by bullying, chances are that you or someone you know is being impacted. If you’re not sure what to do, reach out to someone who can help. And remember, kindness and compassion can go a long way. If you’re being bullied or see a friend who is being bullied, take a look at the Pink Shirt Day resources here. |
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Other Anti-Bullying Resources
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- Check out the Alberta Government's official support page for bullying which includes 24-hour help, online chat services, and helplines.
- Check out Dare to Care, a unique program regarded as Canada's most comprehensive and practical bully prevention program. Dare to Care enables schools, sports organizations, community groups, and workplaces to mobilize and maintain a caring community.
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CCMHS Mental Health Workshop Trilogy
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We are excited to continue our partnership with the Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport (CCMHS) for the last mental health workshop in a series of three for Alberta Gymnastics Federation (AGF) coaches. The last remaining workshop is 90 minutes in length and hosted by a CCMHS Learning Facilitator. Upon completion, you can earn 2 PD points. To participate, you are required to create an account to access the live workshops, on the CCMHS-CCSMS Education Hub. PLEASE NOTE: You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. |
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Upcoming NCCP CoursesAll registered AGF members will get 7 days to sign up for NCCP courses BEFORE they open to the general public. If you are registered with an AGF Member Club, contact their administrator, and they will grant you access.
*If you do not have a current AGF Membership in the Uplifter registration system, it will not allow you to sign up during the member-only time frame.* - GF Theory | Feb 24 | online
- GF Intro + Artistic | Feb 24-25 | Imagine Gymnastics
- C1 MAG | Feb 25 | Calgary Gymnastics Centre (West location) WAITLIST
- GF Intro + Artistic | Mar 2-3 | Grande Prairie Gymnastics
- GF Theory | Mar 10 | online WAITLIST
- GF Theory | Mar 24 | online
- GF Intro + Artistic | Mar 25-26 | Dynamyx
- GF Intro + Artistic | Mar 29-30 | Glenmore Gymnastics
- C1 Theory | Apr 8-10 | online
- GF Intro + Artistic | Apr 13-14 | Spruce Grove Aerials
- Parkour Foundations Intro (non-NCCP) | Apr 14 | Grande Prairie Gymnastics
- C2 and C3 MAG Learning Facilitator course | May 18-19 | Gymtastics
Register and view all available courses here or, to view all past, present, and upcoming courses, visit our website.
If a course is full, make sure to put yourself on the waitlist so you can be notified of spots that become available due to cancellation.
The NCCP Newsletter comes out every Friday with information about all available NCCP courses. Don't miss out, sign up! |
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Use the button below to sign up for our Mailing List and get access to education news, Provincial NCCP training events, professional development opportunities, and other coaching information. |
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Game Plan Coaching Education Grants
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The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and Game Plan are supporting athletes on their pathway to complete the Competition-Development or Advanced Coaching Diploma program through their Coaching Education Grants program that introduces athletes to the possibility of a career in coaching. This reimbursement is available for athletes who are still competing or within 2 years of retirement as per Game Plan eligibility, with the CAC’s funding contribution for women participants, as per CAC’s directed funding via it’s Women in Coaching Program. Click here to submit your application to this grant! For more information on this grant, click here. |
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AGF and the Provincial and Territorial Gymnastics Sports organizations across Canada are pleased to announce the launch of SafeSport Gym Education.
SafeSport Gym Education is a collection of gymnastics organizations from across the country who worked hard to create documentary-style videos to share what safe sport means from real people, completely unscripted from real athletes, real coaches and real parents.
This is a collection of moments, feelings, and stories to educate us all.
Visit SafeSportGymEducation.org to view videos for all ages and for all people involved in our sport, in both official languages. You will also find Activity Books, Colouring Pages, and fact sheets about each video!
Feel free to browse and share and stay safe, because Safe Sport is Everyone's Responsibility.
Contact us at info@abgym.ab.ca for more information. |
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Facebook: @ Alberta Gymnastics
reposted from @Imagine Gymnastics Club
And that's a Wrap! Featuring our friends from Kin Gymnastics, Altadore Gymnastic Club, Mountain Shadows Gymnastics Club and Canmore Illusions Gymnastics Club. Great doing games with you! #Zone2 #AWG2024
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A Word from Finance and Membership 💵💰💲
I hope everyone had a great Family Day weekend!
We’re nearly at the end of February, and that means we are just a week away from the end of the season's third registration session. Session 3 runs from Nov 1 thru Feb 29, covering most of our clubs' winter classes. The deadline to get all new coach and athlete memberships uploaded, and to upgrade current members, is March 8, 2024. Of course, feel free to beat the rush and save the stress by completing the process early! You can access our Uplifter account here. Remember that unregistered athletes are not eligible for competitions and are not covered by AGF insurance in case of injury. As always, if you have any questions or difficulties, I can be reached at membership@abgm.ab.ca. _____________________________________ I spent the entire long weekend at the Olympic Oval watching the ISU World Speed Skating Championships. It was a wonderful event, and the organizers put on an amazing show in such a great venue. Plus, I got to see all of my fav speed skaters. This year, AGF’s 2024 Artistic and Trampoline Provincial Championships will be held concurrently at the Oval, along with TG Elite Canada. I cannot wait! We had super crowds last year, and I expect them to be even bigger this year. Provincials take place April 3-7. I’m looking forward to seeing all of our members, volunteers, and parents. Also, I'm sure Roland will be in the stands, and I will for sure give him a high-five! February 29th is a leap day, peeps. Make sure to do something extra special, and I'll see you next month! |
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Getting to know our members! 📩
In January we asked:
With the winter weather keeping us inside more, what is your current favourite snack to eat while relaxing at home? 🍟🍽🍕🧃🧀☕🍦 "My partner and I make a big bowl of popcorn and drink hot chocolate while watching movies on Netflix" - Buddy, Calgary "Cold days are the best time to order pizza delivery and play 7 Wonders!" - Mackenzie, Chestermere "Cool Ranch Doritos 😋😎" - Lisa, Sherwood Park
🤠🏅 Question of the Month 🤸👏
It's awards season! Recommend a movie or a TV show that you've been bingeing!
🎥🏆📺👍🤩
Answer our Question of the Month, and you could be featured in our next newsletter!!! Don't forget to include your first name and city/town. Send your responses to info@abgym.ab.ca or DM us on Instagram @albertagymnastics
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👥 Getting to Know Your AGF Team! 🙌
What is/are your favourite activity/activities outside of work and why? 🚲🏡🎮📖🧁💪 |
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Jacinda - I love being outside! Anything outside, especially in the mountains. I’m a photographer and new to Alberta so it’s been a huge inspiration! I love skating and attending live music shows, from hole in the wall pubs to large concerts. But my favourite are outdoor music festivals! 🎶🎸🗻🌄📸 Bobby - I love to go skiing when I get a chance! Being able to get outside and do something I love with my friends makes winter one of my favourite seasons! ⛷️🎿❄️☃️ Haleigh - I love to write, play video games, and hang out with my fiancé and our three Siberian huskies! As an introvert, most of the stuff I like to do is at home! 😂📖🎮🐶 Mo - I love spending time with my friends. We typically go out for meals or exercise together, and there is always a lot of laughs. Specific activities I enjoy are dancing, creating art, writing, and entrepreneurial tasks that help me build my business portfolio. ✍️💃🍴🏢
Robin - Lots of options! Getting outside when I can, watching various sports, hanging out with friends, or baking sugar cookies to share!!👩🍳☀️🤸👯
Craig - After work you can probably find me at an arts or sporting event. Omg I have so many season's tickets! 🎼🎻🎭🖼🏟🏀🏈🥍Philharmonic, Vertigo Theatre, Shakespeare Company, Laugh Shop, Surge basketball, Stampeders football, Roughnecks lacrosse... the list is endless. 😃🙌 I love supporting people as they create amazing feats!
Carolyn - I love to be outside hanging out with family and friends. I also like to curl up under a blanket with a good book! 📖😊
Keevin - I like to watch and participate in many Winter sports! Anyone was around COP for TG Cup may have noticed some great events happening. I went to watch the Halfpipe World Cups, the Scotties and the Speed Skating World Championships. Also, I've been doing some skiing at Sunshine and Lake Louise, and some skating at Bowness. ⛷️🏂💪
Jacqueline - Spending time with my family and cheering on my kids in their sports!⚾🧢📣 Roland the Monkey - I like to eat bananas! 🐵🍌💙 |
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We Want to Hear from You! 📣Do you enjoy this newsletter? Is there anything you'd like to hear about? Email us your suggestions and comments, and we will do our best to get them into a future edition. |
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