USA Gymnastics Selects First 2015 Clubs for TDC Program

USA Gymnastics has chosen the first two of three clubs for 2015 for the USA Gymnastics Trampoline Development Center program.  The TDC program debuted in 2013 to help develop trampoline and tumbling in the United States by incorporating competitive trampoline into the curriculum in gyms across the nation to expand its Olympic pipeline. The two clubs that have been selected for 2015 are Summit Sports Center in Nolensville, Tenn., and Orange County Sports Club in Florida, N.Y.

Summit Sports Center and Orange County Sports Club are the two clubs for the first quarter of 2015, and the deadlines for applying for the last spot is July 1. Member clubs of USA Gymnastics are eligible to apply for the Trampoline Development Center program, and additional information and the application are available online at usagym.org/tdc.

The clubs that were designated as TDCs in 2013-14 are:  2013 –  Mills Gymnastics USA in Southgate, Mich., Wendy Hilliard Foundation in New York City, California Sports Center in San Jose, Calif., and Suncoast Gymnastics Academy in Odessa, Fla.; and 2014 – Oconee Gymnastics & Cheer in Watkinsville, Ga., Montgomery County Sports Performance Center in Harleysville, Pa., Gymfinity of Fitchburg, Wis., Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex of Williamsburg, Va. DC Gymnastics and Tumbling in Wildomar, Calif., and Roots in Westfield, Mass.  

As part of the Trampoline Development Center (TDC) program, Joy Umenhofer, a member of the national trampoline coaching staff, makes three visits to each selected club to educate the gym, its coaches and athletes about trampoline. When Umenhofer visits the TDC clubs, she hosts clinics to educate club staff on scheduling, coaching and teaching trampoline, basic skills, conditioning and flexibility, and progressions; talent identification development programs; and interactive coach and athlete training sessions. Each club also receives marketing materials, operational guidelines and curriculum support. In addition, other clubs in the area are encouraged to attend the coach education sessions and learn about expanding their programming to include trampoline.

To complete the training program and earn the Trampoline Development Center designation, the selected gymnastics clubs host training sessions for coaches, athletes and officials; select a club trampoline team; and stage a local trampoline competition. The TDC program's format provides clubs with the trampoline knowledge needed to establish and their programs by the conclusion of the third visit.

Umenhofer is a member of the USA Gymnastics national coaching staff for trampoline and tumbling and junior men. She has coached several trampoline and tumbling national and World Age Group champions, as well as placing athletes on all trampoline and tumbling developmental teams. Umenhofer, a former gym club owner, is currently the head trampoline and tumbling coach at Matrix.

Athletes of all ages and body types can enjoy and benefit from trampoline, which also enhances skill development across all gymnastics disciplines. Trampoline may also retain athletes who are looking for something different from gymnastics or need to adjust to accommodate outside scheduling challenges. Additionally, the artistic gymnastics and trampoline competitive seasons complement one another, which makes it is possible for an athlete to participate in both. Many gym clubs in the U.S. already have trampoline as part of their programming, which has proven to be very successful.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics).  For more information, log on to www.usagym.org.