Victorian Masters Sport Resource Kit - Australian Sports Commission

CASE STUDY 3:
Victorian Gymnastic Association Inc: Gentle Gym
What was the initial problem?
◗ The Victorian Gymnastic Association
recognised that the majority of their
participants were aged under 20 and that
few clubs offered gymnastics for adults.
◗ The reasons for this were varied but
essentially the public’s perception was
that gymnastics was a sport only for
children, consequently there was not
sufficient public interest in adult
gymnastics, and the association did not
offer a participation structure that catered
for this age category.
How was the program created?
◗ An application was made to VicHealth for
funding to support the development of a
coach education resource for use at clubs
in delivering gymnastics programs to
masters aged participants.
◗ The resource was developed and
distributed to coaches directly via
workshops and information session.
◗ Education of club managers was carried
out by VGA staff.
What were the barriers that had to be
overcome?
◗ The clubs expressed concern about such
things as how to entertain adults with
gymnastics, what adults can physically do
in gymnastics, and who can coach
appropriately?
◗ Other barriers included the low public
awareness that gymnastics was suitable
for adults, the need to educate coaches
on the specific issues of adult gymnastics,
and an uncertainty about the benefits that
clubs could receive by conducting such
programs.
What were the benefits to the state
association and clubs?
◗ Use of facilities in normal downtime.
◗ Increased membership of clubs and
therefore greater opportunities for
fundraising, coaching and running of
normal club activities.
◗ Creation of a lifelong opportunity to
participate in sport and another avenue to
become involved in the sport.
◗ The VGA has established Masters Sport
as a viable area for participation – more
people are participating in the over 20s
age group and enough interest was
generated to establish a Masters Sport
event at the State level.
What were the keys to making it
work?
◗ Using the association’s database to
contact present and former members in
the appropriate age category.
◗ Developing a resource kit for coaches and
club members that explained the
participation issues for masters aged
participants that emphasised the social
aspects and the opportunity to refresh or
learn skills in a friendly, non threatening
environment.
◗ Receiving a grant from VicHealth to assist
with resource development and workshop
presentation costs.
Source: Victorian Gymnastic Association –
VicHealth Active for Life Project Evaluation
Report.
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4. Participation Issues