By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Staff Writer

CLANTON – While Simone Biles is in Rio de Janeiro bringing home gold medals for the USA gymnastics team, your child can sing up for gymnastics at the Chilton County YMCA and get a head start on becoming the next Olympic star.

Chilton County YMCA is offering different gymnastic courses for all ages starting Aug. 15 and continuing through Dec. 16.

They offer a parent and tot gymnastics class, where a coach will show the parents and kids the basics of gymnastics while helping the children develop fine motor skills. This class meets Tuesday from 6-6:45 p.m. or Friday from 1-1:45 p.m. for 18-month-olds to 3-year-olds and for 3-5-year-olds they meet on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. or Friday from 2-2:45 p.m.

“For the younger kids it helps them develop their fine motor skills and as they get older they learn actual skills that will suit them in gymnastics,” said YMCA employee Tiffanee Edwards.

Beginner Gymnastics is also offered, where kids will learn the basics of gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline. This class is open to kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade. Kindergarten through second will meet Monday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 4:30-5:30 p.m. and third through fifth graders will meet Monday’s from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

If you have mastered all beginner techniques you then move up to intermediate gymnastics. This class is for kids who are ready for more advanced skills such as round-offs, handstands and pullover on bars. Class will meet on Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Recreational gymnastics instructor, Ashly Lanier, teaches all of the classes above, but the Y also offers team gymnastics taught by competitive gym coach Corri Russell.

Team gymnastics is divided up into two groups, pre-team and team and is only open to gymnast who are invited by the coach.

“They have to master a certain level of skill to move up, but once they do they will be invited to join these two classifications,” Edwards said. “The more they advance the more they’ll learn to master all of the skills involved.”

Pre-team will meet Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 4-5 p.m., while team will meet Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 4-6 p.m. as well as Friday’s from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Prices are as follows:

• Parent and tot: $20 for members and $50 for non-members.
• Beginner: $25 for members and $55 for non-members.
• Intermediate: $30 for members and $60 for non-members.

“I believe we are the only facility in Chilton County that is fully equipped with all of the necessary gymnastics equipment, which really helps out the kids,” Edwards said.

Classes are offered to both boys and girls and each class tends to have about six kids. They do fill up quickly, so to avoid being put on a waiting list you can register now online at ymcaofchiltoncounty.com.