South African Gymnastics Federation

1. South African Gymnastics Federation SAGF Strategy Plan 2004 - 2008 Elizabeth Cameron Smith Managing Director

2. Vision To advance, promote and improve amateur Gymnastics in all its facets in the Republic of South Africa

3. Mission We endeavour to provide every aspirant or practicing gymnast and official with the means to fulfil his or her highest potential

4. Mass Participation Programme • Gymnaestrada (Display work) • Rope Skipping • Elementary Programme • Education & Training

5. Club Programme • Coaches/Judges Education & Training • Competitions

6. Olympic Programme • Artistic Men • Artistic Women • Rhythmic • Sports Aerobics • Tumbling • Trampolining • Sports Acrobatics

7. Artistic Men 24

8. Artistic Women 18

9. Rhythmic 21

10. Aerobic Gymnastics • Perform continuous complex, high intensity movement to music • Individual male and female • Mixed pairs • Trios • Groups 18

11. Tumbling • Male and female individual • Growth in this discipline • Potential with athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds 12

12. Trampolining • Individual • Synchro • Double mini • Mini Trampoline • Black top 24

13. Acrobatic Gymnastics • Acrobats in groups of two, three or four perform routines with the heads, hand and feet of their partners • Women’s pairs • Men’s pairs • Mixed pairs • Women’s trio • Men’s fours 18

14. STRENGTHS Gymnastics is a foundation motor development activity Committed and competent managers, administrators and officials Dedicated gymnasts Multiple disciplines to increase membership and potential for success WEAKNESSES Lack of financial resources Lack of qualified, experienced coaches due to inadequate career opportunities Inadequate coach education system Situational Analysis

15. OPPORTUNITIES Expansion to wider market (pre-school, school sport, recreational, new communities, rural areas, new clubs, talent screening) THREATS Gymnastics has become expensive, especially at an elite level leading to financial burn out of gymnasts, coaches and administrators Situational Analysis

16. Current registration andrepresentivity statistics

17. Registration numbers

18. Executive

19. Athletes

20. Coaches

21. Judges

22. Administrators

23. Representivity - Summary • Executive Committee 24/132 (18.1%) • Athletes 547/3259 (16.8%) • Coaches 306/960 (31.8%) • Judges 106/819 (12.9%) • Administrators 96/490 (19.6%) Number Percentage

24. NATIONAL SQUADS More medals Provincial Academy North-West Provincial Academy KZN Provincial Academy Gauteng Provincial Academy WC Provincial Academy Individual Scholarships TID Gauteng TID North West TID Free State WAG TID North Cape RG TID Western Cape TID KZN TID EC WAG TID Mp WAG TID Limpopo RG

25. What we plan to do :2004 - 2008

26. National High Performance Workshop • To develop a national high performance plan for next two Olympic cycles • Invite appropriate technical committees and all high performance coaches of the seven gymnastics disciplines and the Managers of Provincial Academies • Workshop facilitated by two international experts on 1 March 2004 • Potential impact: Improvement in elite performances at international level

27. Coaches Education • FIG has identified and offered to organise a pilot project to initiate the FIG Academy Artistic program for Level 1 for a single country • SA selected as the pilot country to conduct FIG Level 1 courses • Intensive course will take place in Pretoria from Feb 23-29 led by four international experts • This program aims to professionalise high performance coaching and will greatly benefit our high performance program • Potential impact: Upgrading of skills in 40 high performance coaches and train our South African facilitators

28. National Technical Director • To drive the projects, a NTD needs to be employed. This will give a more professional approach to our planning and preparation for international events • Ongoing guidance and assistance to the seven high performance Technical Committees, high performance coaches to work in an integrated national strategic plan to win more gymnastics medals at international level • Potential impact: • Improvement in elite performances at international level • Professional approach to planning and preparation for international events

29. Provincial High Performance Coordinators • There are four provinces in which the SAGF has already implemented high performance programs • In order to ensure the continued effectiveness of these programs and their alignment with the national high performance plan it is necessary to appoint provincial high performance development coordinators • These staff will report to the NTD and have provincial targets in place in terms of elite performances and transformation. Potential Impact: Improved performances by SA athletes

30. Training Centres Established with Coaching Scholarship • Limited opportunities to develop our coaches on a professional basis • Developing a number of quality coaches (50% from disadvantaged backgrounds) and would like to be able to offer them full time employment in a high performance gymnastic environment • It is proposed that the SAGF introduce a coaching scholarship in each Province • This position would be given to a developing coach • These coaches will be mentored by experienced national coaches • The discipline would vary according to the specific needs of the Province • Potential impact: Transformation of coaching

31. Talent Identification Programmes • The SAGF currently conducts talent identification projects in two provinces (Western Cape and North West) • These projects have contributed to the improvement in PD representation in provincial and national teams • Coaches from disadvantaged backgrounds are also introduced • Plan to introduce these programs to all provinces particularly those with a large rural population • In the four urban provinces with high performance coordinators the projects will be coordinated by them • We propose the appointment of five TID coordinators in the remaining rural provinces • Potential impact: Transformation in terms of both athletes and coaches, ~300 athletes placed in development programs

32. Olympic Games Preparation and Medallists’ Development • In order to prepare for 2004 and beyond our highest level gymnasts need more international experience • Need to compete in FIG World Cup series accompanied by their coaches • Selected World Cups will take place in first quarter of 2004 • Potential impact: Improved international performances

33. World Cup Series (MAG, TU) Various From Apr 2004 Indo Pacific Champs (TRA, TU) Canada July 2004 World Champs (SA) June 2004 World Champs (SACRO) May 2004 Preparation OG (WAG, RG) Athens August 2004 Zone VI (MAG,WAG,RG,TRA,SA) South Africa Dec 2004 Sports Aerobics Various From Apr 2004 Potential impact: Improved performances International Competitions

34. Equipment • Seven competitive disciplines at international level • Equipment required by each discipline is specific and not interchangeable, except for Acrobatic Gymnastics • Necessary to have a set of equipment of international standard for each discipline in the north and south • Presently, only the north has international level equipment, poses great difficulties when major competitions are staged in other parts of the country, e.g. SA Games, Gymnastics Games • Potential impact: More equitable development of gymnasts to international level

35. Why support us? • National Strategic plan developed • Commitment of all stakeholders • More people projects aimed at transformation • Multiple medal opportunities at elite level • Integrated performance pathway in place • Already have successful athletes • Developing coaches and judges from all backgrounds (accredited 698 in the past year)