The saying, try, then try again goes without saying dealing with a new sport in Cortez.
After two previous unsuccessful attempts, the Cortez Recreation Center has again started up a youth gymnastics program.
An essential element that lacked before with gymnastics was finding a coach. This time, the Recreation Center has a gymnastics coach with experience in the Olympic sport. Rayna Hale, 53, coached gymnastics for 16 years in Telluride and owned a gymnastics business. She coached skill levels one through six and is United States Gymnastics Federation licensed.
Dan Jones will manage the program as the Cortez Rec. Center operations coordinator. He is a former California high school gymnast.
Cortez has been looking for a gymnastics program for a long time, Jones said. When Rayna came forward and said shed be willing to do this, we were pretty excited about that. Every other program she has had, has been very successful.
Levels one-three teach beginning skills with body positions and techniques. Gymnasts learn basics on the floor, balance beam, vault and uneven bars. The first three levels transition gymnasts into making the next step to levels four-six (learning back and handsprings). Levels seven-10 are the highest in competition.
The people in charge have high hopes for the upstart program this year.
I want to see the program be something consistent in the city of Cortez. That is really why I stepped in to do it, said Hale, who is also health and fitness instructor at the Rec. Center. Its not because Im looking to develop a gymnastics team, its just trying to develop a program that will stick here at the recreation center.
Perhaps the main reason for gymnastics is getting the local youth active in something new.
We have nothing really for the kids, Jones said. This is something that we would really like to see take off. We need some youth programs.
Practice is on Fridays at the Rec. Center and there are three age groups ranging from ages 4 to 18. The groups include Tsunamis, age 4-6, Tornadoes (7-11) and Hurricanes (11-18).
In each age group, Im going to teach the level of skill that I think I can bring them, Hale said.
In addition to the strong support for a gymnastics program, Hale feels the facilities and equipment at the Rec. Center will draw people in.
For someone like me to come in and run this program, its easy, she said. They have the equipment, they have the staffing, they have the building. All they needed was somebody to come in and be the coach.
Hale will be assisted by Darren Murray and Jones will help out with practice, too.
He probably does a better cartwheel than I can, Hale said about Jones.
The Friday practices are mainly setup to accommodate the Cortez School District schedule, since school is not in session on Friday. The program will accept kids on a drop-in basis and welcomes all from Montezuma County. Coach Hale is strict about being on time and having proper etiquette, i.e. no jewelry and hair must be pulled back.
I run a disciplined program thats fun, Hale said. It will be very organized and skill oriented. This is not just a tumbling, trampoline class. I want results. Thats probably the trainer in me.
For now, the gymnastics program is a recreational activity. But Hale and Jones would like to see it grow into scheduled team sport that may attract a competitive team coach. Hale hopes that after a couple of years, the program is strong enough that someone else can take over instead of starting a program.
Gymnastics is the sport kids can do everything you tell them not to do, Hale said. Its another sport or activity kids can get involved in. It may be that new or different sport a kid enjoys or is very good in.
People interested can call 560-3916 or email Hale at Rayna@DNRfitness@yahoo.com.
SOURCE: www.theworldofgymnastics.com.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
