For families in regional Tasmania, accessing a broad range of gymnastics programs can involve travelling more than an hour. Circular Head Gymnastics Club is helping change that.
Established in 2017, the club was created to bring quality gymnastics opportunities to children and families across the Circular Head region.
It now welcomes 86 registered gymnasts, with participation continuing to grow each year. Behind those numbers is a family-focused community where athletes of different ages, abilities and ambitions are encouraged to develop at their own pace.
More opportunities, closer to home
Circular Head Gymnastics Club offers KinderGym, Recreational Club Levels, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling.
Its reach also extends beyond regular classes through holiday programs, open gym sessions, school groups and development pathways for local coaches.
Having these options available locally gives children access to opportunities that many regional athletes would otherwise need to travel considerable distances to experience.
The club’s programs are designed to accommodate different needs, with coaches adapting activities wherever possible so every gymnast can participate, learn and experience success.
“You don’t need to be an elite athlete to belong at Circular Head Gymnastics Club.”
Whether a child wants to have fun, make friends, learn new skills or pursue competitive gymnastics, the club wants them to feel welcomed, supported and celebrated.
Growing without compromising quality
As the club has expanded, it has reached a point where multiple classes are often operating simultaneously.
Through our 20 years, $20,000 initiative with Gymnastics Tasmania, Circular Head Gymnastics Club received additional equipment to help accommodate that growth.
They chose a Gymnastics Direct wall/stall bar wedge, 2m non-folding mat, safety throw mat, small incline wedge, and handstand pads.
The equipment was chosen to support skill development across multiple programs, provide more training options and help coaches teach progressions correctly and confidently.
Most importantly, it allows the club to welcome more gymnasts without compromising the quality of its coaching or the experience of its athletes.
A culture built on encouragement
The club is particularly proud of the culture created by its athletes, coaches, volunteers and families.
Gymnasts encourage one another, coaches continue investing in their professional development and volunteers generously contribute the time required to keep the club moving forward.
That support has helped regional athletes access competitions across Tasmania, with interstate opportunities also on the horizon. For the gymnasts involved, these experiences provide more than competitive results—they create friendships, build self-belief and become lasting memories.
The club describes itself in three words:
Inclusive. Supportive. Inspiring.
Inclusive because people are welcomed regardless of their ability or experience. Supportive because encouragement extends beyond the gym floor. Inspiring because gymnasts are regularly overcoming challenges and achieving things they may not have thought possible.
Creating more pathways
Over the next 12 months, Circular Head Gymnastics Club hopes to continue expanding its programs and welcoming more families.
It is also looking forward to attending additional competitions, further developing its coaching team and creating new pathways for gymnasts to pursue their individual goals.
Whatever those goals may be, the club encourages athletes to focus on their own progress rather than measuring themselves against somebody else.
“Celebrate every small achievement, keep trying even when things feel difficult, and remember that progress comes from persistence, not perfection.”
Made possible by its community
Circular Head Gymnastics Club has become an important part of its region, providing a positive environment where children can be active, form friendships and develop skills that extend beyond gymnastics.
That role is made possible by the coaches, judges, volunteers, committee members and families who continue to invest their time and energy into the club.
The club also acknowledges the businesses, organisations and supporters whose generosity creates opportunities that may not otherwise be available within a regional community.
“Every piece of equipment, every volunteer hour and every act of support makes a lasting difference to the lives of our young gymnasts.”
With growing participation, dedicated people and more equipment available to support its programs, Circular Head Gymnastics Club is continuing to bring gymnastics, and everything that comes with it, closer to home.
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