THE DULUTH YMCA AERIALS 

This is a year-round program for individuals interested in developing quality gymnastics skills while instilling the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Our competitive program is governed by the USA Gymnastics Xcel Program; which provides gymnasts with a more adaptive experience in a competitive realm, and an opportunity for a rewarding ongoing gymnastics experience.

Our competitive program has five levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. New this year, there is now a Sapphire division! In that order, each level increases in difficulty and time commitment. It is recommended to complete at least 1 Advanced Gym Kids or Prep Team recreational class and talk to your coach to consider joining our Duluth YMCA ‘Aerials’ Competitive Program.

 

JOINING THE TEAM

We welcome all athletes ages 6 and older with at least one session of Prep Team gymnastics experience to our team who wish to compete in women's artistic gymnastics. At this time, we are not able to offer a men's artistic gymnastics competitive program.

Any athletes who may be a good fit for team but did not participate in prep team will be contacted upon coach's recommendation.

Team is open to new members to join during the non-competitive season, April-June. After the beginning of summer team practices, you will need to wait until the 2024-2025 season to join. 

When you join the team, you are committing to the full year-long season. Please contact Hayden Schulte, hschulte@duluthymca.org, for more information on joining our team!

REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY OPEN FOR NEW COMPETITION ATHLETES TO JOIN THE TEAM. 

Interested in joining this season? Contact director Hayden Schulte for more information. Prices listed below are beginning in June 2023.

Bronze | 4 hrs/week | Ages 6+ 
Our Bronze level team skills are most comparable to our Y recreational gymnastics Advanced Gym Kids level skills. We require team athletes to have completed at least one Ad. Gym Kids rec class or have equivalent gymnastics skills from an outside program. Participants transferring from a JO program must be in current level 1 or 2.
YMCA FAMILY MEMBER: $96/month
COMMUNITY: $128/month

Silver | 5 hrs/week | Ages 6+
Our Silver level team skills are most comparable to our Y recreational gymnastics Gym Stars level skills. Participants transferring from a JO program must be in current level 2, or 3.
YMCA FAMILY MEMBER: $120/month
COMMUNITY: $152/month

Gold | 8 hrs/week | Ages 7+ 
Gymnast must receive a 31.00 All Around score in Silver Division or be at level 3 or 4 if transferring from a JO program.
YMCA FAMILY MEMBER: $192/month
COMMUNITY: $2224/month

Platinum | 9 hrs/week | Ages 8+
Gymnast must receive a 31.00 All Around score in Gold Division or be at level 5 or 6 if transferring from a JO program.
YMCA FAMILY MEMBER: $216/month
COMMUNITY: $248/month

Diamond | 9 hrs/week | Ages 9+
31.00 All Around score in Platinum Division or be at level 7-10 if transferring from a JO program.YMCA FAMILY MEMBER: YMCA FAMILY MEMBER: $216/month
COMMUNITY: $248/month

REGISTRATION IS OPEN BEGINNING APRIL 2023. TO JOIN THE TEAM: PLEASE CONTACT HAYDEN SCHULTE, HSCHULTE@DULUTHYMCA.ORG 218.464-5172 IF YOUR GYMNAST IS INTERESTED IN JOINING ONE OF THESE LEVELS.

 

Aerials Gymnastics Summer Camp

A full week of Team Camp will be coming back to you in 2024!

Team Camp 2023 was a success!

 

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

USA Gymnastics Membership ($61.00) Due July 31st

This membership is required for all gymnasts competing in our Xcel Program. USA Gymnastics is the entity that governs competitions and competitors in the sport.  Athletes must be a USAG member to compete in sanctioned events.

MN State Head Tax ($15.00) Due July 31st

This fee is assessed to all gymnasts in order to keep our state’s gymnastics program running.

Competition Attire Due August 31st

Bronze and Silver levels ($80): a deposit of $40 as well as a rental fee of $40 will be collected for each leotard per season. The leotard will need to be returned at the end of the season. If it is returned in the same shape it was issued in, the deposit will be returned or carried over for the next year. If there is damage, the family will be charged the price to replace the leotard. We will try to purchase new leotards every 2 years, and have a leotard swap the year in between.

Gold, Platinum, and Diamond ($80-100): athletes will be required to purchase their own competition leotard. Information for which leotard to purchase will be sent out to families.

Warm up jackets ($60) Order forms will go out in September.

Optional purchase.

Meet Fees ($55 - $100) Competition fees are due as requested by the Host Team

These registration-type fees are collected by the host team to help cover the cost of judges, awards, etc. A $5 “coaches fee” will be automatically added to each meet fee for team/coach expenses.

Travel (expenses vary)

As with most sports, gymnastics requires some traveling. You can expect to travel several times per season.  Since each family is responsible for making their own travel arrangements, it is impossible to estimate the cost of travel. The amount depends on each family’s needs, just please be aware some traveling expenses may be incurred. Typically, meets will not require lodging.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Summer Practice Schedule (June 12th - August 24th, 2023)

  • Bronze
    • Tuesday Split Practice- Either 4:00-6:00 P.M. or 6:00-8:00 P.M.
    • Thursday 4:00-6:30 P.M.
  • Silver
    • Monday Split Practice- Either 4:00-6:30 P.M. or 5:30-8:00
    • Thursday 4:00-7:00 P.M.
  • Gold
    • Monday 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
    • Wednesday 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
    • Thursday 4:00-6:00 P.M. 
  • Platinum/Diamond
    • Monday 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
    • Wednesday 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
    • Thursday 3:00-6:00 P.M. 
  • Team Make-up/Open Gym
    • Sundays 3:00-5:00 P.M.
    • Free to athletes that missed at least one practice that week, $10 to athletes that would like to attend. Must sign up by 12 p.m. that Sunday or the coach may cancel practice!

School-Year Practice Schedule (September 11th, 2023- June 4th, 2024)

  • Bronze
    • Split practice days Monday or Tuesday 5:00-7:00.
    • All Bronze practice days Thursday 5:00-7:00 P.M.
  • Silver
    • Split practice days Tuesday or Wednesday 4:30-7:30.
    • All Silver practice days Friday 4:30-6:30 P.M.
  • Gold
    • Monday 5:00-8:00 P.M.
    • Wednesday 4:30-7:30 P.M.
    • Thursday 5:00-7:00 P.M. 
  • Platinum/Diamond
    • Monday 5:00-8:00 P.M.
    • Wednesday 4:30-7:30 P.M.
    • Friday 4:00-7:00 P.M. 
  • Team Make-up/Open Gym
    • Sundays 3:00-5:00 P.M.
    • Free to athletes that missed at least one practice that week, $10 to athletes that would like to attend. Must sign up by 12 p.m. that Sunday or the coach may cancel practice!
MEETS

2023-2024 Meet Schedule:

September 17th: "Mock Meet" Duluth, MN: Bronze & Silver

Septmber30-October 1st: "Go for Gold, St. Paul, MN: Bronze & Silver

October 14th-15th: "Ghost and Goblin" Forest Lake, MN: Bronze & Silver

October 20th-21st: "Over the Rainbow" Grand Rapids, MN: Bronze & Silver

November 4th-5th: "Cooler by the Lake" Superior, WI: Bronze & Silver

November 12th: "Mock Meet" Duluth, MN: Gold, Platinum and Diamond

December 2nd-3rd: "Candyland" Shakopee, MN: All Levels

December 15th-17th "Bronze and Silver State Meet" Falcon Heights, MN: Bronze & Silver

January 13th-14th: "Blizzard Invite" Minneapolis Area, MN: Gold, Platinum & Diamond

January 27th- "Twin Ports Winter Invite" Superior, WI: Gold, Platinum & Diamond

February 2nd-4th: "Katelyn Ohashi: Drop It Like It's Hot" Rochester, MN: All Levels

February 24th-25th: "Tropical Twist" St. Cloud, MN: Gold, Platinum and Diamond

March 1st-3rd: "Gopher Invite" Shakopee, MN: Gold, Platinum, and Diamond

March 15th-17th: "Minnesota State Gymnastics Gold-Sapphire" Minneapolis, MN, Gold, Platinum and Diamond

April 19th-21st: "Region 4 Xcel Championships" Cedar rapids, IA: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond

 

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES

USA Gymnastics Membership ($65.00) Due: July 31st

This membership is required for all gymnasts competing in our Xcel Program. USA Gymnastics is the entity that governs competitions and competitors in the sport.  Athletes must be a USAG member to compete in sanctioned events.

MN State Head Tax ($15.00)

This fee is assessed to all gymnasts in order to keep our state’s gymnastics program running.

Competition Attire Orders Due: July 27th

All levels ($95): If a family chooses to rent, a rental fee of $45 will be collected for each leotard per season. The leotard will need to be returned at the end of the season. If there is damage, the family will be charged the price to replace the leotard. We will try to purchase new leotards every 2 years.

Warm up jackets ($75) 

Optional purchase.

Meet Fees ($55 - $140) Competition fees are due as requested by the Host Team

These registration-type fees are collected by the host team to help cover the cost of judges, awards, etc. A $15 “coaches fee” will be automatically added to each meet fee for team/coach expenses for regular season meets within a 90-minute drive. A $25 coaches fee will be applied to all regular season competitions further than 90 minutes away.

Qualification only meets like State and Regionals will have coaches fee calculated based on the number of qualifiers.

Travel (expenses vary)

As with most sports, gymnastics requires some traveling. You can expect to travel several times per season.  Since each family is responsible for making their own travel arrangements, it is impossible to estimate the cost of travel. The amount depends on each family’s needs, just please be aware some traveling expenses may be incurred. Typically, meets will not require lodging.