National Competition Squad [Local]

DYNAMACRO GYMNASTICS ACADEMY

COMPETITIVE SQUADS — CODE OF CONDUCT, TRAINING & OPERATIONAL POLICY

Applicable Squads: NCS-Local · Policy Year: 2026–2027 | Last Updated: March 2026 | Review Date: September 2026

1. Overview & Legal Framework

This policy governs the conduct, training obligations, competition participation, and operational procedures for all competitive squad members of DynamAcro Gymnastics Academy (“DGA”, “the Club”). It applies to all gymnasts and, where the gymnast is a minor, to their parent or legal guardian (referred to collectively as “the member”).

This policy is governed by the laws of Ireland and is consistent with the following legislation and frameworks:

• Children First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance 2017
• Child and Family Agency Act 2013
• Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005
• Consumer Rights Act 2022
• Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR (EU) 2016/679
• Equal Status Acts 2000–2018
• Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (relevant to safeguarding obligations)
• Sport Ireland Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children’s Sport (2021)
• Gymnastics Ireland Codes of Conduct and Safeguarding Policies

This policy forms part of DGA’s wider policy framework, which includes the Club’s Codes of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and Athlete Development Policy.

2. Gymnast Code of Conduct — During Class

All gymnasts are required to adhere to the following standards during training sessions:

• Treat coaches, fellow gymnasts, and all Club staff with respect and courtesy at all times.
• Do not approach or speak to parents during a training session unless in an emergency and with the explicit permission of the class coach. This applies to all parents present on the premises.
• Listen to and follow all instructions given by the coach. Be attentive, polite, and engaged.
• Be aware of others in the training space at all times and act with consideration for fellow gymnasts.
• Seek the coach’s permission before attempting any new gymnastic skill.
• Trampoline rule: Only one person on the trampoline at any time. A spotter must always be present.
• Return all equipment to its correct and safe position after use.
• Gymnasts must seek permission from the class coach before leaving the gym premises.
• Photography & Recording: Gymnasts are strictly prohibited from taking photographs or recording video on personal devices during training sessions or on Club premises.
• Sharing of Images: Gymnasts are strictly prohibited from sharing any photographs, videos, or recordings of the gym, coaches, or fellow class members on any public platform, social media channel, or messaging group. This obligation applies whether the content was recorded on Club premises or elsewhere and is consistent with the Club’s obligations under GDPR and the Children First Act 2015.

Safeguarding Note: The prohibition on photography and sharing of images is a safeguarding measure designed to protect all members, particularly minors. Any breach of this rule will be treated as a serious matter and addressed through the Club’s Breach of Rules Process (Section 14).

3. Gymnast Dress Code

It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that gymnasts attend class appropriately dressed. Coaches have the right, on health and safety grounds under the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to exclude a gymnast from participating where their attire presents a risk to themselves or others.

3.1 Required Attire

3.2 Clothing Not Permitted

The following items are not permitted during training:

• Strapless tops
• Hoodies
• Jeans or casual trousers
• School uniform
• Dresses or skirts
• Clothing with studs, ribbons, buttons, zips, or any protruding adornments
• Baggy or loose-fitting clothing

4. Gymnast Expectations & Standards

All competitive squad gymnasts are expected to:

• Attend training regularly and notify the Performance & Technical Director (PTD) or their assigned coach in advance when unable to attend.
• Demonstrate a disciplined and respectful attitude at all times — during training, at events, and in any Club-related setting.
• Follow all instructions from their assigned coach and the PTD, including assigned training programmes and skill development plans.
• Conduct themselves with respect toward coaches, fellow gymnasts, officials, and all Club staff.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

In the interests of safety and respect for all gymnasts — particularly within partnerships — failure to meet the standards above may result in:

• The gymnast being assigned to a different partnership
• A change of training days or hours
• Removal from the National Competition Squad Local (NCSL) class
• Suspension or withdrawal of Club membership

Any such action will be taken in accordance with the Club’s Breach of Rules Process (Section 14) and, where a minor is involved, in a manner consistent with the Children First Act 2015.

5. Training Obligations

5.1 General Obligations

• All NCSL gymnasts must complete the advisory training hours and sessions provided by the Club in the interest of safety and the integrity of partnerships.
• Where a temporary change of training times or days is necessary, gymnasts are still required to fulfil their advisory hours.
• Where a gymnast participates in other activities outside of DGA, parents must ensure those activities do not conflict with regular training sessions, competition trials, or competitions for which the gymnast has been selected.

5.2 Absence Notification

• If a gymnast cannot attend training for any reason, the parent or guardian must notify the Club in advance (unless the gymnast is aged 18 or over, in which case they may notify the Club directly).
• Time off requests during a competition preparation period must be submitted in writing to the Club. The cut-off for requesting time off during a competition or trial period is six (6) weeks before the competition date. Requests received inside this window will not be considered.
• For time off at any other point during the year, a minimum of two (2) weeks’ notice is required to allow training arrangements to be adjusted.

6. Partnerships

6.1 Partnership Assignment

• Partnerships are determined by the Performance & Technical Director (PTD), in conjunction with the Performance Panel, and are not fixed.
• Partnerships may be changed at any stage, at the sole discretion of the PTD and Performance Panel, regardless of the duration or success of the existing partnership.
• Members are advised that partnership assignment decisions are operational decisions made in the best interests of athlete safety and development. These decisions do not constitute a contractual entitlement.

6.2 Partnership Requirements

• Partnerships training or competing at NDP OR ASPIRE on the NCSL must complete the Club’s advisory training hours per week and per competition season.
• NCSL members must be available and able to travel to National Events.
• All NCSL partnerships are subject to a six (6) month partnership review.
• Partnerships may be nominated by the Club’s Performance Panel to attend a minimum of one international competition per year.

7. Replacements & Reserves

• The Selection Panel may select both NCSL and non-NCSL members as reserves for the National Competition Squad Local in the event of a deselection or withdrawal.
• All named reserves are subject to the same eligibility criteria and standards as selected team members.
• Reserves are required to disclose any relevant fitness or training information to the Selection Panel.
• Where a selected member withdraws or is deselected, the Selection Panel will determine replacements based on partnership needs. Replacements will generally be drawn from the pool of nominated gymnasts, though this is not mandatory.
• Replacement decisions are final. In the interests of fairness and operational certainty, replacement decisions are not subject to member appeal, without prejudice to any statutory rights members may have under Irish law.

8. Competition Selection

8.1 General Principles

• Membership of the NCSL does not guarantee competition selection. Selection is determined by performance at trial scoring events.
• Partnerships with official competition results from within the six (6) months prior to the current trial event may submit those results for selection consideration, provided the scores are equal to or higher than their trialling scores.

8.2 Selection Criteria

To maintain and secure competition selection, gymnasts must attend all three of the following:

1. Trial Event 1
2. Trial Event 2
3. Team Training Day

Partnerships may also be subject to a random pre-judging trial event at the discretion of the Performance Panel and PTD. Scores from such events may be submitted for selection consideration. These decisions are made by the Performance Panel and PTD and are not subject to appeal.

8.3 Non-Fulfilment of Criteria

Where a gymnast does not fulfil the selection criteria above, the DGA Selection Panel reserves the right to withdraw the partnership from the trial process or to seek a replacement gymnast.

9. Performance & Coaching Responsibilities

9.1 PTD & Senior Coach Responsibilities

The PTD, in conjunction with the Senior Coaches, has sole responsibility for the following:

• Partnership selection and formation
• The six-month partnership review process
• Partnership level selection
• Training schedules, days, and times
• Competition selection
• Training camp selection

9.2 Communication of Training & Competition Information

Senior Coaches are responsible for obtaining and communicating all relevant training and competition schedule information to members. This includes training plans, performance schedules, and competition viewing times following podium training or qualification days.

9.3 Competition Tactical Decisions

While at National Competition events, all tactical partnership and performance decisions are made solely by the Senior Coaches in collaboration with the PTD. Parents and guardians are not qualified to make competition tactical determinations and must not seek to influence or intervene in such decisions during competition events.

10. Pre-Performance Routines (PPRs)

10.1 Purpose

Pre-performance routines (PPRs) are structured sequences of thoughts and actions designed to help gymnasts prepare optimally for high-pressure competition situations. PPRs serve to reduce performance anxiety, increase focus, and create consistency. A well-designed PPR supports athletes in remaining calm, focused, and confident when it matters most.

10.2 PPR Obligations

• All gymnasts selected to represent DGA at a National Competition must complete their final competition preparation training prior to the event.
• DGA implements a mandatory four (4) week PPR programme for all selected athletes in advance of each National Competition.
• The minimum training commitment during a PPR period is 6.5 hours per week.
• The PPR programme must be completed without any breaks from the training schedule. Where parents can commit to a six (6) week PPR, this is encouraged and welcomed.
• Interruption of the PPR timeframe is strongly discouraged. Failure to follow the PPR programme correctly places the gymnast at risk of underperformance, which may also impact future competition confidence and selection.

11. Sibling Policy

DGA follows the consensus guidance of sports psychologists and athletic directors that each child’s gymnastics journey should be treated as an independent path.

• If one sibling qualifies for a national event and another does not, the non-qualifying sibling should be encouraged to support their sibling as a teammate.
• If both siblings qualify but one subsequently withdraws for any reason, parents should ensure the remaining sibling attends the event regardless.
• Parents are asked to make every effort not to allow one child’s decision or circumstances to affect another child’s competition participation.

12. Competition Leotards & Outfits

12.1 Requirement

All gymnasts who are members of the NCSL and who have been selected to represent DGA through the trialling process are required to have an appropriate competition leotard (girls) or competition outfit (boys).

12.2 Responsibility

The arrangement, purchase, or rental of competition leotards and outfits for all gymnasts in the NCSL, Local Squad, and ICS Performance Squad is the sole responsibility of the gymnast and/or their parent or guardian. Coaches and Club staff are not responsible for organising or managing competition attire for any squad.

12.3 Customised Leotards

A customised competition leotard is not mandatory but may be requested. Members wishing to arrange a customised leotard should contact Club management for guidance on approved designs.

13. Holiday & Absence Planning — Competition Season

13.1 Partnership Consideration

Gymnasts who are members of a pair or group partnership and who have commenced the training process for National Competitions should, where possible, coordinate holiday dates with their partnership to minimise disruption to the joint training plan.

13.2 Holiday Season

The Club’s general holiday season runs from 1 September to 31 July of each calendar year. Parents should be aware that some international competitions may fall within this period and are asked to take this into account when booking holidays.

13.3 Non-Compliance

Failure to give reasonable consideration to partnership training obligations when planning holidays may result in:

• The gymnast being assigned to a different partnership
• A change of training days, hours, or NCSL class placement

14. Gymnast Internal Complaint Process

DGA is committed to dealing with all concerns and complaints fairly, promptly, and in accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and Sport Ireland’s safeguarding guidelines.

Where a complaint involves a child welfare or safeguarding concern, it will be referred to Tusla — Child and Family Agency and/or An Garda Síochána in accordance with the Club’s mandatory reporting obligations under the Children First Act 2015. The Club’s designated liaison for mandatory reporting is the Club Children’s Officer.

15. Breach of Rules Process

All breach of rules procedures involving a minor will be conducted in a manner that is fair, proportionate, and consistent with the Club’s safeguarding obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and Sport Ireland’s Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport. Parents and guardians will be kept informed at each stage of the process.

16. Parents — Rules Before & During Class Sessions

All parents and guardians are required to observe the following at all times:

• Parents must not remain inside the gym during class time unless specifically requested by a coach on duty. Research consistently shows that children perform and respond better in a coaching environment when parents are not present.
• If you need to collect your child early or speak with a coach, you must notify the coach in advance by email, phone, or in person before the session begins. Arriving unannounced during a session to remove a child early causes disruption and is not acceptable.
• Parents are strictly forbidden from entering the main training hall. This area is for gymnasts and authorised staff only.
• Coaches are not available for discussion during class time. If you wish to speak with a coach, please schedule an appointment outside of class hours.
• Once a session has commenced, parents must not approach or speak to their child inside the training area.
• Parents must at all times conduct themselves with respect toward coaches, gymnasts, and all Club staff. Approaching a coach or Club official in an aggressive or intimidatory manner — particularly in the presence of children — is unacceptable and may constitute an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
• Parents must comply with all Club policies, codes of conduct, and guidelines applicable to parents and guardians.

Please Note: In the interests of safety and respect for all gymnasts — particularly within partnerships — failure by a parent or guardian to adhere to these rules may result in:

• The gymnast being asked to change partnerships
• A change of training days, hours, or NCSL class placement
• Suspension or withdrawal of the gymnast’s Club membership

17. Background — Early Specialisation in Gymnastics

Gymnastics is recognised internationally as an early specialisation sport, meaning gymnasts reach peak performance earlier in their athletic careers than in many other disciplines. To reach their potential safely and successfully, gymnasts must train consistently and with focus from a young age.

DGA fully supports children participating in a range of sports and activities, as this contributes positively to overall physical development and can benefit acrobatic skills. However, at National Competition Squad level, the physical demands of acrobatic gymnastics — and the time required to develop and perfect skills safely — mean that a degree of specialisation is necessary.

Achieving the gymnast’s full potential requires attention to all aspects of athlete wellbeing, including:

• Adequate and consistent sleep
• A healthy, balanced diet
• Injury prevention and management
• Consistent attendance and commitment to training

National-level success requires sustained effort from gymnasts, coaches, and parents working together. DGA’s coaches are committed to providing every gymnast with the best possible opportunity to reach their potential in a safe, supportive, and high-performance environment.

18. Policy Governance & Statutory Rights

This policy is approved by the Club’s Performance & Technical Director and reviewed annually. It is consistent with the Club’s obligations under Irish law and does not limit or exclude any statutory rights held by members under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 or any other applicable Irish legislation.

Where any provision of this policy conflicts with Irish law, the relevant statutory provision shall take precedence.

Approved by: Performance & Technical Director, DynamAcro Gymnastics Academy Policy Updated: March 2026 Next Review: September 2026

DynamAcro Gymnastics Academy reserves the right to amend this policy. Members will be given reasonable written notice of any material changes. Amendments will not apply retrospectively.