COLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS SYMPOSIUM

The Yard is extremely excited to announce they will be hosting a first-of-its-kind multi-specialist symposium completely dedicated to the pathway of Collegiate Gymnastics.

We are strong proponents of the lifelong participation of our athletes in the sport of gymnastics. The NCAA (USA National Collegiate Athletics Association) of colleges in both the US and Canada provides opportunities for student-athletes to continue their passion for gymnastics through to their early adult years, earning them opportunities for school representation and paid athletic scholarships to study and compete.
Singapore is a unique environment whereby the academic profiles of many student-athletes puts them in a strong position of interest from good NCAA colleges. These characteristics, in combination with the high technical standards delivered by a specialist collegiate gymnastics training program, can lead to opportunities with some of the top universities in the US and Canada.

The Yard is extremely excited to announce they will be hosting a first-of-its-kind multi-specialist symposium completely dedicated to the pathway of Collegiate Gymnastics.

We are strong proponents of the lifelong participation of our athletes in the sport of gymnastics. The NCAA (USA National Collegiate Athletics Association) of colleges in both the US and Canada provides opportunities for student-athletes to continue their passion for gymnastics through to their early adult years, earning them opportunities for school representation and paid athletic scholarships to study and compete.
Singapore is a unique environment whereby the academic profiles of many student-athletes puts them in a strong position of interest from good NCAA colleges. These characteristics, in combination with the high technical standards delivered by a specialist collegiate gymnastics training program, can lead to opportunities with some of the top universities in the US and Canada.

WHAT TO EXPECT

In this 3-day symposium, we aim to educate both parents and athletes on:

• • What the NCAA is all about
  • The timelines - A realistic picture of when your athletes need to get serious about this goal, at what point you need to be considering a specialist college program and where your athletes' technical abilities need to be in relation to their graduation year
  • The development milestones - What your athletes need to be learning and when
  • The commitment from both parent and athlete
  • The College Recruitment Process
  • Artistic Preparation & Choreography workshops
  • Gymnastics Specific Nutrition workshops for Parents & Athletes
  • Gymnastics Specific Sports Psychology workshops for Parents & Athletes
  • Strategic athlete routine planning and construction

KEY WORKSHOPS TOPICS FOR PARENTS

• TECHNICAL - What is Collegiate Gymnastics
• TECHNICAL - What the pathway involves
• TECHNICAL - Who the pathway is for, what are the prerequisites & how do you get selected
• PSYCHOLOGY - What parents should expect, what does this mean for you and tools to support your athletes through the pathway
• PSYCHOLOGY - Understanding the psychological processes and tools parents need to support growing athletes
• NUTRITION - How to leverage good nutritional knowledge to increase athlete performance and athlete development.

FEATURING INTERNATIONAL EXPERT PRESENTERS

Mary Wright, New Zealand/USA

High-Performance Specialist

Mary grew up as a gymnast in New Zealand. She began her coaching career at the age of 15 and was a club owner by the age of 20, where she led athletes to the 1970 and 1974 World Championships. In 1975 she started her U.S. coaching career in California. Within her first year, she had a gymnast make the 1976 Olympic Team for Canada and had a gymnast compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. In 1980, two of her gymnasts made the U.S. Olympic Team. Wright went on to coach numerous athletes in the 1984 Olympics, the 1985 World Championships, the 1987 World Championships, the 1988 Olympic Games and the 1992 Olympic Games. Her club, Olympus, has consistently been one of the top clubs in Utah and has qualified athletes to Level 10 nationals every year since 1993. They have produced more than 100 state champions and numerous regional champions. Mary currently serves the international gymnastics community as an industry expert technician and clinician.

Mary Wright, New Zealand/USA

High-Performance Specialist

Mary grew up as a gymnast in New Zealand. She began her coaching career at the age of 15 and was a club owner by the age of 20, where she led athletes to the 1970 and 1974 World Championships. In 1975 she started her U.S. coaching career in California. Within her first year, she had a gymnast make the 1976 Olympic Team for Canada and had a gymnast compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. In 1980, two of her gymnasts made the U.S. Olympic Team. Wright went on to coach numerous athletes in the 1984 Olympics, the 1985 World Championships, the 1987 World Championships, the 1988 Olympic Games and the 1992 Olympic Games. Her club, Olympus, has consistently been one of the top clubs in Utah and has qualified athletes to Level 10 nationals every year since 1993. They have produced more than 100 state champions and numerous regional champions. Mary currently serves the international gymnastics community as an industry expert technician and clinician.

Darren Webster, Australia/Canada

High-Performance Specialist

Darren Webster is currently the Artistic Director of Coaching at The Yard Singapore with over 3 decades of coaching at the World & Olympic levels with multiple medal-winning athletes at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Cups and Olympics. He has been the National Team coach for Australia, Great Britain, the USA and recently Canada, and a recurring member of the Women's High-Performance Program Committee for Gym Canada and Alberta. Darren has been USA Gymnastics Congress Clinician & junior uneven bars development coach for Gym Canada for 2017-19. He has held various positions in Cirque Soleil, as Head Coach for the touring show 'TOTEM', Head of acrobatic content and formation general at Cirque HQ as well as audition and casting agent.

Kate Webster, USA

Movement Specialist

As one of the only western students to complete the prestigious Russian State University of Physical Culture, she brings a combined approach of eastern block technique with a contemporary international influence of coaching. Having worked with athletes of all ages from junior development through to National Team members in Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore and the USA, she has seen how a positive approach to gymnastics can set athletes up for lifelong success. She has also incorporated further professional development in the areas of pilates, core strength and conditioning as a STOTT pilates teacher and Cirque Du Soleil contractor.

Kate Webster, USA

Movement Specialist

As one of the only western students to complete the prestigious Russian State University of Physical Culture, she brings a combined approach of eastern block technique with a contemporary international influence of coaching. Having worked with athletes of all ages from junior development through to National Team members in Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore and the USA, she has seen how a positive approach to gymnastics can set athletes up for lifelong success. She has also incorporated further professional development in the areas of pilates, core strength and conditioning as a STOTT pilates teacher and Cirque Du Soleil contractor.

Christina Anderson, USA

Gymnastics Specific Dietitian Nutritionist

A leading pediatric and adolescent sports dietitian nutritionist that specializes in nutrition for the gymnast. Her approach to supporting gymnasts, parents, and coaches comes from my own experience as a high-level gymnast that struggled with food and her body. Her mission is to help gymnasts learn to fuel their bodies for optimal performance and longevity in the sport. Together we can learn about the body’s energy needs and how all foods can fit. And, we can together create a way of eating that supports sports performance and a healthy relationship with food + body.
As a former competitive artistic gymnast, current Developmental Program/NCAA women’s gymnastics judge, and someone who works in the sport of gymnastics each day, she personally understands the struggles, cultural challenges, and pressure that you and our gymnasts face.

Dr. Jay-Lee Nair, Australia

High-Performance Sports Psychology
Specialist

Dr Nair is a renowned specialist in sport psychology in Asia and was listed as the Top 18 most highly-rated Psychologist in Singapore in 2021. As a former NCAA Division-1 collegiate golf player with Academic All American Honours, Dr Jay-Lee understands what it takes to balance sport and studies at the elite level. Her niche is working with young athletes experiencing performance anxiety and perfectionists in all performance areas. In her daily practice, she works with athletes, students, corporate champions, and athletes globally in a variety of domains, including fighter jet pilots, tour players on the Asian Tour, gymnasts, tennis players and swimmers. Dr Jay-Lee worked with Singapore's Sailing team in preparation for the Rio Olympics 2016 and Thailand's top swimmers in preparation for the 2020 Olympics games in Tokyo. Dr Jay-Lee has recently published and released a book to support parents and coaches in their journey alongside their athletes. The book is titled Good Sport: How to support and talk to young athletes before, during, and after the game.

Dr. Jay-Lee Nair, Australia

High-Performance Sports Psychology
Specialist

Dr Nair is a renowned specialist in sport psychology in Asia and was listed as the Top 18 most highly-rated Psychologist in Singapore in 2021. As a former NCAA Division-1 collegiate golf player with Academic All American Honours, Dr Jay-Lee understands what it takes to balance sport and studies at the elite level. Her niche is working with young athletes experiencing performance anxiety and perfectionists in all performance areas. In her daily practice, she works with athletes, students, corporate champions, and athletes globally in a variety of domains, including fighter jet pilots, tour players on the Asian Tour, gymnasts, tennis players and swimmers. Dr Jay-Lee worked with Singapore's Sailing team in preparation for the Rio Olympics 2016 and Thailand's top swimmers in preparation for the 2020 Olympics games in Tokyo. Dr Jay-Lee has recently published and released a book to support parents and coaches in their journey alongside their athletes. The book is titled Good Sport: How to support and talk to young athletes before, during, and after the game.

Stacey Umeh, Canada/Australia

Artistic Preparation & Choreography Specialist

Stacey Umeh is one of the World’s leading elite Women’s Artistic gymnastics coaches and movement specialists, having provided gymnastics, artistic and choreographic services to hundreds of individuals worldwide including the Australian, Chinese and Singaporean Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Teams. She has also acted as a creative movement consultant to many other champions from sports such as Rhythmic Gymnastics, Men’s Gymnastics, Synchronized Swimming, Rugby Union, Netball, Diving, Pole Fitness, Dance and Figure Skating.

In Australia, Stacey has utilized her knowledge and expertise as a Coach, choreographer and Program Manager and professional dancer for a samba troupe in Brisbane, to found and direct a movement consultancy company called The Creative Movement Group. Stacey has spent over 38 years in Canada, Australia, China, Singapore, the United States and Japan, working with both elite and “everyday” people alike, assisting them to maximize their physical potential.