Debbie Hoag, owner of Rising Star Gymnastics, is excited about Shawnee’s future gymnasts. Ralph and Debbie Hoag moved here from the East Coast two years ago to start a ranch for their horses and are now located in the Coca-Cola building where they opened their gym August 17th.
Hoag, former competitive gymnast, owned a gymnastics company for fourteen years. With nearly forty years experience, Hoag is certified through the USAG (USA Gymnastics), taking students from beginner to advanced, levels one through ten and from bronze through platinum in the United State Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs. Hoag is a professional member of the USAG, the organization responsible for running the Olympics.
Beyond trampolines and tumbling, Coach Hoag teaches the kind of gymnastics Americans enjoy on TV. “I teach artistic and rhythmic gymnastics or ‘real gymnastics.’ Artistic gymnastics is the high bars, pommel, parallel bars, floor exercise, balance beams, uneven bars, rings, vault and then rhythmic gymnastics is the ribbon, the hoop, rope, clubs, and the ball.”
According to Hoag, gymnastics begins with conditioning the body. “You have to teach skill progression and parents sometimes don’t understand why their child isn’t learning a back handspring the first lesson. Safety is first. Until a child is stretched and strong enough to do that move, I will not do it. I teach the skills the right way, in an order where children learn it safely.”
Hoag offers a Junior Olympics program for parents who prefer a recreational approach to the sport but will soon offer competitive teams as the program grows. As for training for an Olympic medal, that depends on the parents. “Training for the Olympics is a seven days a week, six or seven hours a day commitment. That’s a big commitment for busy families so right now we’re focusing on the JO program which is how all the elite gymnasts begin.”
In addition to the obvious health benefits, Hoag says gymnastics gives kids a head start on life lessons and improves their skills in other sports. One parent who also had her child in soccer got feedback from the coach. “His soccer coach noticed a difference in his performance and asked what other sport he was playing. When he found out she had him in gymnastics he told her to keep it up. I’ve heard parents tell me things like that many times. ‘Gymnastics training does carry over to other sports.”
Admirers of the sport also notice it comes with some risks. Flipping, flying and twisting through the air, fearless gymnasts are upside down in mid air. Getting them to that point means overcoming fear, building confidence, and reaping the benefits of hard work. “When they have to work through that fear now while they’re younger, they’ll get through those moments in life when they’re older. We like to think in the gymnastics world, ‘start here and you can go anywhere.’” They also learn how to get along, work together and set goals. Priceless lessons for life in the real world.
Rising Star Gymnastics offers recreational classes to students 2 to 18 years and birthday parties. For more information or to check for openings, contact the office at 273-1068 or online at rsgymnasticsok.com.