Results Statement: By using this system, athletes will get to celebrate their achievements with new skills and receive recognition leading to an overall increase in retention.
When to use this system: When an athlete gets a new skill on our progression chart and can successfully complete that skill three times in a row. The skills does not have to have excellent technique yet. The goal is to celebrate the accomplishment of the new skill and encourage athletes to then continue on in the perfection process.
When a coach works with an athlete and identifies a new skill, the coach should work with the athlete until he or she can accomplish the skill three times in a row. The athlete should have balance and coordination, and she should not be falling in a skill or any errors that would otherwise incur a “deduction” (ie: tapping their head on the floor, putting their hands down to catch themselves during or after a skill, etc.)
At the end of class, athletes who have been recognized for achieving a new skill will go to the front desk to fill out a skills card. The front desk associate will help the athlete fill out the skills card (if the athlete needs help). All cards will have the following information: Athlete’s name, age and skill. Multiple skills may be placed on the same card.
The athlete or front desk associate should write on each laminated card with a dry-erase marker.
The front desk associate will then take a picture of the athlete in front of the Twister banner or in front of the skills board. If needed that week or the next for social media, the front desk will also take a video of the athlete completing the skill.
The front desk will then put a piece of tape on the back of the skills card and the athlete will tape it on the board. Skills should be placed in an orderly fashion to maintain the organization throughout the gym.
Making the skills cards:
The event coordinator will develop a theme for each month of the year. That theme will be used for the skills board. The cards will be designed in Canva or another graphics template. All cards should have the following labels with a line to complete as well as the Twisters logo: Athlete’s name, age and skill. The skills cards may be printed on regular paper in color. Try to fit as many as possible on the paper. Each card will then be cut out and laminated. When trimming the laminated parts, leave at least 1/4″ around the card so they remain sealed.
The skills board itself will have a theme each month and be decorated in accordance with that theme. It will remain by the front door. Coaches should be encouraged by management to fill the board each month. A celebratory post will be made on Twister Nation and the Twister Facebook page each month the board is filled.
Themes:
January: New Year, New Skills (Skills cards are in the shape of a gold New Years ball to mimic the New York Ball Drop.)
February: We ❤️ New Skills (Skills cards are in the shape of hearts.)
March: New Skills Are More Precious Than Gold (Skills cards are in the shape of a pot of gold.)
April: Our Skills are Egg-cellent (Skills are in the shape of an Easter Skill)
May: Our Skills are in Full Bloom (Skill cards are in the shape of a blooming flower)
June-August: 300 Skills of Summer (Skills cards are in the shape of a beach ball and we make a large board for the whole summer.)
- Other options are Suns Out, Skills Out using suns as the skills cards. Also, Red, White and Skills with colorful stars.
September: Pumpkin Spice: Our Skills Are So Nice (Skills cards are in the shape of a to-go coffee cup.)
October: Our Skills Are Spooky Cool (Skills are in the shape of a ghost.)
November: Thankful Turkey (We make a turkey as the skills board and the skills cards are in the shape of a feather.)
December: There is not a phrase. We use a blank Christmas tree and the skills cards are in the shape of an ornament with a hook. At the end of the month, athletes are invited to take their ornament home and use a permanent marker if they’d like so they have a little Twisters ornament (no charge for this). Ornaments not picked up by Dec. 31 are erased and saved for the next year.