HUGS Competitive Teams

H.U.G.S. – Hope Unites Gymnastics with Special Athletes.

We have both womens and mens HUGS programs.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO BE A BUDDY FOR THESE GYMNASTS!
SEE INFO AT BOTTOM OF PAGE!

USAG HUGS MISSION:
1. To offer a competitive artistic gymnastics program for athletes with
special needs
2. To grow the sport of artistic gymnastics by creating a program that integrates
athletes with special needs into mainstream events

PHILOSOPHY:
The HUGS Artistic program allows athletes with special needs the opportunity to
compete in an official USA Gymnastics setting.
The HUGS Artistic program allows an option for athletes to participate alongside
artistic gymnasts. The expectations are that the fundamentals of the sport are to be
taught and performed, and will be evaluated with the technical standards of artistic
gymnastics.

BASIC PARTICIPATION INFORMATION:
• Athletes must have a current USA Gymnastics Introductory membership.
• Coaches must be a USA Gymnastics professional members.
• HUGS competition can be included in any session of USA Gymnastics sanctioned
meets.
• The rules are designed so that athletes can compete using the current routines and
requirements of Special Olympics Artistic Gymnastics.
• At any level, athletes may perform the Special Olympics routines or optional
choreography.
• Athletes may participate in All-Around, or specialize in 1-3 events.

PARTICIPATION LEVELS:
HUGS Artistic will include 3 levels of competition. Routine requirements, allowable
skills, and judge’s guidelines are listed in a separate document.
• SAPPHIRE
• RUBY
• EMERALD

AWARDS:
Awards will follow USA Gymnastics guidelines. Additional awards may be
presented at the discretion of the Meet Director.

VOLUNTEERS:
We started a HUGS (Hope Unites Gymnastics with Special athletes) program at Head Over Heels Gymnastics in April 2021. This is the first program in the state of Alabama that offers a competitive women’s artistic gymnastics program for athletes with special needs.

We currently practice on Friday’s from 4-5pm and have 8 athletes. While we are looking to grow the program in the new year, we are hoping to gather a group of volunteers that will help support these athletes throughout the practice time. It is a great opportunity for students (14 and older, special exceptions can be made) to gain volunteer hours and valuable experience serving and working alongside peers with special needs.

No official gymnastics coaching experience is required, however it will be helpful to know basic terminology. Skill level-wise the athletes are around a level 1/2 USAG level.

Volunteers will be buddied up with an athlete and will help guide them through the day’s activities. If you are interested in learning more or coming by to shadow a practice please reach out to hohgyms@gmail.com and
there is a volunteeer registration on the HOH webiste at headoverheelsgyms.com

NO gymnastics experience necessary. IF interested, please email us at hohgyms@gmail.com and we’ll send you a short informative video. If you are ready to sign up, click link:

https://app.iclasspro.com/portal/hohgyms/camps/40