Blaine/Ham Lake Xcel September 2023 newsletter

September 2023 Newsletter

Gymnastics

Ninja

Dance

Blaine/Ham Lake Xcel News

Dates Coming Up

September 4th-5th - No practice ALL levels - Back to school!!
September 8th-9th - Spirit Days! Tie Dye day! Who can dress in the best Tie Dye clothing?
September 15th - Deadline for Chow's travel meet sign up - Silver level
September 22nd-24th - Judges Cup Gymnastics Meet - Bronze 2/Silver - Click here for schedule
October 1st - Deadline for Arizona Travel Meet - Gold and up level
October 2nd-4th - Spirit Days! Jersey Day - Wear a jersey to practice of your favorite team/player!
October 6th-8th - Razzle Dazzle Gymnastics Meet - Bronze 1
October 13th-15th - Ghost and Goblin Gymnastics Meet - Bronze 2/Silver
October 27th-29th - Star of the North Gymnastics Meet - Bronze 2/Silver

Website Update:

Jam Hops is in the process of updating our website, due to this some of the previous links may no longer be valid. Please reach out to Carly if you are in need of any information. Thank you!

Modified practices - September

September 4-5: No practice ALL levels - Start of a new school year!

Bronze 2 and Silver: No practice September 23rd due to Judges Cup Competition

Fee Reminder:

Bronze 1 - First installment of meet fees will be added in September and charged with October tuition. Second installment will be added in October and charged with November tuition.
Bronze 2 and Silver - First installment of meet fees will be added in September and charged with October tuition, second installment will be added in October and charged with November tuition, third installment will be added in November and charged with December tuition. This does not include the optional travel meet for Silver.
Gold-Diamond - First installment of meet fees will be added in November and charged with December tuition. Second installment will be added in December and charged with January tuition. Third installment will be added in January and charged with February tuition. These fees do not include State, Regionals, or the optional travel meet for Gold/Platinum/Diamond.

Please reach out to Nicole (customercaredirector@jamhops.com) if alternative payment arrangements are needed.

Silver Optional Travel Meet:

The silver level has the chance to travel to Des Moines, IA for the Chow's Winter Classic gymnastics meet. This meet is optional for the Silver level and only athletes that have signed up will be registered. There is a minimum requirement of 6 athletes signed up for the level to attend. Please sign up here: Chow's Winter Classic Sign up.

Gold/Platinum/Diamond level athletes are registered for this meet, please let Carly know if you are unable to attend by September 15th.

This meet has a leotard as a gift to the athletes. Silver should list their leotard size when signing up, Gold and up will need to send leotard sizes to Carly (xcel@jamhops.com). If not leotard size is given, Carly will use the same size as the athlete’s competition leotard.

*Deadline to sign up will be September 15th

Gold/Platinum/Diamond Travel Meet:

The Gold/Platinum/Diamond levels have the chance to travel to Chandler, AZ for the Arizona Classic gymnastics meet. This meet is optional and only athletes that have signed up will be registered. There is a minimum requirement of 6 athletes signed up for the level to attend. Please sign up here: Arizona Classic Sign Up

This meet has a leotard and shorts as a gift for the athletes. Please list size when signing up.

*Deadline to sign up will be October 1st

Xcel Parent Apparel

Click the link below for Jam Hops Xcel exclusive parent apparel! We hope to keep this store open continuously with updates to the apparel every year. Conveniently customize, order, and pay through the link below. When your order is ready, it will be available for pickup at Jam Hops.

Xcel Parent Shop

September Reminders:

Remember to bring running shoes to practice - we may run around the pond!
Drink lots of water before, during, and AFTER practice! Hydration is important to keeping our bodies healthy.
Bring extra hair binders in your gym bag!
Bring a healthy snack to practice to help refuel your body during and after a workout.
Please drop off and pick up in the parking lot, this is for the safety of our athletes.

Private Lessons:

USAG has required an additional waiver for any private lessons. This waiver needs to be renewed every year. If you are scheduled to do a private lesson with any of our coaches, please fill out the Private Lesson Waiver and turn into your coach. Thank you!

Jam Hops coaches have increased their private lesson rate effective September 1st, 2023. If you have scheduled private lessons, please confirm with your coach their current rate.

Fall Schedule, groups, and Meet Schedule

Fall Schedule, groups and meet information can be found here: Xcel Information

Fall groups - Be sure to check out which group your athlete will practice with and which level they will compete.

Athletes will start their new group/schedule Wednesday, September 6th.

Choreography

Bronze 1-Silver will have new floor and beam routines this year! Choreography will be taught during regular practice. It will be important for your athletes to attend practice this month to be sure they are learning their routines and choreography. If your athlete is in need of a private lesson to learn their routine, please reach out to Carly (xcel@jamhops.com) or contact your athlete's coach.

Gold will have a new floor and beam routine. Floor routine will be taught October-November during regular practice time. Gold athletes have the chance to help contribute to the beam routine. Each athlete will create a section of the routine and vote on their favorite poses to create a routine.

Platinum and Diamond athletes will have individual routines for Floor and Beam. Floor choreography can be kept for 2-3 years and then it is recommended to purchase a new routine. Floor choreography can range between $300-$350 per routine, plus cost of music - athletes in need of a new routine will receive an email from Carly. If you have not received an email and your child is in need of a new routine, please reach out to Carly (xcel@jamhops.com) Please let Carly know if you have any concerns regarding this.

Platinum and Diamond athletes will be able to create their own routine on beam with input and advice from the beam coach. Beam choreography is available to purchase if needed.

OPEN GYM UPDATE

Open gym has been filling up almost every week! Be sure to register early to guarantee a spot.

*Important - Athletes that register for a spot for open gym are expected to attend open gym. Xcel athletes that register and do not attend will be charged the open gym fee. There are no refunds for this fee.

Registration opens every Monday, this can be completed online or by calling a Customer Care Representative at 763-413-0647.

September Athlete of the Month

Stephanie was chosen because of her consistent work and attitude in the gym! Stephanie comes to the gym ready to work hard and doesn’t let the hard skills slow her down!

Congratulations Stephanie!

Nickname: Stephanie T

Favorite Food: Fish

Favorite Summer Activity: Swimming

Favorite Winter Activity: Skiing

Something you are proud of: relearning my squat on and improving on Round Off Back Handspring

Someone you admire: Older Sister

Favorite Gymnastics Skill: Back handspring

What do you want to be when you grow up: Movie Maker

Team Leaders

We would love to have the parents help keep the team spirit alive! If you are willing to be a team leader, please reach out to Carly (Xcel@Jamhops.com) or sign up here: Team Leader Sign Up

Potential Team Leader duties:

organize team dinners (planning for day/time, communicate to other parents, reserve table if needed)
plan gymnastics meet activities (if applicable, such as Ghost and Goblin Halloween contest)
plan for parents to sit together at meets, potential parent meet themes

Team leader position is a month long volunteer position and will be specific to the level your athlete is competing in (if your athlete is a silver level athlete, you only have to plan for the silver level). There can be more than 1 team leader per level per month and one is welcome to sign up for more than 1 month.

This is a new activity for the Xcel team and the first to involve parents! I appreciate your patience as we work out the kinks and hope this will help make your time with the Xcel program more enjoyable.

Athlete’s Corner

This month we are focusing on hydration and nutrition for athletes recovering from workouts and competitions. Read the fact sheets below for more info

Proper Hydration for Athletes

Recovery Factsheet