Parent's Guide to Gymnastics Australia Recreational Gymnastics All Ages 2026

KinderGym is Gymnastics Australia's fundamental movement program for children aged 0 to 5 years, and the foundation Gymnastics for All program. It is delivered by Gymnastics Australia affiliated providers.

Caregivers are part of the program:

• For ages 0 to 3, the program includes caregiver participation.
• For ages 4 to 5, caregiver involvement is encouraged.

The family caregiver is the adult responsible for the child's safety and supervision (a legal parent or guardian under 18 can be the caregiver). Providers are responsible for encouraging caregiver and child interaction, such as practising play, supporting skills and celebrating achievements.

Source: Gymnastics Australia KinderGym Delivery Framework (March 2024).

The KinderGym Delivery Framework recommends sessions of 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the age and experience of the children and the provider's needs.

A class includes these parts, either stand-alone or combined: welcome, free exploration, warm up, group time, guided exploration, cool down and farewell.

The program uses purposeful, play-based learning that is child-centred and inclusive. Any combination of age groups is possible within a class, and activities must be adapted to suit the developmental stage of every child in it.

Source: Gymnastics Australia KinderGym Delivery Framework (March 2024).

Under the KinderGym Delivery Framework (updated March 2024):

• KinderGym providers must be affiliated members of a Gymnastics Australia affiliated state or territory gymnastics association, and must have agreed to the KinderGym provider agreement through the online affiliation portal.
• A program must have a minimum of one KinderGym accredited coach, meaning someone who has completed the Gymnastics Australia Intermediate KinderGym coaching accreditation.
• The program may be supported and delivered by other gymsport-qualified intermediate coaches while they are supervised by an accredited KinderGym coach.
• Providers must inform the caregiver of all Gymnastics Australia and provider policies and procedures, including the supervision and safety of children.

Source: Gymnastics Australia KinderGym Delivery Framework (March 2024).

FreeG brings together traditional gymnastic and acrobatic tricks with a wide range of kicks and leaps. It is inspired by martial arts, free-running and parkour. At the National Clubs Carnival it is an obstacle-course style, participation-based event with two courses: a timed Speed Run (individual sprint, or a relay with teams of 4) and Freestyle (individuals get one minute on any apparatus or skill within a defined area; teams of 3 to 6 get 90 seconds to a choreographed routine set to music).

TeamGym is team gymnastics: teams of 6 to 12 members perform together on three apparatus, Floor, Single Mini Trampoline/Vault and Tumbling, set to music. A gymnast can be entered in only one team per event. In 2026 the national divisions were Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Open (Under 13 and Open) and National (Under 13 and Open). There is no qualifying score for the national event, although it is recommended that teams have competed at a regional or state event first. Each state or territory association hosts regional and/or state TeamGym events.

Source: 2026 GfA Technical Regulations V1.1 (clauses 4.3, 4.4, 5.6, 5.7).

The Australian Gym for Life Challenge is a contest for gymnastic performance teams, open to ages 5 and over and all abilities, and ending in a gala finale. It also includes outdoor performances (weather dependent), workshops and a social event.

• Categories (a group enters one): 1a Gymnastics and Dance, small group (3 to 15 people); 1b Gymnastics and Dance, large group (more than 15); 2a Gymnastics on or with large apparatus, small group; 2b Gymnastics on or with large apparatus, large group.
• A gymnast can be in up to three entered teams.
• A performance can run for at most 5 minutes. A team that goes over is automatically awarded Bronze and cannot be named Champion Team.
• Evaluators score four criteria worth 5 points each, a maximum of 20: entertainment; innovation, originality and variety; technique, quality and safety; and overall impression.
• Teams receive Gold, Silver or Bronze awards (guide: 30% Gold, 40% Silver, 30% Bronze). Individual scores are not published, only the award ranking.

Source: 2026 GfA Technical Regulations V1.1 (clause 5.5).

The minimum age at the National Clubs Carnival (NCC) for Gymnastics for All events is:

• TeamGym: 6 years in the year of the event
• FreeG: 6 years in the year of the event
• Gym for Life (performances): 6 years in the year of the event, or 5 years in the year of the event if an immediate family member is also participating in the team

Source: 2026 GfA Technical Regulations V1.1 (clause 5.3).

FreeG athletes are entered by the age they turn in the year of the event.

Speed Run (individual):

• Division A: 6 to 8 years
• Division B: 9 to 12 years
• Division C1 (female) and C2 (male): 13 to 16 years
• Division D1 (female) and D2 (male): 17 to 25 years
• Division E: 26 to 49 years
• Division F: 50 years and over

Team Relay (4 athletes): 9 to 12, 13 to 16 and 17 to 19 years.

Freestyle (individual): Youth 6 to 8, Junior 9 to 12, Senior 1 13 to 16 and Senior 2 17 to 25, each at Intermediate and Advanced level, plus Elite Junior (9 to 12), Elite Senior (13 to 17), Elite Open and Masters (26+). Intermediate allows no saults or unsupported inversions; Advanced allows single saults up to and including a half twist.

Team Freestyle: 3 to 6 athletes, all ages, 90 seconds.

In Speed Run and individual Freestyle, the top 10 from qualification go to the final. Awards are gold, silver and bronze medals for 1st to 3rd, ribbons for 4th to 6th and a FreeG participation certificate.

Source: 2026 GfA Technical Regulations V1.1 (clauses 5.7, 9.3 and Appendix 1).

Under Gymnastics Australia's Membership By-Law (version 4, August 2024):

• Participant membership of Gymnastics Australia and the state or territory association is granted once the participant pays the prescribed fees and the club provides the required membership details.
• The fee is payable for the calendar year (1 January to 31 December), and members can join or renew at any time during the year.
• The participant pays the whole prescribed fee for the year even if part of the year has already passed.
• Participant members must comply with the Gymnastics Australia Constitution, By-laws and policies at all times.
• Benefits are provided on an annual basis by Gymnastics Australia and the state or territory association.

The By-Law does not set dollar amounts; fees are published separately by Gymnastics Australia.

Source: Gymnastics Australia Membership By-Law v4 (clauses 3.2.1 to 3.2.3).

Gymnastics Australia's registration guidance says a participant who is registered accurately is eligible for membership benefits such as personal accident insurance.

• Clubs must register all athletes within 30 days of the start of a program or activity, for each calendar year.
• The minimum details are full name (no nicknames), date of birth, gender, phone number, full address and email. For under-18s the email, phone and address must be a parent or guardian's.
• Every participant must also have at least one gymsport and level on their profile, which must reflect current activity.
• Contact details must be true and accurate, as set out in the Insurance Statutory Declaration. Gymnastics Australia warns that failing to do so potentially leaves members uninsured when training or competing.

Source: Gymnastics Australia Support, "How to register or renew athletes" (support.gymnastics.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01066/en-us). The page does not give policy limits or wording.

Gymnastics Australia's Uniform Policy (version 1.0, December 2022) sets uniforms for the National Clubs Carnival and Australian Championships, and encourages states and territories to adopt it for their own events. Options for Gymnastics for All, men's and women's artistic include:

• Leotard or unitard with varying arm and leg lengths
• Form-fitting cultural and religious headwear
• Form-fitting shirt or singlet under a leotard, and form-fitting shorts or variable-length leggings over or under a leotard (close fitting, secure, no loose or metal fastenings such as ties, zips or buttons, and no pockets)
• Traditional gymnastics shorts or longs, where safe for the apparatus (longs should not be used on floor or beam, shorts should not be used on bars)

FreeG: the uniform must show the body line, be clean and sportive (no holes or rips), and allow all movements to be done safely. Athletes may wear suitable sport or running shoes.

TeamGym: club tops must be form fitting and must not fall off during a skill. Gymnastics footwear is optional on each apparatus.

Women's artistic: gymnasts may perform barefoot or in gymnastics footwear.

At the National Clubs Carnival, club team members must wear the club uniform in all rounds of their division, and full club attire on the floor for presentations. The policy says it is prohibited to take deductions for permitted additional clothing options, or to stop a participant performing because of inclusive clothing.

The policy does not mention jewellery.

Source: Gymnastics Australia Uniform Policy v1.0 (December 2022).

Under Gymnastics Australia's National Integrity Framework, anyone involved in gymnastics is required to raise a concern about a child's welfare or inappropriate behaviour with Sport Integrity Australia. Gymnastics Australia's 2026 technical regulations say that failing to report such a concern is itself a breach of the National Integrity Framework.

Gymnastics Australia's Uniform Policy (December 2022) also lists its national integrity team email as integrity@gymnastics.org.au.

Source: Gymnastics Australia 2026 GfA Technical Regulations V1.1 (clause 2.2).