Competition Group
Vision:
Our vision is to create a welcoming and positive gymnastics environment where ambition, hard work, and professionalism come together. We aim to inspire and motivate every gymnast to believe in themselves, enjoy their journey, and reach their full potential — creating champions in gymnastics and in life.
Welcome to Falcon’s Competition Group: 50 Years of Excellence
For half a century, Falcon has been a cornerstone of regional gymnastics, dedicated to harnessing the energy, enthusiasm, and passion of our gymnasts. From our foundation 50 years ago to our current standing as a leading competitive club, our mission has remained the same: to provide world-class coaching while fostering lifelong friendships within the Falcon family.
Whether your child is taking their first steps into competitive gymnastics or aiming for National gold, they are joining a legacy of success, hard work, and most importantly fun.
Training Venues:
All squads train out of Scott Primary School, Hawk Drive, Bedford, MK41 7JE
Our Competition Group is made up of six squads:
Selection & Progression
Gymnasts from our Recreational classes may be invited to squad trials, where senior coaches place them in the most suitable squad. Progress is regularly reviewed, with opportunities to move between squads as skills develop. All squad gymnasts are welcome to attend tumbling classes.
If you are not currently part of Falcon and are interested in a trial, please contact Mel Hale on 07514 366894, mel@falcongym.com.
Team Gymnastics Squad
- Schedule: Monday or Saturday (1.5 hours)
- Focus: Building core floor skills, flexibility, and strength while introducing acrobatics, dance, tumbling, vaulting, and trampetting.
- Core Skills: Learning handstands, cartwheels, straddle jumps & through vaults.
- Goals: To complete Falcon’s development programme and obtain Gold skills certificate also prepare for the journey into competitions.
- Required Attributes: Confidence, commitment, willingness to listen and learn.
- Performance Opportunities: In-house competitions, summer displays, and Christmas shows.
Development Squad
- Schedule: Ages 5–8: Tuesday (1.5 hours) or Ages 8+: Saturday (2.5 hours)
- Focus: Technical excellence in shape, form, pose and basic skills
- Core Skills: (5-8) Learning walkovers, round offs, splits, levers, and supported flics. (8+) Handsprings, flics, free cartwheels.
- Goals: Extending the range of skills for internal and County-level competitions.
- Progression: Seamless transition into Tops and Excel squads.
- Performance Opportunities: Local competitions, summer displays, and Christmas shows.
Preparation Squad
- Schedule: Wednesday & Friday (2.5 hours per session – 5 hours total)
- Focus: For 5–8-year-olds to achieve high-level techniques, individual skills along with expressive dance and movement.
- Core Skills: Leaning straddle presses, handstand shapes, round-offs, flics, and somersaults.
- Goals: To create talented “tops” who are fearless and quick to learn.
- Progression: Developing a “winning habit” to prepare for selection to the Acrobatic Squad
Excel Squad
- Schedule: Saturday (4 hours)
- Focus: Complex individual/partnership skills, expressive dance and choreography
- Core Skills: Learning tumbling including round off flic, pair and trio skills.
- Goals: To become confident, expressive gymnasts working within partnerships
- Required Attributes: A great work ethic and a desire to perform.
- Progression: Developing complex skills such as somersaults and to prepare for the Acrobatic Squad.
- Performance Opportunities: Competing at County and Regional levels and being part of Falcon’s display team.
Tumbling Squad
- Schedule: Saturday (2 hours)
- Focus: Fast, dynamic runs including handsprings, flics, and somersaults.
- Goals: To learn the fundamental aspects of tumbling, and to link skills creating fast and fluid sequences.
- Who it’s for: Anyone in the 6 Competition Group Squads
- Additional Bolt-on Sessions: 4 or 8-week “bite-size” courses are available for anyone in the Acro Squad for specific skill enhancement.
Acrobatic Squad
- Focus: Harnessing enthusiasm, passion and talent. This squad follows the British Gymnastics development plan, focusing on set grades and disciplines to build world-class individual and acrobatics skills.
- Goals: Winning at County, Regional, and National Championships through a combination of technical precision and outstanding choreographed routines.
- Required Attributes: Raw talent, hunger for success, and deep respect for coaches and teammates. We look for gymnasts who are ready to work hard and have fun.
- Legacy: Backed by the best coaches in the region and a club with 50 years of history, this squad is the backbone of our medal-winning reputation.
- Entry: Selection is rigorous; coaches constantly talent spot from within the Falcon’s Competition Group Structure and welcome external talent who share our aspirations.
Summary of The Falcon Competition Group
- Team Gym: Core skills & confidence
- Development: Technical excellence
- Preparation: High Level technical skills
- Excel: Improved range of skills & choreography
- Tumbling: Dynamic speed & power
- Acrobatics: Elite “Best-in-Class” performance
Our Outstanding Medal Success across 2026
To date, we have won a total of 192 medals across the following competitions:
- County Championships: January
- King Edmund: February
- Spelthorne Cup: February
- Regional prelims: March
- In-House Championships: March
- Eclipse Invitational: April
Calendar of Events 2026
Please note: these competitions are provisional and you will be informed if your gymnast is selected to attend.
Thank you for reading Falcon SA Gymnastics Club Ltd.’s Competition Group page. We are appreciative of Hannah Shri allowing us to have a page on her website.
Details relating to Rules of the Gym, Code of Conduct, GDPR, Safeguarding & Welfare and Insurance can all be found in your welcome pack on joining.
If you have any questions or would like further information about our squads or selection process
Please contact:
Caz Westgate
07551 616467
caz@falcongym.com
