Tumbling, Gymnastics or Cheer: Choosing a Class in Wilmington, OH

Parents ask us this all the time: should my kid do gymnastics, tumbling or cheer? At The Flip Zone in Wilmington, the honest answer is that they build on each other. Here's how our classes fit together, so you can pick the right starting point.

The short version

• Gymnastics is where the youngest kids start. Our preschool classes for ages 2 to 5 build coordination, strength and body awareness through games, mats and obstacle courses.
• Tumbling is the floor skills: rolls, cartwheels, kickovers and back handsprings. School age tumbling covers ages 5 to 12, and teen tumbling covers middle and high school.
• Cheer adds stunts, routines and a team. All Star cheer is for ages 4 and up, and every cheer athlete also takes a tumbling class.

Start with your child's age

Age is the first sort. A two-year-old starts in Mini and Me, with you on the floor next to them. From age 3, kids take preschool class on their own while you watch from the lobby. We also run daytime homeschool classes.

From 5 to 12, kids move into school age tumbling. Middle and high schoolers have their own classes, whether they're brand new or already tumbling. If your child is in between two groups, call us and we'll help you choose.

Then think about what they enjoy

Some kids love to flip and want to see their own skills grow week by week. Tumbling is a great fit for them. School age tumbling has four levels, from first cartwheels to back handsprings, and kids move up when they're ready, not on a calendar.

Other kids light up with a team around them. They love music, counting out a routine and cheering each other on. That's cheer. Our All Star and Wildcat teams work on stunts, tumbling and routines together, and they compete from November through March.

Not sure yet? That's normal. Tumbling is never wasted. It's the base for cheer, and plenty of kids start there and add a team later.

What is the difference between tumbling and cheer?

Tumbling is the floor skills: rolls, cartwheels, kickovers and back handsprings. Cheer puts tumbling together with stunts and routines on a team. At The Flip Zone, every All Star cheer athlete also takes a tumbling class each week, because that's where the skills get built.

How joining a cheer team works

Teams form each May, with evaluations in the spring. Athletes don't always need tumbling experience to try out. We place them based on the skills they have now. If your child isn't quite ready for a competitive team, cheer prep is the step before it.

Once on a team, the weekly commitment is one team practice and one tumbling class of their choice. Clinics are short, focused sessions that are open to everyone, team or not. Call the gym at (937) 576-8599 to ask about open spots and get on the list for evaluations.

Can my child do both tumbling and cheer?

Yes, and most cheer athletes do. An All Star season is one team practice and one tumbling class a week. Teens who cheer for their school often add tumbling, and the unlimited option lets them come more than once a week for one monthly price.

For school cheerleaders

Just made a school squad and need tumbling? Or stuck on a back handspring before tryouts? Our middle and high school tumbling classes are built for that. Teens often pick up tumbling quickly because they have the strength and focus for it, and our coaches start from wherever they are.

Do I have to wait for a new session to start?

No. Classes run all year and you can join any time. The first month is prorated, so you only pay for the classes that are left. Tuition is based on four classes a month. When a month has five, the total adjusts to cover the extra class.

Ready to pick a class?

Hit See Class Times to see open spots and register online. New to all of this? Read your child's first gymnastics class for what to wear and what happens on day one. Or call us. Tell us your child's age and what they can already do, and we'll point you to the right class. You'll find us at 160 Park Drive, Suite A, Wilmington, OH 45177.