Looking For An Alternative To Gymnastics In Nottingham?
If your child loves cartwheels, handstands, tumbling, learning physical skills or simply being active, there are other ways to develop those interests. At Notts Hotshots, children can discover cheerleading, tumbling and team-based performance in a dedicated training environment.
Cheerleading and tumbling can give children another way to develop coordination, strength, flexibility, confidence and physical skills — whether they've previously trained in gymnastics or are starting from scratch.
Gymnastics Isn't The Only Option.
Gymnastics is a fantastic sport, but every child is different. Some enjoy individual skill development while others thrive when those skills become part of a team.
At Notts Hotshots, athletes can develop tumbling skills or discover cheerleading , where tumbling combines with stunts, jumps, movement, performance and teamwork.
Neither pathway requires previous gymnastics experience. The right starting point depends on the athlete's age, interests, current ability and available classes.
Some Skills Can Transfer Brilliantly.
Previous gymnastics experience isn't necessary, but gymnasts may already have useful physical foundations when starting cheerleading or tumbling.
Tumbling
Existing floor skills may provide a useful foundation when developing cheer tumbling or continuing within dedicated tumbling sessions.
Body Awareness
Understanding shapes, positions and how the body moves can support the learning of new physical skills.
Strength
Existing strength and control can be useful across tumbling, jumps and stunt development.
Flexibility
Flexibility can support areas such as jumps and certain body positions, although every athlete develops differently.
Stunting
Cheer introduces athletes to basing, flying, spotting, timing and working together within stunt groups.
Team Performance
Individual skills become part of a larger routine where athletes depend on one another to perform together.
A New Challenge For Existing Gymnasts.
Athletes coming from gymnastics, trampolining, parkour and similar activities may arrive with useful foundations including coordination, strength, flexibility and confidence learning physical skills.
Cheer gives athletes a different way to use those abilities. Tumbling becomes one element of a routine alongside stunts, jumps, formations, movement and team performance.
Alternatively, athletes who mainly want to continue developing floor skills can explore our dedicated tumbling classes .
Existing experience may help with:
- Body awareness
- Coordination
- Tumbling foundations
- Strength and control
- Flexibility
- Confidence learning physical skills
- Understanding shapes and technique
Gymnastics And Cheer Are Different Sports.
They share some physical qualities and skills, but the training experience and sporting objectives are different.
Gymnastics Training
Gymnastics contains its own disciplines, apparatus, techniques and competitive structures.
- Dedicated gymnastics disciplines
- Individual skill development
- Apparatus depending on discipline
- Strength, flexibility and control
- Gymnastics-specific competition pathways
Cheer Training
All-star cheer combines multiple skills into a team routine performed on the competition floor.
- Stunts and stunt sequences
- Tumbling
- Jumps
- Movement and formations
- Team performance
You Don't Need A Gymnastics Background.
This page might be called “Alternative to Gymnastics”, but athletes absolutely do not need to have been gymnasts before joining Hotshots.
Children start with different abilities. Some arrive able to tumble; others haven't yet learned a cartwheel. Beginner training is about developing the foundations from wherever that athlete is starting.
If you're not sure which programme is right, explore our classes or contact us and we'll help identify the most suitable available starting point.
Find The Right Pathway.
The right option depends on what your child enjoys, their age, previous experience and the spaces currently available.
Try A Beginner Class
Explore our beginner classes and find a low-pressure introduction to the Hotshots programme.
Develop Skills
Athletes can develop through tumbling , recreational cheer and other suitable training opportunities.
Explore Competition
Athletes interested in progressing further may explore our competitive cheer programme . Team placement depends on age, readiness, team needs and available spaces.
More Than Just Former Gymnasts.
Cheer and tumbling can appeal to children from lots of different sporting backgrounds — as well as those who haven't yet found an activity they love.
Gymnasts
A chance to use existing physical foundations within a different sporting environment.
Trampolinists
Body awareness and aerial confidence may provide useful foundations for tumbling development.
Parkour Athletes
Coordination, strength and movement skills can provide a useful starting point.
Complete Beginners
No previous sport, gymnastics or tumbling experience is required to discover Hotshots.
Based In Watnall. Welcoming Athletes From Across The Area.
Notts Hotshots Cheer & Dance Academy is based in Watnall, Nottinghamshire. Families travel to our academy from Nottingham, Hucknall, Kimberley, Eastwood, Mansfield and surrounding communities.
Gymnastics, Cheer & Tumbling.
A few useful answers if you're considering a new activity for your child.
Is cheerleading similar to gymnastics?
Can a gymnast move into cheerleading?
Does my child need gymnastics experience to start cheer?
What if my child mainly wants to tumble?
What skills are taught in cheerleading?
Is cheerleading only for girls?
Can my child try cheer without committing to competition?
Where is Notts Hotshots?
How do I know which class is right?
Maybe They're Ready For Something Different.
Whether they're an experienced gymnast, love tumbling or haven't found the right activity yet, explore cheerleading and tumbling at Notts Hotshots.