GymSports NewZealand’s mission for moveMprove® is simple:

Please click on the links to see our moveMprove® Newsletter- moveMprove® Impact

moveMprove Impact - June 2011

 moveMprove Impact - Jan 2011

moveMprove® is proudly supported by Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) and the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).

Why was moveMprove® developed?

It has been identified that kiwi kids between the ages of 3 and 10 years are lacking important movement skills required for participation in sport, recreation and life-long health and well-being. Therefore, moveMprove® has been developed as a foundation skills programme, not a gymnastic programme. It provides children with the opportunity to experience and participate in movement that will assist development in skills required to play all type of sports and recreational activities.

moveMprove® was developed by GymSports New Zealand, from many years of knowledge and practical experience working with kiwi kids in movement development.

When did moveMprove® begin to be delivered in schools?

moveMprove® was first officially delivered to schools in Term 4 of 2010.
Clubs that are currently able to deliver moveMprove® are:

Tri Star Gymnastics Inc- Mt. Roskill, Auckland
Hutt Valley GymSports- Lower Hutt, Wellington
Rimutaka GymSports- Upper Hutt, Wellington
St Johns Gymnastics Club- Hawera, Taranaki
ARGOS GymSport Tauranga- Tauranga
Invercargill Gymnastic Club- Invercargill
Christchurch School of Gymnastics- North New Brighton, Christchurch
Olympia Gymnastic Sports- Wigram, Christchurch
Bruce Pulman Park Gym and Recreation Centre- Papakura, Auckland

Please click here to see a list of schools who have already experienced moveMprove®.

By 2012 we anticipate that there will be more clubs delivering moveMprove® in New Zealand.

What are the benefits of moveMprove®?

moveMprove® enables children to increase their confidence level and independence, and encourages collaboration within peer groups. It has also shown to have a positive impact on children’s behaviour and performance within the school environment.  The programme is fun and includes SPARC’s New Zealand CoachApproach and the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Games for Understanding philosophy. It is also linked to the five Key Competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum.

It is delivered by qualified movement specialists (GymSports New Zealand’s affiliated clubs’ coaches). All clubs have full accreditation and coaches are specially trained to deliver moveMprove®.

Teachers are expected and encouraged to be present during the session to work alongside the coaches and to assist the children with the activities. The added benefits of teachers' participation include the opportunity to:

• observe and monitor curriculum links
• transfer and link learning to other areas in or out of the classroom
• develop and further their understanding of movement learning

How is moveMprove® delivered?

The moveMprove® programme consists of four levels. Each level is made up of eight one-hour sessions. It is designed to ‘educate’ rather than ‘instruct’ the children. moveMprove® is fun because children are actively engaged throughout the whole session.

The delivery schedule can be flexible to each school’s requirements and time frames.  It can be delivered at the school, at the club’s facility or at an agreed local community site.

Hutt Valley GymSports in Wellington received this feedback from Fernlea School

“The quality of the programme is reflected in the way the children have ‘moved’ and ‘improved’ over the passed term.
Co-ordination skills and perceptions are more evident in their movements.  A very valuable programme!”

Noreen & Tracy, Year 5 & 6 teachers at Fernlea School, Wellington 

"Our students have really enjoyed your programme.  What they envisaged as being easy turned out to be quite challenging in areas and they really enjoyed challenging themselves to achieve the outcomes.  Your support encouraged the students to meet the expectations and each week they looked forward to practising their new skills and learning new ones.  Their confidence grew and your exercises and activities soon began to stream into the playground. 
Thank you and your staff for a fantastic , well run and organised programme."

Robyn Wilson, Year 5 & 6 teacher at Fernlea School, Wellington