Catalyst Varsity

Why Our Teens Compete

We're about to host our second Varsity Gauntlet. It's a worldwide competition for teens and preteens who are good at movement.

Juvenile competition is positive: it increases interest for the teens, and puts them in the right environment to compete without judgment or parental pressure. The greatest thing about CrossFit competition? It ain't Little League.

As I wrote in Growing Up CrossFit, you won't hear parents booing their own kids at the Gauntlet. You won't see glaring, hear snide comments about 'coaches' favorites,' or feel the heat coming from angry parents. You'll see huge smiles, high-fives, cheering for other peoples' children. It puts a brand new face on sport.

The Varsity Gauntlet is really a skills competition: all athletes are tested for good movement before the day begins. If they're not good at an exercise, they scale the weight down or spend the day cheering. We will never put a teen in a situation they're unprepared to handle; intensity with BAD form is the opposite of what we're doing here. Every kid has a judge at all times.

Catalyst has a long history of coaching kids and teens. Doctors, physios and chiropractors all send their kids here because of our emphasis on technique and skill.

In preparation for a lifetime of fitness, we want to teach kids to perform under pressure. To fail well, not succeed at risk of injury. We want graceful, powerful youth. And we'll see it; I make that guarantee.

The Gauntlet has three divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Novice. Athletes (or their judges) may also choose to scale any workout (that means they can perform it at less weight if they like.)

January 25th is our next Varsity Gauntlet event. To register, click here. Trouble? Email [email protected], or call Melanie at 705-256-1344.

 

The Varsity Gauntlet at Catalyst

 Registration: 

(1) Contact the host affiliate nearest to you to secure a tentative spot on their roster. Please indicate your gender and the division you in which you plan to compete. Once you have confirmed your spot, registration requires that you make a $50 donation to CrossFit for HOPE by sponsoring CrossFit Brand X. Note that individual hosts may have an additional entry fee; contact your host affiliate directly for this information. 

(2) Within 24 hours of reserving a spot, email your donation receipt along with the Athlete registration, Publicity Release, and Waiver to[email protected] and your host affiliate. Include in the subject line the date and location of the Gauntlet in which you wish to participate.

Your registration is not final until you have done all of the above. Please complete your registration within 24 hours of reserving your spot or your chosen affiliate may be forced to release it. Registration closes on Tuesday, October 1, 2013! 

 

Host Affiliates:

 

• Carlsbad CrossFit (Carlsbad, CA): Rick Gonzalez
• CrossFit 3D (Manchester, UK): Rachel and Karl Steadman
• CrossFit Brand X (Ramona, CA): [email protected]
• CrossFit Catalyst (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario): Chris Cooper
• CrossFit Caveman (Stafford, TX): Sharon Techiera
• CrossFit Del Campo (Fair Oaks, CA): Joe Ellis
• CrossFit Hawkes Bay (Hawkes Bay, NZ): Henry Heke
• CrossFit Impavidus (Ashburn, VA): Lori Parsons
• CrossFit Meridian (Meridian, ID): Jeremy Franklin
• CrossFit Reveille (Fort Worth, TX): Nikki Barker
• CrossFit Rockford (Loves Park, IL): Lynn Foster
• Hurricane CrossFit (Lake Charles, LA): John Wilson

 ** IMPORTANT NOTE: Affiliates may be added at our discretion. However, once registered, an athlete will not be able to transfer that registration to a new or different host. **

 

Divisions:

 

Novice – ages 12-14*

Junior Varsity – ages 13-16

Varsity – ages 13-18**

* 12-year-olds must be in middle school ** 18-year-olds must be in high school

Catalyst Games 2012 - Varsity Shirts

As soon as you've registered, click here:

http://www.customink.com/signup/17mv9ln2  

Enter your shirt size and last name in 'comments,' and we'll have your shirt printed up!

Teen Team Event, June 9

As part of our Midnight 5k Fundraiser June 9, Catalyst Varsity will hold its first Teen Team Competition.

In teams of 4 (2 guys, 2 girls,) you'll compete in 3 events encompassing a wide variety of athletic / fitness skills. Those familiar with CrossFit will find the workouts creative but not unexpected. Those unfamiliar with CrossFit will have plenty of time to practice the skills necessary for a fitness competition of this type.

Ages: 

• Junior: individuals who were less than 15 years of age on the first day of January of the year in which the competition is held
• Senior: individuals who were less than 19 years of age on the first day of January of the year in which the competition is held and whose first date of entry into the ninth grade occurred within five years of the date of the competition

To register a team, call 705-256-1344. Coaches: you will be provided with a list of possible exercises to be included in events. This is a participation-oriented event; all athletes should be encouraged to challenge themselves, no matter their skill or fitness level. 

Varsity Team Event - June 9

Grab a team. It's time to rumble!

On June 9, local CrossFit Kids and Teens will have their first opportunity of 2012 to compete at CrossFit - style events.

3 events, starting at 8pm. Teens are welcome to stay for the Midnight 5k (same night.) 

Team rules: 2 males, 2 females per team. Some team members will compete in each event; all team members will compete in the final event. All members of each team must fit into the team's Age Bracket:

• Junior: individuals who were less than 15 years of age on the first day of January of the year in which the competition is held
• Senior: individuals who were less than 19 years of age on the first day of January of the year in which the competition is held and whose first date of entry into the ninth grade occurred within five years of the date of the competition

Events will be released closer to the event date.

Entry: $5 per team member. All proceeds go to the Echo Bay PS Playground Fund. Registration link will be up soon!