Should you introduce a ninja programme at your gymnastics club?

As gymnastics clubs grow, there’s often a point where you start looking at what comes next.

Not just more of the same, but something that brings in new members, keeps existing ones engaged for longer, and gives your club a bit more flexibility in how it runs.

For many clubs, that’s where programmes like ninja come in.

Diane Trifiro, from Ohio Sports Academy in the US, explored this when her club introduced a ninja programme alongside their existing classes. What started as a small addition grew into a well-established part of the club, showing how these programmes can develop over time.

But adding something new isn’t just about whether it’s popular. It’s about whether it works for your club, your team, and how you want things to run day to day.

Why are more clubs introducing ninja programmes?

Ninja-style classes combine strength, coordination, and movement in a way that appeals to a different group of children, often those who might not see themselves in traditional gymnastics.

That creates a few clear opportunities:

• Bringing in new members
• Keeping older children engaged for longer
• Adding variety to your timetable

Diane saw this first-hand at Ohio Sports Academy, where demand grew steadily once the programme was introduced.

The appeal is clear. The more important question is how it fits into how your club runs.

What needs to be in place first?

The biggest challenge with introducing a new programme isn’t the idea itself. It’s how it fits alongside everything else you’re already managing.

Before adding anything, it’s worth asking:

• Do you have the space and timetable capacity?
• Can your team support it without stretching too thin?
• Will it feel joined up with the rest of your club?

If those aren’t clear, a new programme can quickly add pressure rather than reduce it.

Making it work in your existing setup

One of the reasons ninja works well in gymnastics clubs is that it doesn’t always need a separate space. Many clubs adapt existing equipment like bars, mats, and floor areas into obstacle-style activities.

Diane and her team took this approach, integrating ninja into their current setup rather than treating it as something separate.

That flexibility helps, but it still needs structure. Without it, sessions can overlap or feel disjointed. When it’s set up well, it should feel like a natural extension of your club.

Avoiding reliance on one coach

New programmes often start with one enthusiastic coach. That works early on, but it can become a risk if everything depends on them.

From Diane’s experience, involving more coaches early made the programme easier to sustain.

A more consistent approach is to:

• Involve multiple coaches
• Share how sessions are run
• Build confidence across the team

That way, it becomes part of how your club runs, not something held by one person.

Getting the positioning right

Ninja programmes are often positioned slightly differently to standard classes, whether through structure, experience, or class size.

It’s important to be clear on:

• Where it sits within your overall offering
• How it supports the wider stability of your club
• The costs involved, including insurance and setup

It’s less about pricing in isolation, and more about how it supports how your club runs overall.

Building something that grows with your members

A well-structured programme can support progression over time. Some children will move between gymnastics and ninja, while others may stay within it.

It can also create opportunities for:

• Leadership roles
• Support within sessions
• Longer-term member retention

For clubs like Ohio Sports Academy, this has helped keep older participants engaged for longer.

Is it the right move for your club?

Ninja programmes can work well, but they’re not a shortcut to growth.

The clubs that see the most success introduce them in a way that fits how they already run. That means:

• Being clear on why you’re introducing it
• Making sure it’s easy to stay on top of
• Ensuring it doesn’t rely on one person

When those are in place, it can feel like a natural next step, not something that adds pressure.

A more considered way to grow your club

There will always be new ideas and programmes to consider.

The goal isn’t to do everything. It’s to choose what makes your club easier to run, more engaging for members, and more sustainable over time.

For some clubs, that might be ninja. For others, it might be something different.

What matters is that whatever you introduce helps you stay on top of things, know where you stand, and feel confident in how your club is running as it grows.