Parent Info

Class Info
Music
Competitions
What to wear

CLASS INFO
Parents are asked to drop children off and pick up after class. There will be an opportunity to watch your child at our “Watch Nights” the first Monday and Wednesday of the month in first and second terms. As the classes run back to back there is not much time to answer questions but teachers are always available to respond to emails or phone calls regarding any queries related to your child or questions concerning a competition, leotard or anything that you can think of that we have not included in this information!

MUSIC
CD’S and DVD’s are available to purchase for practice purposes at home.
CD1 - 5 to15/1st yrs, $22 (available April by order)
CD2 - 2nd yr Seniors to Ladies, $22 (available April by order)
DVD - $42 (available end May by order)

COMPETITIONS
There are 4 different types of competitions that you are able to compete in at the end of the year.

Interclubs:
These are competitions organised by an individual Physie Club. They invite a few other clubs to participate as a practice before the Zone BJP competitions begin. Interclubs are usually held in July or August. As they are not organised by BJP the club charges an entry fee usually about $8-$9 per competitor.

There is a rule now that you can only compete in two Interclubs, so our club hosts an Interclub every second year and attends a second Interclub outside the Metropolitan area. This means that you have the opportunity to enter two practice competitions before the official competitions begin. None of these are compulsory, however they serve as an opportunity to gain match fitness and experience and at least one Interclub should be considered.

Champion Girl/Lady:
Each club is placed in a “Zone” (District) along with eight to twelve other clubs. In Sept/Oct competitions begin and all members have the opportunity to compete against all others in that Zone in their specific age groups e.g. 5yrs, 6yrs, 7yrs etc. Ladies compete in sections graded by experience and age e.g. 1st Yr Ladies, 2nd Yr Ladies, Under 33yrs, Over 33yrs, Over 43yrs, Over 53yrs. At this Zone Competition, competitors receive a number which is pinned to their leotard. Two Judges, who are also teachers (Associates) from different Zones, will watch all competitors complete their syllabus in heats of 10-15 girls/ladies. Depending on how many girls/Ladies there are in the section or age group, they will then select girls to go forward to compete in a semi-final and then a final. These are always held on the same day and run consecutively. The time required for your individual comp will be approximately 1 ½ to 2 hrs.

The final usually consists of 12-15 girls which is kept a secret and only the teachers are allowed in the room when these are announced. This final is then marched into the room to a loud applause. At the completion of the final the Judges will announce the top 5 places. In all age groups from the 6yrs up, the girls who receive one of these places will then compete at a later date (usually some time in November) at the NATIONAL FINALS held at Homebush State Sports Centre. This is where the place getters from every zone, from Queensland, NSW and Victoria go through the same process to finally end up with 5 place getters in each age group, with the winner being crowned the National Grand Champion in their section.

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Teams:
This is a totally different competition in the sense that it is as the name suggests a “team effort” consisting of 8 members who perform the set syllabus in a set formation in a synchronised way. The more precise the timing of the 8 girls the higher the point score which ultimately results in a higher position in the competition.  Each team is comprised of 8 girls from the one class.

All clubs make teams in the same way, however, sometimes in an effort to make a team where numbers may be short in a particular age group some girls will be asked to work up in the higher age group i.e. a 8yr old may be asked to work up in the 9/10yr class to enable this team to compete. These team competitions are held in November and are graded according to the clubs previous success. So in order of rank we have Championship (highest honour), A grade and B Grade. The age groups differ to that of Champion Girl. It starts at 5-6yr teams which may include a 4, 5, 6yr old. Then in age order – 7-8yr team; 9-10yr team; 11-12yr team; 13-14yr team; SENIOR TEAMS: 15-1styr team; 2ndyr Team; Open team; LADIES TEAMS: 1st yr team; 2nd Year; Under 33’s team; Over 33’s team; Over 40’s; Over 50’s.

All efforts are made to include all members in a team as to be part of a team builds camaraderie, team spirit and a healthy competitive attitude. However sometimes numbers just don’t work out and it may be that a member may find that they are not in a team. This does not mean that they can not attend classes and keep practicing with the team at team practices. For many varied reasons people have to pull out, even on the day of the competition, and they may be asked to fill in. Remember the more times you get to practice the better you become and the more tips you will pick up by listening to what others are told.

Club Comps:
This is a competition held at the end of the year where only the members of our club compete against each other. It is a more relaxed competition where the girls compete individually in their age specific section. This is the only competition where the “Toddlers” (the babies of the club 3-4yr olds) will perform and show you what they have been learning all year. All Toddlers will receive a prize. Perpetual Club Awards are also announced by independent Judges e.g. Junior, Senior and Ladies Marching Champion and Junior, Senior and Ladies Club Champion.

The dates, times and locations of all BJP competitions are released in July and will be posted on our Calendar (website) as well as by Newsletter and Email. None of these competitions are compulsory, however, if you have been asked to be a member of a team and you accept then you must be aware that you are committing to attend all team practices (illness is an exception of course) and MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR THE TEAM COMPETITION IN EARLY NOVEMBER. If you feel that you can’t commit to these requests then it is your duty to discuss this with your teacher and they will not include you in a team situation.

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WHAT TO WEAR:
For all Team Competitions: All club members wear a plain black leotard – design is chosen from 3 available options by individual clubs. Junior and Senior members can hire these, for a small fee of $5, from the club. This fee will be included in Instalment 3. Ladies usually purchase their own black leotard - “Jenny” style $54, however there are always some spare that can be borrowed if necessary. For individual competition, such as Interclubs, Champion Girl/Lady, or Club Comps you should have the following:

BJP Leotard.
These are available for order from around April/May from Danz Design (Unit 1, 159 Penshurst St, Beverly Hills, 9580-1966). You may go to the store at your leisure or on the designated day that your teacher organises with the shop. You may try on any style or colour and pick what you would like to wear as long as it has the BJP logo, and then place your order. Leotards designated as Junior styles are for girls from 5-12 years. Leotards designated as Senior Styles are for 13 -15 years, Seniors and Ladies.

NOTE: 13 YEAR GIRLS MUST WEAR THE SENIOR STYLE LEOTARDS.
Cost for the leotard is around $55-child and $60-lady and a body stocking (if needed for a paler coloured leotard to prevent it being see-through) is $20-child or $22-lady. You will only need one leotard for the year for individual competitions. Leotards will not be ready until August (usually ready for Interclubs) and will be available at the club and given to your child or yourself. All sizes with Hologram contrast are $65. You will be notified of the try on dates by Email, Newsletter or Diary (website).

DRESS RULES RELATING TO JUNIOR GIRLS FROM 5-14 years in both teams and champion girl and inter-club competitions.
 
a)  Hair: They must have their hair done in SIMPLE STYLES ONLY.  Long hair must be in a  Pony tail - plaits - bunches - half up, half down -  with no height  (ie. no “boofs” in the front) - no pinned in elaborate curls or teasing .  Similarly, short hair must not be     teased for height or width.  Hair must NOT be frizzed in high WIDE styles.  False hair pieces are NOT ALLOWED.
     
b) Tan: They MAY NOT wear leg, face or body tan in any circumstances with the exception of Junior girls being taken up to a Senior Team.

c) Eye Make-up:  5-12 yrs - may not wear any eye makeup (this includes eye liner, mascara, false eye lashes or face and body glitter.) 13-14 yrs -  may wear minimal eye makeup (ie. Mascara OR eye liner) they MAY NOT WEAR FALSE EYE LASHES OR EYE SHADOW, face or body glitter.

d) Face Make-up: Only a minimal amount of lipstick, blush & foundation may be worn.
No face glitter or body tan to be worn on the face.

e) Jewellery: They may NOT wear jewellery of any description (however, the smallest size plain ear studs are allowable only if they cannot be removed).

f) Tights and Stockings: 5-10 yrs - may NOT wear stirrups, tights or stockings of any description in teams or champion girl.  However they may do so if they are being used as an exception in an 11-12yr team or above. 11-14 yrs - may wear stirrups, mesh or plain tights or stockings but these are optional.

g)Hair Accessories: Junior girls from 6-14 years MAY NOT wear anything at all in their hair at the National Finals. Hair tinting and colouring to match leotard colour is NOT permitted.  A minimal amount of ribbon or similar may be worn in the hair at Interclub, Zone and Repechage level.

h) Nails: Junior girls from 5-14 yrs MAY NOT wear false nails or nail polish.

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