Club Focus: Valley Athletics

Valley Athletics may have only opened its doors in 2024, but it's already making a lasting impact on the Upper Hunter community.

Founded by two best friends with a passion for cheer and dance, the club has created a welcoming space where athletes of all ages can build confidence, discover new passions and feel like they truly belong.

We caught up with the team to learn more about their journey, the values driving their club, and why they're so passionate about creating opportunities for regional families.

1. Tell us about your club and when it began.

We are Valley Athletics located in the Upper Hunter (Muswellbrook), and we opened our doors in February 2024.

2. Who makes up your club today?

We have just over 150 students who are currently enrolled in a Valley Athletics weekly class, however we also offer weekly ‘drop in’ Kindergym classes and fortnightly ‘stay and play’ classes for our preschool demographic.

As we are in a shift working town, we offer these as ‘drop in’ sessions to accommodate for the working families in our community and it allows families to pay for the sessions that they are able to bring their children to.

Our youngest enrolled athletes are 18months in our Tiny Tots programs and up to 20-years in our Open dance classes. We have also previously offered competitive dance classes where we had parents up to 45 years old! (However, we only do this half years because of the nature of the working town).

We offer Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Jazz and Pom as dance styles and have Level 1 competitive cheer classes and Level 1 and 2 tumbling classes. We also offer scholastic programs to local schools including recreational and competitive streams.

 

3. Do you offer any inclusive programs or pathways for athletes with different abilities or needs?

Although we don’t have a standalone "all abilities" stream, our program accommodates a wide range of additional needs. Many of our athletes from supported educational programs have successfully integrated and excelled in our competitive DanceStars and CheerStars classes.

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4. What values guide your club?

At Valley Athletics, our mission is to bring world-class cheer and dance opportunities to our regional community, providing an empowering alternative sport where every athlete belongs. We foster a culture of trust and courage, encouraging young athletes to step outside their comfort zones, discover their potential, and grow from passionate beginners into the next generation of home-grown leaders.

5. What are you most proud of in your club?

At Valley Athletics, we are most proud of our athletes' willingness to trust and try something new. Remarkably, approximately 90% of our program is brand new to cheer and dance when they first walk through our doors. It is such a big deal for young athletes to step outside their comfort zones not only to try an unfamiliar sport, but to join a team where they might not know anyone yet. Seeing them embrace this challenge has been incredible, and it has already inspired multiple home-grown junior coaches. We can't wait to watch this leadership stream continue to grow!

6. Are there any goals or plans you’re excited about for the future?

Our next big goal is officially locked in: we are taking our very first team interstate to Queensland this year! For the majority of these 15 athletes, this will be their first time ever competing outside of NSW. We are absolutely thrilled to provide this incredible team-bonding opportunity for our close-knit community. The trip is already creating a massive buzz about potential national and international competitions in our future!

7. Why do you think your club is important to families and your community?

Valley Athletics has truly become a cornerstone of our community. Our head coaches bring world-class experience from reputable cheer and dance clubs across Australia and overseas, opening doors that our country kids usually wouldn't have access to without a 90-minute drive to Newcastle.

Beyond the sport, our gym has built a safe haven of belonging. In a small town where local sports are heavily male-dominated, we are incredibly proud to give our athletes, especially so many young girls, an exciting alternative where they can truly shine.

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8. What piece of advice would you give to a gymnast/student?

Your starting line doesn't define your finish line. 90% of the people who achieve great things started out knowing absolutely nothing about it. Being a beginner isn't a weakness; it’s just chapter one.

9. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your club, your team, or your community?

We're just two best friends sharing a sport we love with a community that truly needs it. Growing up in a world that doesn’t always accept differences, we both know what it’s like to feel out of place.

As two individuals diagnosed with ADHD, our goal is to be the role models and mentors we desperately needed when we were younger. We want Valley Athletics to be a place where being different isn't just accepted, it's celebrated.

💙 Stay updated with Valley Athletics by following them on Facebook or Instagram! 💙