Optional Team

Optional Levels 7-10

Levels 7-Elite are optional competitive levels. To enter in to the optional program the gymnast must receive a minimum score set by USA Gymnastics, in the previous level. Optional competition means that the gymnasts are only given guidelines to what must be done in their routines. However, they must have skills that meet difficulty requirements as well as fulfilling special combination requirements. The difficulty and special combination requirements become increasingly difficult to master at each higher level.

It is up to the coach and the gymnast what the routine will consist of. Most athletes are excited to reach this level because they get to choose their own floor music. It then becomes the job of the choreographer to put these optional beam and floor routines together. Desert Devils is fortunate to have some of the best choreographers in the nation. Kristin Fanning and former ASU Associate Head Coach Shelly Eaton will be working on this years routines. Putting together the gymnasts routines on Vault and Bars will be Wes Jones. Of course, overseeing the whole production and keeping everyone on their toes will be Geoff Eaton. He will use his knowledge and experience at the Junior Olympic and Elite level to help all the athletes create the best routines possible.

Elite Competitive Program

Our Elite Training Program at Desert Devils is considered one of the finest in the USA. Our championship staff is under the direction of Geoff, who spends 32+ hours each week working on new methods for coaching and mentoring these elite superstars. He makes every effort to find new conditioning, drilling, and equipment advances to help these athletes in their pursuit of excellence. Every effort is always made to get these athletes whatever they need no matter the cost; whether that be flying them to National Team Camps where they can be assisted by the USA Gymnastics National Team staff, or flying National Team Staff membera here, or thinking outside the box and sending these athletes to others who can help them; such as Sports Psychologists, Massage Therapists, Motivational Speakers, or Physical Rehabilitation Therapists. Geoff makes sure that these athletes get whatever they need to be successful at the Elite level. All of this in a 40,600 square-foot state-of-the-art facility located in the corner of Gilbert and McKellips roads in Mesa, Arizona.

If you're interested in more information or would like to inquire about training with Desert Devils, please call 480-844-9600.

Click here to go to the Compulsory Team page.

Click here to visit the Kids That Rip Skateboard School web site

Click here to visit the Desert Devils Cheerleading website