What Is Ninja Teams?
Ninja Teams is Gold Medal’s in-house competitive ninja program, built for experienced ninjas who want to test their skills against athletes from other Gold Medal locations. Unlike our regular ninja classes, Ninja Team is not open to every ninja. It is a dedicated group of committed kids who train together, push each other, and compete under the Gold Medal name.
The centerpiece of the program is our Ninja Challenges, tournament-style competitions where teams from different Gold Medal locations go head to head. Each Challenge runs in two rounds, a qualifying round and a final round, and teams now compete in five Challenges across the year instead of two. That means far more chances for your child to perform, measure their progress, and experience real competition in a supportive setting.
Team practice is where the work happens. Athletes sharpen their speed, agility, and upper and lower body strength while steadily progressing their skills, and just as importantly, they build the confidence that comes from competing and improving alongside teammates.
Is Ninja Teams Right for My Child?
Ninja Teams is a bigger commitment than a weekly class, so it is best suited to kids who already love ninja training and are hungry to compete. Ninja Team is a yearlong commitment with practices typically twice a week, and there is flexibility built into the summer months. Members come up through our program, so kids who have built strong skills in Ninja Kids and Advanced Ninja and show the drive for more are usually ready for Ninja Teams.
If you are worried about competitive pressure, this is the right place for it. Because our Challenges are in-house, between Gold Medal locations, the environment stays supportive and fun rather than high-stakes. Your child competes, learns, and grows without the travel, cost, and intensity of the outside competitive circuit.
The best next step is to talk to your child’s coach, who can tell you honestly whether your child is ready for the team, what team placement looks like at your location, and what to work on if they are not quite there yet. Getting that placement right is what makes a team rewarding instead of overwhelming.
What to Expect in Your First Class
Your child’s first team practice looks a lot like the training they already know, with the added energy of working alongside teammates who are just as driven. When you arrive, your child checks in and joins the team on the floor while you find a spot to watch. Ninja Teams is an independent program, so practice is your child’s time to train and yours to cheer them on.
Practices center on the skills that win Challenges. Expect a warm-up and conditioning to build the strength competition demands, followed by focused work on obstacle courses, speed, and skill progression, often with an eye toward the next Challenge on the calendar. Coaches push each athlete individually while building the team as a group.
Your child should come in their Gold Medal Ninja level shirt, which is required for both practice and competitions, along with athletic shorts or leggings and a water bottle. If your child still needs their level shirt, the front desk can help you purchase one before the first practice.
