Safe Landings: Replacing Foam Blocks for Airdrie's Youth Gymnasts
Details
Southern Alberta
Airdrie Edge Gymnastics Club
The Idea
Airdrie Edge Gymnastics Club serves hundreds of youth athletes each year, offering a safe and supportive environment where young people develop physical literacy, confidence, and advanced athletic skills. A key component of our training facility is the foam pit—used daily by gymnasts of all levels for practicing tumbling, aerial skills, and dismounts. However, the foam blocks currently in our pit are over ten years old and have reached the end of their lifespan. Years of use have caused the blocks to become compressed, torn, and full of dust, significantly reducing their shock absorption capacity. As a result, the pit no longer meets modern safety standards. Athletes landing in the pit are at increased risk of injury due to the diminished cushioning effect, and coaches are limited in what skills they can safely teach. Without new blocks, we risk compromising both safety and the quality of our programs.
We propose to purchase and install approximately 3,000 new foam blocks in our existing tumbling pit. These specialized blocks are designed for high-performance impact absorption, ensuring safe landings during training. The installation will involve removing and disposing of the old foam, cleaning the pit base, and filling it with new blocks that meet current safety and hygiene standards. This is a targeted, one-time infrastructure improvement that will have a long-term impact on the safety and effectiveness of our facility. The pit is used by over 500 youth athletes annually, including preschoolers, recreational gymnasts, competitive team members, and athletes with special needs. It is also used in community programs with local schools and organizations that rely on our facility for physical development opportunities.
Replacing the foam blocks will directly benefit:
500+ youth athletes who train at Airdrie Edge annually
Coaches and staff who depend on safe equipment to teach advanced techniques
Local families and schools who use our facility for physical literacy and movement education
The broader Airdrie community, which values safe, accessible youth recreation programs
Foam pits may seem like simple tools, but they are critical to preventing injuries during skill development and progression. This project is not about cosmetic upgrades — it’s about safeguarding our athletes, supporting our coaches, and continuing to offer inclusive, high-quality programming. By investing in safe landings, we are investing in the future success and well-being of our youth.
We propose to purchase and install approximately 3,000 new foam blocks in our existing tumbling pit. These specialized blocks are designed for high-performance impact absorption, ensuring safe landings during training. The installation will involve removing and disposing of the old foam, cleaning the pit base, and filling it with new blocks that meet current safety and hygiene standards. This is a targeted, one-time infrastructure improvement that will have a long-term impact on the safety and effectiveness of our facility. The pit is used by over 500 youth athletes annually, including preschoolers, recreational gymnasts, competitive team members, and athletes with special needs. It is also used in community programs with local schools and organizations that rely on our facility for physical development opportunities.
Replacing the foam blocks will directly benefit:
500+ youth athletes who train at Airdrie Edge annually
Coaches and staff who depend on safe equipment to teach advanced techniques
Local families and schools who use our facility for physical literacy and movement education
The broader Airdrie community, which values safe, accessible youth recreation programs
Foam pits may seem like simple tools, but they are critical to preventing injuries during skill development and progression. This project is not about cosmetic upgrades — it’s about safeguarding our athletes, supporting our coaches, and continuing to offer inclusive, high-quality programming. By investing in safe landings, we are investing in the future success and well-being of our youth.
Who Will Benefit?
The replacement of our foam blocks will directly benefit a wide range of users who rely on the Airdrie Edge Gymnastics Club as a community hub for athletic development, safety, and physical literacy.
First and foremost, over 500 youth athletes who train at Airdrie Edge annually will benefit. Our programs serve children from preschool age through competitive levels, offering everything from beginner gymnastics to advanced acrobatics. A safe, high-quality foam pit is essential for all stages of learning, helping athletes develop confidence, try new skills, and prevent injuries during training.
Coaches and trainers will also see significant advantages. New foam blocks allow coaches to safely teach complex tumbling and aerial skills without modifying training plans due to deteriorated equipment. This ensures better instruction, fewer injuries, and stronger athlete progression.
Parents and families benefit from peace of mind, knowing their children are training in a safe and well-maintained environment. As a nonprofit organization, we take safety seriously, and equipment upgrades like this build community trust while supporting long-term participation.
Importantly, Airdrie Edge is a proud host of Alberta Gymnastics Federation (AGF) training camps, bringing athletes and coaches from across the province to train in our facility. These camps use the foam pit intensively, and upgraded blocks will ensure AGF-sanctioned events meet provincial safety standards and expectations.
Additionally, other user groups regularly rent our facility, including local schools, cheerleading squads, dance programs, and community sport groups. These users rely on our equipment for safe movement-based activities, tumbling, and training. By investing in new foam blocks, we are improving safety for all facility users, not just our club members.
This project also contributes to the broader Airdrie community, including underrepresented and rural athletes who may not have access to safe, high-performance gymnastics equipment in their hometowns. With better safety and reduced injury risk, we can increase participation, host more events, and strengthen Airdrie Edge as a regional leader in youth sport and physical development.
First and foremost, over 500 youth athletes who train at Airdrie Edge annually will benefit. Our programs serve children from preschool age through competitive levels, offering everything from beginner gymnastics to advanced acrobatics. A safe, high-quality foam pit is essential for all stages of learning, helping athletes develop confidence, try new skills, and prevent injuries during training.
Coaches and trainers will also see significant advantages. New foam blocks allow coaches to safely teach complex tumbling and aerial skills without modifying training plans due to deteriorated equipment. This ensures better instruction, fewer injuries, and stronger athlete progression.
Parents and families benefit from peace of mind, knowing their children are training in a safe and well-maintained environment. As a nonprofit organization, we take safety seriously, and equipment upgrades like this build community trust while supporting long-term participation.
Importantly, Airdrie Edge is a proud host of Alberta Gymnastics Federation (AGF) training camps, bringing athletes and coaches from across the province to train in our facility. These camps use the foam pit intensively, and upgraded blocks will ensure AGF-sanctioned events meet provincial safety standards and expectations.
Additionally, other user groups regularly rent our facility, including local schools, cheerleading squads, dance programs, and community sport groups. These users rely on our equipment for safe movement-based activities, tumbling, and training. By investing in new foam blocks, we are improving safety for all facility users, not just our club members.
This project also contributes to the broader Airdrie community, including underrepresented and rural athletes who may not have access to safe, high-performance gymnastics equipment in their hometowns. With better safety and reduced injury risk, we can increase participation, host more events, and strengthen Airdrie Edge as a regional leader in youth sport and physical development.