• Photos of Practice Facility (Slide Show format)
• Photos of Practice Facility (Thumbnail format)
• UofA's Coleman Coliseum web page
• UofA's Practice Facility web page
• Map and Directions (Coleman Coliseum)

Whether practice or competition, the Alabama gymnastics program has one of the finest homes in the nation. And in terms of the competition arena, one of the best is getting better as Coleman Coliseum is in the midst of a massive renovation that will make it one of the top collegiate arenas in the country (see page 29 for details on the renovation).

The Alabama practice gym, part of the Coliseum annex completed in 1996, is a state of the art training facility. On November 5th, 2004, the practice facility was renamed the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility pursuant to a generous gift to the Crimson Tradition fund by Mr. Steve D. Smith of Tuscaloosa in honor of his mother, a long time Alabama gymnastics fan. The main practice space boasts a design that is at once attractive and extremely functional. The equipment is all arranged to give an increased fluidity in practice. There are six uneven bars stations, five balance beams, three vaults and an oversized floor in place.

All aspects of the complex come together in a marriage of form and function that gives Alabama a training edge. That is important to the coaching staff, which spent countless hours in designing the 12,500-square foot gym, but the most important aspect of the space isn't readily apparent to the casual observer.

"We train everyday in a beautiful facility that has everything we could ever need," Sarah Patterson said. "Most importantly though, it was totally designed to minimize and alleviate impact on the gymnasts. If you look at it, the facility is aesthetically pleasing, but if you look close, you will notice that it was designed with the gymnasts' bodies in mind."

Multiple soft landing pits are available for all four apparatus, giving the Tide the freedom to train skills in enhanced safety. It also gives Alabama the capability of teaching a variety of skills as the same time.

"We have the equipment and space to choose how we want to run practice," assistant head coach David Patterson said. "We can split into two or three groups or we can all be on one event if we are having an intra-squad. It gives us the freedom to do that or to have everyone on four different events at the same time. We have the room and the staff to do that and be effective with it. Also, we put enough diverse things into the design of the facility where it is very helpful in terms of teaching new skills."

The main practice area includes an in-ground trampoline and tumbling strips. The sound system that drives the Tide's practices is top-notch, surrounding the floor exercise area with the same level of sound the Tide will encounter in a meet setting. There is also an array of cardio equipment, including a pair of treadmills, a stairstepper, two elliptical trainers and a recumbent bicycle.

A mini training room is stationed in one corner of the gym where athletes can get taped in comfort. Alabama's main training room is located just down the hall and has all the latest equipment.

A separate 2,000-square foot aerobics/dance studio is connected to the main practice area. That area houses another sound system, utilized during the Tide's spinning workouts and yoga sessions. The gymnastics team has 20 spinning bikes, all housed in the aerobics/dance studio.

Just outside the practice gym and dance room is the Tide's team room and locker room. The team room, furnished in large part by Alabama gymnastics' booster organization, The Medalist Club, contains a stereo and television console. The room also contains both Windows and MacIntosh computer stations, along with both a color inkjet printer and a laser printer. Both computer stations are connected directly to the internet, allowing the gymnasts to check e-mail, write papers and do research all from one spot. The locker room is furnished with cherry wood lockers, as well as a lighted vanity and adjoining shower facility.

Even before the current renovations, Coleman Coliseum was already one of the best places in the nation to watch gymnastics. There are few atmospheres better in collegiate athletics than a gymnastics Friday night in Coleman Coliseum. The roar of the crowd as Alabama marches in, the program's accomplishments being touted on the twin Jumbo Tron video screens at either of the arena, is deafening.

Coleman Coliseum has hosted some of the biggest gymnastics meets in the country including the 1991, 1996 and 2002 NCAA Championships and the 1988, 1993 and 1999 SEC Championships. This season, the NCAA Regional Championships returns to Coleman for the ninth time.