Safety
Gymnastics/tumbling is inherently a dangerous sport. While your child may be super excited to try a skill on their own, we will let them try it on their own as soon as we feel they are ready, as there are very specific things that we look for. We often spot to correct form rather than making sure they can complete it. One thing to note is that practicing skills at home comes with significant risk, and we strongly advise against it, especially for more risky skills such as backbends, but it is ultimately up to you. Stretching and strength exercises are a great alternative!
Classes are separated primarily by ability to allow for the most effective coaching. Gymnastics and tumbling are activities strictly guided by proper progressions. For example, a child wanting to learn to “do a flip” (which isn’t a real thing but not the point) has many prerequisite skills to master before attempting it to keep them safe, and they all build on one another. We are always willing to discuss what we are working on and how it will help them reach their goals!
Coaching
Most gyms have a separation between the parent area and the gym space to limit distractions. This gym is a very open space, which provides you with the advantage of hearing our corrections and coaching. While this can be valuable to help you know what to look for, we request that you please allow the coaches to be the sole voice coaching during the time we get to spend with your child. They may not be doing a drill perfectly, and we may be focused on something else, but seeing what they are struggling with helps us to adapt our class and coaching style to fit their needs. We may not address it at that particular time for a specific reason. If you find that they are distracted by you during class, we request that you try a class where you stay in your car, and we can discuss if it works better for them.
We want to keep them moving as much as possible so they get the most out of each class, which requires many stations. This means not all stations are performed perfectly while we focus on a specific skill. THIS IS OKAY!
For preschool classes, helping keep them on task is appreciated, but again, we pick our battles with each circuit! The first few classes are expected to be difficult as they adapt to the structure. We appreciate your support with this, as we can help your child progress more quickly if we know exactly what they are struggling with.
Arrival Times/Parking
The biggest limitation of my current space is the extremely narrow gravel driveway. Please drive slowly, but note that the craters at the beginning of the driveway are due to car tires slipping by going too slow, which is why they never seem to be fixed. I do my best to limit traffic by allowing 15 minutes between classes. Due to this reason, we ask you to please not arrive more than 5 minutes early (except Keri, I give you a pass) to prevent encountering traffic for the safety of you and others. If you are planning on dropping off your child and coming back to pick them up, please plan to leave a few minutes after class starts and to arrive back at least 5 minutes before it is over. We ask that you come in to pick them up so that we are not sending them outside without a parent. There are a couple places along the driveway that you are able to pass each other on. However, do not pass each other at the bottom of the hill (giant valley) as it is not wide enough for 2 cars! If you do happen to meet someone there (make sure you check before going down the hill), one of you will have to back up until it is safe to pass each other. My in-laws do have many animals, including 3 dogs and many cats. We ask that you please leave them be if they don’t come up to you (especially the older white dog!) as the high amount of traffic does overwhelm them at times. If the cats and younger dogs are asking for pets, you are welcome to pet them. For parking, please park in the gravel between the 2 posts. If this is full, please park in front of the house on the other side. It may be snow-covered at times so keep in mind that a 4WD vehicle is recommended in these conditions.
Contact Methods
All contact will now be conducted through Fullout. Sundays are a message-free day unless something important is taking place (i.e. registration). Please be sure to download the Fullout app and turn on notifications so we can message you and send important updates straight to your phone.
Attire
Athletic attire is important in this sport for each child’s safety. A leotard is always the best option as it won’t move on them as they perform skills. Other acceptable attire is shorts and a shirt that isn’t baggy (won’t cover their eyes when they go upside down). Please, no t-shirts for girls in gymnastics classes; have them wear a tank top or another form-fitting shirt so they don’t fall all the way down when doing handstands. In the colder months, it is perfectly fine for them to wear long pants and shirts/sweatshirts over their athletic attire during stretching. We will just have them take off anything with a hood or anything baggy prior to performing skills.
A lot of kids prefer two-piece dance outfits or sports bras, and while I am perfectly fine with that if they are comfortable with it, just be aware that it will hurt their stomach to be on the bar without the extra layer, so it is more difficult in gymnastics classes. Kids will be barefoot during class to prevent slipping on the airtraks or tumbl trak. Hair should be up and out of their face, and jewelry should be limited to only stud earrings to prevent snagging on anything.
If you are looking to purchase new attire for class, feel free to check out the affiliate account at Destira where 20% of the proceeds go to support Sowers Gymnastics: https://destira.com/?ref=sowersgymnasticsllc you can also use code HAPPY15 for 15% off your purchase!
Please have them bring a water bottle each week as well.
Closures
For unplanned closures (sickness or weather), we will do our best to make a decision at least an hour before our first scheduled class and communicate it via email, Facebook, and Fullout. Please check these platforms if you are concerned about the weather. If we have to close for classes, you are welcome to use the last-minute makeups Facebook page, but the month will not be discounted. If you struggle to find an option that works, please reach out so that we can try to fit your child in. Please remember that the temperature control during the summer months is limited (the heating in the winter works pretty well), so heat advisories will result in canceled classes to protect your athletes. More than 1 closure in a month will result in a discount for the following month.
Makeups
I have been very flexible in previous sessions, allowing makeups whenever your child misses. However, with so many kids, I have changed my policy to be more like a typical dance studio. Makeup tokens will no longer be issued for missed classes, and no makeups will be allowed. Makeups will only be available when the gym closes due to weather or coach sickness through the last-minute makeups Facebook page.
Commitments
Gymnastics is a year-round sport, but I change up class times/options 3 times a year. You may drop the class at any time before the next billing cycle to avoid being charged for the following month. If you do not inform me prior to the 1st of the new month, you will be charged. You will not be reimbursed for the remainder of the current month if dropping mid-month.
Billing
I have tried multiple billing systems throughout these sessions. Regardless of which one I pick, I have gotten pushback. Your invoice will arrive to your email a few days before automatic payments are run. These payments go through on the 1st of each month of the session. You will be billed each month for how many classes are held that month, NOT how many you attend. Please reach out with invoice questions before the automatic payment is run, as it is much easier to make adjustments beforehand.
Payment Late Fees
If your card fails on the first of the month, you will receive an automatic email notifying you that it needs to be fixed. If the bill is not paid by the 10th of the month, a $5 late fee will be added to your account.
Attendance
Please let us know if you are going to miss class by utilizing the attendance feature in FullOut (it’s super quick and easy) rather than messaging. Just go to the calendar tab, click the date your child will be gone, and select “Mark Absent.” Feel free to add a reason if you would like, but not required.