Procedures

What to do on your first day at Seattle Gymnastics Academy

On your first day, it's wise to come fifteen minutes early, both to handle the paperwork and also to let your child look around this odd, colorful place and get comfortable. There will be lots of other children, lots of noise and lots of parents - it takes a little time to absorb it all.

When you come in, talk to the Registrar. He or she will handle the paperwork and direct you to the changing room. Leave clothes and shoes in the cubbies. Cotton socks may be worn if little feet tend to get cold, but we love bare feet best. Then walk out into the bleacher area and wait either on the bleachers (best viewing here!) or by the entrance to the floor (very crowded here, not very good viewing from child height). At precisely the time class starts, an instructor will call all the school-age children for pad drill. At the same time, all the pre-school children will be assembled at the entrance to the floor. There, their instructor will meet and greet them before taking them to their pad drill and first event.

We strongly prefer that parents do not go out on the floor because they tend to get hurt out there. It is full of uneven, padded surfaces, steel equipment and we adults should recall that we are no longer flexible, strong for our size and fully alert to our surroundings! However, in the extreme case that a preschool child is frightened and will not go with his or her group, the child's parent may walk along behind the group with the child in tow. Sit beside the group's activities until the child is ready to participate. When that happens, excuse yourself quickly and return to the parent area - carefully!

What to wear to class

Dress is informal. For girls, the best dress from the standpoint of instruction is a cotton leo. A leo allows us to see exactly what position a child's body is in, the better to make corrections. Cotton is cool and it also gives the instructor a good grip if the need to spot (take hold of the child) should arise.

That said, if a leo is not available (we have an emergency supply behind the Registrar's desk), a T-shirt and shorts will do, but no belt (scratches the equipment). No jewelry may be worn and any removable dental appliance must be taken out. Hair must be pulled back behind the ears (to prevent pulling it out by the roots when doing skills - very painful) and secured with a scrunchy (An emergency supply of these is also at the front desk.).

For boys, a tightly fitting t-shirt and short (not long, baggy) shorts will do, again to be able to see the body well. Loose clothing gets in the way of skills and hinders spotting. If the boy's hair is long enough, it should be secured in a pony-tail to prevent painful pulling out.

Make-ups

Missed your class? It happens, we know. Makeups must be scheduled. (No, you may not drop in on another class. It degrades the instruction for the people in that class.) To schedule a makeup (maximum 2 per session), call your Registrar at 206-782-1496.

Snow days

SGA never closes! Believe it or not, in 26 years, we have never closed for snow.