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 fun, colorful place.

When you come in, talk to the Registrar at the front desk. He or she will handle the paperwork and direct you to the changing room. Leave extra clothes, socks and shoes in the cubbies. 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, no view at all 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 ask that parents do not go out on the floor because they tend to get hurt out there. It is full of uneven, padded surfaces and steel equipment. 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 quietly and return to the parent area - carefully!  If your child has difficulty going without you for more than one class, please talk to your coach and the front desk about things we a can do to help make your child more comfortable.

What to wear to class

Dress is informal. For girls, the best dress from the standpoint of instruction is a leotard or biketard. 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 or a hair tie  (An emergency supply of these is also at the front desk.).

For boys, a tightly fitting t-shirt and short (not too long or 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. The short answer is for children aged 6 and up to come to our Saturday Open Gym from 12:30 - 1:30pm.  The format is event-coached rather than going around as a group but all events are covered. For preschool children, the makeup must be scheduled. (No, you may not drop in on another class. It degrades the instruction for the children in that class.) To schedule a makeup (maximum 2 per session), call your Registrar at 206-362-7447.  Sorry, we can not guarantee a makeup but we will do our very best to accommodate everyone who needs a makeup.

Snow days

SGA never closes! Believe it or not, in 26 years, we have never closed for snow. So, you're welcome to call for a Lake City snow report but, if it snows, we'll be here.