Welcome to our gymnastics site!

Now that the season is over, we are able to sit back, relax and mentally review the past year. We have two daughters in gymnastics and the older one just completed her first competitive year in gymnastics. Although some gyms may choose to compete at Level 3, very few competitions are available for this level and our gym is not one of them.

We had missed the orientation meeting for new parents last summer, so we had to rely on information (or misinformation, as was the case in some instances) from other parents. It has been a fun year, albeit an expensive one.  We experienced many highs and lows along the way, our daughter made many new friends and it has been a true joy to watch her develop as both a gymnast and a person.  Now it’s our turn to pass on what little knowledge we have about competitive gymnastics.

Gymnastics is an expensive sport. Let me say that one more time lest anyone sitting at the back didn't quite hear: gymnastics is an expensive sport.  If you are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have a child (or even two or, alas, three) who is naturally gifted as a gymnast, you are invited to join the gymnastics team.  Along with this invitation, you have the privilege of belonging to the booster club, which pays for the competitive season, including all meet fees (barring Webkinz), coaches’ fees, coaches’ expenses, etc.  As a team parent you may rejoice in all the accompanying blessings and privileges, including: traveling the length and breadth of the country to various places for the meets, paying for your own entry, being allowed to sit in uncomfortable seating where the viewing is limited and picture-taking even more limited.  (If you are extremely fortunate and live in the upper mid-west or north-east, then since gymnastics is a winter sport you may enjoy the added benefits associated with being snowed into the meet venue for 24 hours).  To top off expenses, you also have to pay for all equipment, which includes the team leotard and warm-up suit and team bags, etc.  Of course, then there is the regular day-to-day expenses.  Obviously, gym fees for team girls are quite high.  But little girls grow fast and if they are in the gym almost everyday, you need to provide regular workout leotards for their use.

Choosing a good leotard for workout is very important.  The fit has to be just right, the material must withstand numerous washings, the price must be affordable, and of course, the design must be approved by the gymnast. We’ve been lucky this year in this respect.  Although our gym does sell leotards, we usually wait for them to go on sale.  The leotards they provide are from GK, a very well-respected brand for good reason.  They last well and fit well and the kids love their designs.  We also discovered that used GK leotards still have a lot of life, and that there are places that sell new leotards at discounted prices.  With sources like eBay, we have been able to dress our girls in the most fashionable leotards without going bankrupt.