AIBU? - Gymnastics safety

[anon]

Hi everyone, my dc attends a gymnastics class and this week there was just one coach who has her approx 18m old child in the gym too.

I am really concerned that my dc isn't safe if the only adult in the room is not only focussed on the gymnasts - I am led to believe this was not a temporary change.

Am I being unreasonable and over protective to be concerned? It is a small class - 3-7 kids but some of them are on the autistic spectrum (high functioning). My gut reaction is to remove dc from class - but I am prone to over reaction which then leads me to over think - ha ha!

doesn't sound good to me. I wouldn't be happy.
talk to the club organiser.

How many kids would you expect in the class? Is the class floor based or equipment based? If its only 3-7 there is no way they are making any money let alone enough to pay for 2 staff. As I school teacher I was expected to deal with 20+ students (including multiple AS and other needs) and as a science teacher this included setting things on fire and handling chemicals...managed not to damage kids in the process.
Does the 18m old take part in the class?

How do you feel about the competency of this instructor?

I wonder if you are in the NW area. I recently removed my child from her gymnastics class for this exact reason. I was paying good money to watch a gymnastics teacher run around after her own 18 month old whilst the children stood around awaiting instruction. It was frustrating and dangerous.

It's equipment - beams, box & bars, 18 mth old doesn't participate just runs around.

sounds very similar Pippa!

The coach can't concentrate on the children when her own is running around.

Have you spoken to the organisation to ask what's going on?

How important is the class to your DC? If you're waiting anyway, offer to keep an eye on the tot.

I would assume this is a British Gymnastics registered gym and you are registered with BG. Then talk to BG about it - or move gyms. There should be 2 coaches at all times according to my understanding of the rules- though they may be teaching different classes.

Are parents there too? I would't be happy with a children's class happening with only one adult present.

Definitely not okay. There may be some jobs that you can do with an 18 month old to look after, though off hand I can only think of childminding. Gym teacher is definitely not one of them. Teacher needs to find alternative childcare while she's working.

My DD broke and dislocated her elbow at gymnastics. Complete accident but it can be dangerous so I definitely would not be happy with your situation

Absolutely not ok at all and I would expect it breaks their insurance conditions!

Definitely not unreasonable! Gymnastics is a high risk sport and needs to be properly supervised. No way can she be doing that properly when also supervising her own 18 month old child, which frankly is enough work in itself for one person.

Assuming you're British (not necessarily a valid assumption!) id contact British Gymnastics (governing body for the sport for anyone reading this thread who isn't a gymnastics type!) and ask what their guidance is about these sort of things. I can't imagine they'd be happy about it either tbh as it is risking the gymnasts' safety.

Good luck to you - hope it gets sorted soon or that you find a new gym club near you.

Other parents are there (sometimes) but in another room and can't see the gym. I have one occasion had to step in with toddler, I helped her down from on top of a table, and I have tried engaging with her when she has run past crying. To be really honest though the class is expensive enough and I would resent give an hour and a halves free childcare. Quite often I take work with me so wouldn't be able to do that if I was attempting to look after the toddler.

Ha, hadn't read the other responses, now I have and see someone else has already mentioned British Gymnastics! Oops. Silly me.

Almost certainly not in line with the requirements of their insurance policy.

Would you be prepared to register to become a helper? DD did gymnastics for years (rhythmics though) and she has been a properly vetted assistant coach since she was 17.

What age are the children and what is the appropriate ratio of adults to children of their age?
It doesn't sound as if she is able to both the instruction and watch her child.
I took my daughter to gymnastics from early years. Although a bigger group (about 12 - 25 at different ages) there has been a minimum of three or 4 instructors, even when parents were in the next room. 18 month old children doing the activities had to be accompanied by an adult. Based on that I would say that to have her own children there the instructor would need at least one additional adult.

Doesn't sound very safe - I've not been involved in gymnastics for donkey's years but it can be quite risky and coaches need to be paying attention. More than one coach required even for floor, I thought?

Doesn't sound acceptable IMO. Is the coach a member of British Gymnastics? Is your DC a member? Or is the coach accredited in some way?

If they are simply running a class as part of a franchise, there may be no set standards. That's not great, and the 18MO is most at risk.

Yes it's a proper gym and ensured that we joined British Gymnastics so that we are ensured. Children are between about 4 and 10, it's a relaxed session which I like, I don't have a potential gymnast just a kid wanting some fun, just not relaxed to the point of not being safe.

So from all your responses, thank you, I think I am within my rights to raise this as an issue with the gym and say it's making me feel uncomfortable!

Wow we have that this as well and I am
also in the NW.

Sounds like toddler needs a playpen full of toys.