Which gymnastics club?

[desperate4spring]

Option A
Pros - Cheap class (£4 for 1 hr), caters for all 3 of my dc within the same class (ages 3-13), close to home, also does ballet/cheerleading/street dance etc if they wanted to switch to any of those.
Cons - Doesn't seem to involve membership to any sort of gymmastics association, doesn't have its own premises, my 10yo was the oldest by a long way and so I don't know how much she will get out of it (she is my keenest gymnast).

Option B
Pros - Comes with many recommendations. My 10yo has a friend who already goes there. Age 8-18. Own premises.
Cons - Comparatively extortionate! £18 for 2 hours, plus extra for British Gymnastics membership (incl insurance etc.) A pain to get to.

If it weren't for the price, Option B would win hands-down for me, but is the extra cost really worth it? They had a trial at Option A yesterday and, whilst they enjoyed it, it didn't seem very 'official'...

Do your DC already have any gymnastics skills?
Do they want to compete? Some clubs don’t do competition level.
Do they have a squad they can progress to?

If they just want to do it for a bit of fun and see if they like it I’d go with A, if they can already do a fair but and want to go further I’d go for B.

Oh and also watch out for the insurance charge. My DC’s old club used to charge £25 per child when I later found out the true cost is less than that and they were adding extra on for themselves.

*fair bit

They haven't done any gymmnastics before but my 10yo is very keen to progress and wants to compete.

Good tip about the insurance. Thanks. It looks like they charge £19pa for BG membership and an additional £10pa for club membership. It all seems so expensive!

Maybe we'll start with option A...

Hmm ok, I’m sure last year I only paid £12.50 each for insurance and no club fee either.
Suppose each club sets its own fee needs though so maybe unfair to compare but £18 for 2hrs is also expensive.
All my DC compete and one of them is in the squad and it’s only £4 something per hour.

Gymnastics is probably the cheapest activity mine have ever done, tennis and swimming are more! And cheerleading too if you get swept up in the competitions.

Realistically your 10 yo will struggle to compete if she’s not done it before but I’d be wary of option A. I don’t see how they could cater properly for a mixed class of 3-13. It also seems too cheap to me. We pay £13 a class. Does option B do a shorter class or just the 2 hour option? It’s the longer class that makes it a higher cost.

Option B fees seem pretty accurate to me. DD who is 9 has just given up gym after 5 years. When she finished her classes were 90 mins and £12 plus £30 per year for BG membership/insurance and club fees. She also progressed through badges while there.
As a previous poster said by 10 most girls have been there for a while and the good ones already been picked out to go to competition level. Most clubs have recreational level and competition level.

Sorry but option A sounds very suspect. gymnastics. ,but also does ballet? what are there credentials? what are there qualifications ?

I wouldn't go with option A if they have no membership, as your child isn't insured. My DD does ballet at a dance school, and gymnastics at a gym club. Option A sounds more like a youth club or after school facility, I'd be worried about their credentials and ability to teach the correct technique.

I also agree that 10 might be a bit late to start, unless they're a bendy Wendy? Saying that, my 9yo has been going since she was 5 and still can't do a kart wheel, whereas her elder sister competes nationally. I suppose it all depends how they take to it.

Option A sounds too casual and non focused might be ok to keep them entertained for a bit but not to learn properly. Option B sounds too far to the other extreme especially for a 10 user old who has only just started, gymnastic is one of those sports where by 10 you are considered over the hill in some respects. You need an option somewhere between the 2.

Option A sounds like they won't learn any useful skills, how would you teach an advanced 13 year old in the same class as a beginner 3 year old. What kind of equipment do they have, bars, beams, trampoline etc? So more of a keeping them busy getting some exercise kind of option.

If at all serious about gymnastics it's much better to go to a proper club. At 10 she'll be too late for competing at a high level, but most clubs will do a lower level competitive squad which IMHO is better as its fewer hours.

What do they actually do at Option A? Do(es) the coach(es) have any qualifications? It can be that it is intended to be very basic, and the upper age fluctuates with groups of friends staying or moving on, random tiny 12yos fitting in just fine.

Is there a third alternative, like martial arts, or proper ballet? Either of those are easier to deliver than gymnastics.

Are both clubs businesses? It sounds like A is more a community-based parent run option? They can be good no pressure options (lack of pressure might mean lower progress but suit some kids better!).

Option A unlikely to have much equipment. I’d ask about that (you might not be bothered about beam, bars etc but an air track and foam blocks are fun and useful).

Your 10-year-old might be able to do in-Club competitions (ask), but unlikely she’ll be at Squad level at either club for a good while (10 is old, one session a week will take a while to build flexibility and strength). I’d just ask what competitions your beginner 10 year old could enter within the next year (both clubs might say none). But you’ll get an idea if Club B has its focus on everyone or just on their competition-team gymnasts.

You might also ask what happens if child moves up to Competitive classes and doesn’t do well.