Alternative programs that keep a gym profitable.

[JBS]

With the current condition of the economy, lots of franchises, and more for kids to do; many gyms are suffering from low enrollment. What has your gym done (added) to stay profitable?

Please vote in the poll and respond with more detail.

[Aussie_coach]

I think the questions here will have differing answers based on location. I read a lot about USA gyms not accepting adults students because of higher isurance rates. Where I live, every single gym I know of has adult programs, there is asolutly no difference in the insurance requirements of adults to kids.

On the other hand open gyms are unheard of and considered very dangerous. If students want to learn they are part of a structured class or private.

[JBS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_coach I think the questions here will have differing answers based on location. I read a lot about USA gyms not accepting adults students because of higher isurance rates. Where I live, every single gym I know of has adult programs, there is asolutly no difference in the insurance requirements of adults to kids. On the other hand open gyms are unheard of and considered very dangerous. If students want to learn they are part of a structured class or private.

Yes...very true.

We dropped all adult gymnastics classes at both of the gyms I have run. However, it's just gymnastics, aerobic style (exercise) classes can be run with minimal insurance requirements.

As far as open gym, it just depends how you run it. We always have coaches on the floor and the general rules are:

• NO Running
• NO High Bars or Beams
• NO FLIPS!

At the last gym I was at we would run preschool open gym at the same time as regular open gym (we had a 4000 sq. ft. dedicated preschool area). We would have 40-70 kids in the gym (plus parents for preschool open gym). We ran a 10 to 1 ratio. It was extremely safe.

EDIT: It was $10/child for an hour and a half.

[Ingymmom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by JBS Yes...very true. We dropped all adult gymnastics classes at both of the gyms I have run. However, it's just gymnastics, aerobic style (exercise) classes can be run with minimal insurance requirements. As far as open gym, it just depends how you run it. We always have coaches on the floor and the general rules are: NO Running NO High Bars or Beams NO FLIPS! At the last gym I was at we would run preschool open gym at the same time as regular open gym (we had a 4000 sq. ft. dedicated preschool area). We would have 40-70 kids in the gym (plus parents for preschool open gym). We ran a 10 to 1 ratio. It was extremely safe.

WOW! Our open gym has 200+ middle schoolers every friday night, with maybe 3 or 4 coaches. Disconcerting to say the least.

Our gym offers rec T&T & gymnastics, cheer, tumbling, athletic development and ice skating and seems to be doing well. There is also a fitness gym and a cafe area.

[NYgymfan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_coach I think the questions here will have differing answers based on location. I read a lot about USA gyms not accepting adults students because of higher isurance rates. Where I live, every single gym I know of has adult programs, there is asolutly no difference in the insurance requirements of adults to kids. On the other hand open gyms are unheard of and considered very dangerous. If students want to learn they are part of a structured class or private.

Interesting perspective. Its a shame that lawyers and insurance people seem to ruin the fun a lot here in America. "Risk management" is just another way of saying we're taking away fun stuff that weve always done for years but we have to stop cuz there's a 1 in 1,000,000,000 chance that someone might scrape a knee. But I guess you can argue the economic side of it too, and if there were enough demand for adult gymnastics classes that the gyms would find it worthwhile to offer them even tho the insurance costs more.

Open gyms are a lot of fun, altho I usually go with another gymnast who teaches me stuff and spots me.

[KBT]

Quote:
Originally Posted by JBS Yes...very true. We dropped all adult gymnastics classes at both of the gyms I have run. However, it's just gymnastics, aerobic style (exercise) classes can be run with minimal insurance requirements. As far as open gym, it just depends how you run it. We always have coaches on the floor and the general rules are: NO Running NO High Bars or Beams NO FLIPS!

I've been to open gym with these types of rules, too. You had to be a certain level (I think level 5 or 6) to use the high bar or beam.

[Aussie_coach]

So how do open gyms work exactly? Do the kids just work on whatever they want to work on, or is there some kind of structure to it?

[skfleming255]

Our gym usually separates the girls into levels 2 & 3 and then 4 & up. The 4's & up usually work on their own, unless they are needing to be spotted on something. They work on the skills they are working on for their level. The coaches will watch every child on every event to give them some advice, critique, etc... All girls work only on things that the coaches know they are capable of doing. That way it is relatively safe. We usually do a 2 hour open gym every Friday for team members only (another safety precaution).

[JBS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_coach So how do open gyms work exactly? Do the kids just work on whatever they want to work on, or is there some kind of structure to it?

At ours, they do whatever they want. We have one area that is for running tumbling (RO-BHS and up), an area for basic tumbling, and one section for building forts and messing around.

Over half of the kids are non-members that have no formal training in gymnastics. They just love to build forts with the mats, jump on the trampolines, jump in the pit, use the rock wall, and slide down the zip line.

Coaches are allowed to set up stations and drills for children needing help, but there is absolutely no spotting. Anyone who would like formal training or spotting must enroll in our class program.