New Parent Information

As a parent booster club, we want to help make your family joining the team a fun experience.  We have tried to design a packet of information to answer most of your questions about being a team parent and a member of the booster club. This is just a general overview and if you have any other questions after reading the information, please feel free to contact the President, Laura Pluckebaum or ask one the coaches.

Booster Club

As a team parent, you are automatically a booster club member. Unlike some gyms, we do not charge fees at this time. We may require a one time a year payment of $50 to the general fund. The club has officers and they are elected at the end of the meet season. We are a tax-exempt but not non-profit organization, and we have by-laws. We are required to have 12 meetings per year. At that time we may vote on any issues. One vote is given per gymnast. Please see the current officers listed (see officers page) if you are interested in holding an office.

Parent’s Point of View

This is a brief overview of gymnastics from the parent point of view. The competitive season is September to April depending on the level your child is competing. Your child may be starting out as a Level 3 gymnast. This means 3 hours a week in the gym for practice and 4-5 meets in a season. The hours for practice increase as your child moves up in levels, and then there are generally 8-10 meets in a season. The number varies depending on whether your child qualifies for the State Meet.
This means money must be available in your child’s individual account starting Sept. 1, so that meet registrations can begin to be sent in. Please see the Competitive team page for fees and practice schedules for all levels.

Booster Club Parent Responsibilities

As a member of the booster club you’re required to attend meetings and participate in the planning and working of our home gymnastic meets. We may plan and host one or two meets per season, and it requires the participation of all the parents to be a success. Home meets are the way our booster club makes money and is a good way to show off our gym. The entire profit after a meet may be split into individual accounts or partial amounts may be given. The remainder may be placed in the booster club’s general fund account. The booster club maintains a general fund account and this money provides gifts to the team and an end of the season celebration banquet for the team gymnasts.

You may be required to make a deposit to the general fund once a year depending on the expenses incurred with our meet and the banquet. If we as a booster club, solicit many donations for our meet we will make a bigger profit, and will need to make fewer payments to the general fund.

*Please discuss donations with an officer before soliciting them from donors due to tax laws.

Hosting a gymnastics meet is a lot of work but can be very fun for parents and gymnasts. They usually do very well in “their” gym and have fun sharing it with family and friends.

Local and State Meets

	All level 3 gymnasts have the opportunity to compete at State as they automatically qualify.
	All other levels must achieve an all around score of 32 to qualify. You can view most of your gymnasts scores on the IGSS website.
	Coaches will assume your child is competing in a meet unless you notify them otherwise.
	You will receive a schedule of meets in August for the entire year. However, you will not be notified of times until approx. 1-2 weeks before a meet. Plan to be available for the entire weekend.

Hosting a gymnastics Meet

There are many jobs to be done for a home meet and here is a general list of them

1. Scoring
2. Concessions
3. Admissions
4. Gymnast check-in
5. Awards
6. Timers
7. Working the Judges’ tables
8. Hospitality for the coaches & judges
9. Programs
10. Gym set up
11. Cleaning gym before and after meet

If any of these things sound like they are for you when the meet gets close there will be sign up sheets and committees.

Financial Responsibilities

Booster Club Parents are required to maintain an individual account for their gymnast. This account is to pay for meet entry fees, coaching fees, and can be used for camps leos, or any other supplies from the gym. The required balance is an estimate of fees for the season. These fees may be higher or lower depending on the cost of meet entries and coaching fees. Coaches fees are divided equally among the gymnasts who attend the meet. Fee amounts may change with each meet due to the number of coaches required and if the meet is out of town. Money may be left at the end of the season in an individual account, and can be carried over to the next season.

When your child joins the team, you will also be required to purchase a t-shirt, short set, a exhibition leo, a warm-up suit, and a competitive leo. Every year we either buy new leos, or warm-ups. New exhibition leos are purchased each year. A team bag will also be a required purchase but will be used more than one year. The coaches do a very good job of trying to spread the cost of purchase over the summer, and give you plenty of time to plan for the expense. The booster club offers many opportunities to fundraise for you account throughout the year (see fundraising page) as well as the home meet.