Handbook

General Rules

1. No entry to the floor or any equipment by non-participants will be allowed.  A participant is a student, a parent, or an adult enrolled in a class.  An instructor will call the students to class.
2. No participant is permitted on the equipment without an instructor at any time.  Equipment includes (but is not limited to) conditioning equipment, spring floors, wedges, barrels, mats, trampolines, bars, vault, inflatable, and pit.
3. No gum, drink, or food is allowed in the gym.
4. No street shoes are allowed in the gym.
5. No running.  RUNNING IS UNACCEPTABLE, except as directed by the instructor.
6. Respect your instructor - do not talk when the instructor is teaching.  Respect your classmates - talking about, making fun of, or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
7. Do not walk or run across any event area when leaving the gym, getting water, or using the rest room.
8. Loose clothing is not permitted.  In many activities, a persons body must be spotted and loose clothing gets in the way.
9. Long hair must be tied back.
10. Respectful social behavior is expected of all students.  Unacceptable behavior includes cutting in front of others, pushing, hitting, and bad language.  Participants who are continually disruptive will be asked to leave.
11. If you leave class, you must tell your instructor.  This includes going to the rest room or for early dismissal.
12. If at any time you feel unusual pain or discomfort, it is your responsibility to report this to your instructor immediately.
13. When class is dismissed, no under-age student is permitted to leave the building without a caretaker, parent, or guardian.  Students waiting to be picked up must wait inside the building.

Trampoline and Pit Safety

1. Absolutely no double bouncing (2 or more individuals) is permitted.
2. Bounce only in the center of the trampoline.
3. Bounce on feet and bottom only.  Head first can cause serious injury.
4. When jumping into the pit, feet entry only.  Head first can cause serious injury.
5. If participant is in a Hot Tots class, a parent must be on the pit padding supervising their child at all times.  If a child is bouncing on the trampoline without an instructor, the parent or caregiver must be on the trampoline bed with the child.
6. Only one person in the pit at a time.
7. NO STUDENT IS PERMITTED ON THE TRAMPOLINE OR IN THE PIT WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR.

Hot Tots Class

1. Parent or caregiver must supervise their child at all times.  The parent is the child's instructor.  The  class instructor is responsible for coaching the parent or caregiver.
2. Keep focused on your child.  Talking with other adults can take focus off the child.
3. If your child wanders, please follow the child and encourage him/her to return to the group.

Birthday Parties

1. All of the above rules pertain to birthday party participants.
2. No parents on gymnastics floor at any time.  Parent hosting party MAY be allowed on floor for photos only - a signed waiver will be required.
3. When the gymnastics portion of the party is finished, children are not allowed back on the equipment.  All fitness and conditioning equipment, including trampoline, is off limits to all children and adults.

NO ADULTS ON EQUIPMENT AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON!!!

General Policies

Waiting Areas

The waiting areas are not playing areas.  Please instruct your child not to run, jump on the furniture, stand on the furniture, etc.  Should improper behavior persist, and the parent is not in attendance, the parent will be called and asked to pick the child up.  Any damage to the property of Starkville Gymnastics, Inc. due to improper behavior by a student, the parent of said student will be charged for the damages accordingly.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Feel free to drop off your child for class.  However, please do not drop your child off for class too early.  Parents of preschoolers are expected to be waiting in the lobby when classes are over and parents of older students are asked to pick their child up on time.  Only in extreme emergencies should a child be left longer than five minutes after their class is over.  Should an emergency arise, call, and if necessary, leave a message.  We will relay the message to your child.  Do not instruct your child to wait in front of the building for pick-up.  Children are not allowed to wait under the canopy or play in the parking area.  Parents who consistently leave children past the recommended pick-up time will be asked to make other arrangements for their child, changed to another class time to accommodate their schedule, and/or charged a sitting fee after repeated tardiness.

Parking

Parking areas are designated. At no time is parking allowed at the entrance and exit areas of the canopy.  Do not park in the middle of the parking lot.  Park your vehicles around the perimeter of the building.  Entrance and exits are clearly designated.  Parking is reserved for the staff on the west side of the building.  Please use caution when driving in the parking lot.

Dressing Room

A girl's dressing room is provided.  Do not allow your child to bring valuables to class.  All jewelry must be removed.  Lost or stolen articles are the responsibility of the owner and not that of Starkville Gymnastics, Inc.  It is recommended that your child takes her belongings into gym.  Cubbies are located in the gym for clothing, shoes, etc.  Boys should change in the rest room located in the lobby.

Phone Calls

Students are discouraged from using the telephone.  Phone calls are allowed for emergencies but are not allowed for incidentals - calling friends, questions about pick-up times, etc.

Attendance

Absences are discouraged.  Make-up classes for gym or by appointment only on the designated Saturdays.

Visitation

Visitation is not allowed except during Meet Weeks.  A viewing window is located next to the gym door.  However, learning cannot take place when distractions occur.  If a child cannot pay attention during class, i.e. waving to parents, etc., the parent will be asked to step away from the window so the child can concentrate.  Visitors are not allowed in the gym.  The second floor of the facility houses a dance room and bleachers for viewing on special occasions, only.  The bleacher area is for gymnastics meets only.

Vending Machines

Change may be obtained from the Pro Shop if someone is available.  Absolutely at no time should classes be interrupted to obtain change.

Food & Drink

Food or drink is not allowed anywhere in the facility except in the lobby.  If child brings a drink or food into the gym or dressing room it will be disposed of.

Notices

Periodically notices are sent home with students.  Surprise!  Some are never received.  Any notice that is sent home will be posted on the bulletin board, located in the lobby, and on the web site.