Gymnastics Academy of Rockford

Brittany
2 ⭐⭐
My daughter attended GAR off and on for a couple years, then committed to classes long term and was very happy. In the past year there were significant changes in staff, some new instructors for recreational students came in and there was a new coach that did not interact with my child, just the team gymnasts. My daughter went from being challenged in a variety of ways to only working on a few skills. Attention to individual students dropped as instructors would stand by and watch students complete tasks in general, as opposed to last fall when kids were given individual feedback and physical assistance learning new skills. While watching my daughter class, I was also struck by how harsh and unforgiving the new coach was behaving. She scared children around her, and was frequently seen verbally reprimanding team gymnasts instead of offering constructive criticism. Please remember, even though they are skilled gymnasts they are elementary school children often seen crying because they weren’t capable of meeting the standards of their new coach. My daughter was approached to try out for team after a mass exit of team families. I spoke to still current team moms about time commitment and financial expectations. They expressed frustration with the lack of communication ahead of time, schedule changes, and the secretive nature of team expenses before payment was declared and due. After talking with coaches and an office administrator, I felt even more uncomfortable about the lack of information they were willing to give me regarding what I would be expected to spend. We have left the gym, as my child will not get the attention she needs to improve if she is not planning to join the team, and I would not feel comfortable allowing current GAR coaches to train my child. We hope the new program sorts itself out and that coaches take into consideration the seriousness of their attitude towards team families, and take responsibility for the changes that need to happen to create a proper environment for the children they train.

Glenn Whitecotton
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I can´t say enough about how fantastic our experience has been at GAR. The new owner truly cares and it shows in many ways. The facility is well maintained and the staff go above and beyond for the kids. Our family very much looks forward to our daughter´s sessions and our daughter has an absolute blast and can´t wait to return. Also, the new owners commitment to work with the disability community cannot be understated. This speaks volumes about her values and leadership.

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