When it comes to gymnastics equipment it can all become very overwhelming very quickly. That is why we have developed this comprehensive checklist to ensure that you have everything that you need to open your gymnastics facility or start a new program.
This list will be broken up into essentials needed for each type of class offered including:
- Womens Gymnastics
- Men’s Gymnastics
- Preschool Gymnastics
- Ninja / Parkour
- Cheer
- Tumbling
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Silks
- Dance
- Martial Arts
Another important note is that this list encompasses only the essential items needed as there are countless accessories that could make it far too long to sort through. So everything included in this comprehensive checklist is the essentials that will be necessary for success and safety in your gym.
All prices here were found by averaging costs on gymsupply.com and other similar sites.
The Basics
Before we can dive into all of the fun equipment needed for various class programs we have to first start with the basics. Depending on the size of your gym and the layout there will be a wide variety of needs, so this section will be kept fairly general. This section focuses on the elements that operate outside of your class area but help to facilitate a great experience for your customers.
Flooring:
Waiting Area:
Misc:
Womens Gymnastics
Women’s gymnastics will be the next set of equipment covered as it is the largest category of class in the industry. Between women’s rec gymnastics and competitive gymnastics, we can cover a wide variety of equipment needed for opening up a gymnastics center. Here is the complete checklist of women’s gymnastics equipment:
Beam:
Uneven Bars:
Vault:
Floor:
Other:
Men’s Gymnastics:
Men’s gymnastics require a large variety of equipment as they have six events in contrast to women’s four. These events will usually require a corner of your gym if you are planning on having a competitive men’s team. If you are interested in just rec men’s gymnastics then the equipment requirements will be much more minimal and affordable.
Preschool Gymnastics:
Preschool classes are an important cornerstone of many gymnastics centers as they serve an entirely different demographic from competitive gymnasts. Preschool classes are a great place to find new customers and introduce them to the sport without it being an intimidating process. Additionally, preschool gymnastics are proven to be incredibly helpful for building motor skills for young children so it is a no-brainer for most parents to give it a try.
Ninja / Parkour
Another type of class that many gyms have been having great success with is ninja and parkour classes. These classes are unique because they do not have any standard equipment as other more traditional forms of gymnastics do. Many gyms offer these classes using only the equipment they already have. In the checklist below I have included some specialized items that will take your parkour/ninja classes to the next level.
Parkour
Ninja:
Cheerleading:
Cheer classes are interesting because they do not require any specialized equipment outside of the basics needed for gymnastics. This makes cheer a great sport to add to your list of classes. Here are some considerations of equipment to ensure that you have the foundation for a great cheer program
Cheer:
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a beautiful variation of acrobatic gymnastics that can be a great option to offer in your gym. Luckily this class only requires the regular floor and some specialized items such as a ball, ribbon, hoop, etc. This makes the equipment cost and overall investment quite affordable in comparison to some other options out there.
Silks
Silks are another great class that can be added to your gymnastics center. This class does require some specialized equipment in order to get the most out of it, but if you have a place for it in your gym it can be an amazing addition. Best of all classes can be offered to a wider variety of clientele so it could be a great additional sell for parents that already love your gym to try a class themselves.
Dance
Dance is a perfect class to add to your list if you have the room and the staff for it. Since dance and gymnastics are so closely intertwined they can be a great pairing for your gym. This class also does not require much when it comes to equipment, however different dance styles will have different needs. Ballet for example will come with a different set of equipment than jazz or hip-hop.
Martial Arts
Martial arts offer yet another synergistic class option. This one meshes particularly well with the ninja/parkour demographic as you will be able to sell a wider variety of skills to accommodate more customers. Martial arts do come with some specialized equipment needed based on how many resources you would like to dedicate to it. Martial arts can also be run with very minimal equipment when needed.
Conclusion
No matter what classes you decide to offer your gym can be incredibly successful. Many gyms have succeeded while only offering a small handful of classes while others have found success by offering as many classes as possible. It is all about understanding your target demographic and serving them to the best of your abilities. For more information check out our extensive guide on how to open your own gymnastics facility.
I believe that it is always good to start with a smaller amount of classes and expand once those are running well. This can help to reduce how overwhelming it will be on you and your business. Adding on new classes generates more opportunities but also adds more pressure to your current systems and the staff at hand.
I hope that these checklists were helpful in getting everything you need for your gymnastics gym, whether you are starting a brand new facility or just opening a new class. Best of luck to you in your endeavors!
