FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE FACILITY
Is Key City Gymnastics Club (KCGC) a recreational or competitive gymnastics club?
KCGC is both. We are a recreational facility committed to giving children their first introduction to gymnastics, with a progressive curriculum designed to challenge them at each level. We also have Advanced and Competitive programs.
Are there changerooms?
Yes, we have a girls and boys change rooms that have child-friendly benches to sit on and bathrooms in each. We have cubbies and hooks for shoes, bags, and coats, but no lockers with locks, so please do not bring valuables to the gym. We also have a coat room off the back entrance of the gym that has a large shoe rack and cubbies.
Do you have washrooms outside of the changerooms?
Yes, we have a wheelchair accessible bathroom downstairs and two additional washrooms in our upstairs Junior Gym.
Do you have a lost and found?
Yes, all items left behind will be kept in the Lost and Found bin. Every month, the items will be displayed in the kitchen for one week to give gymnasts a chance to collect their missing items. After that period of time, all items will be donated to the local thrift store.
How often do you clean your facility?
Our gym is cleaned three times each week and a deep cleaning of carpets, mats and foam pits is scheduled regularly.
We routinely disinfect the club and equipment with Vital Oxide and a Vital Clean Cobalt Fogger (https://www.vitalclean.ca/). Vital Oxide is an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant cleaner, mold killer, and odor eliminator. Its formula contains a unique form of stabilized chlorine dioxide that is very effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and mold yet non-corrosive to treated articles and gentle enough to handle without causing skin irritation. It is listed on US EPA List N: Disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-192.
If you have any questions regarding our cleaning procedure, please contact the office.
Do you have a viewing area?
We have an accessible viewing area off our upstairs entrance for parents to sit and watch their children.
Do you have a fundraising program?
YES! When you give back to the club through fundraising and volunteer participation opportunities, you help us achieve more, reach our goals, and keep our facility safe for all our participants. Your involvement has a positive effect on your child’s passion for their sport and sense of belonging while building a strong family network and support system within our organization.
Your child will bring home information for each of the fundraisers we do throughout the year. For further information please see the FUNDRAISING section on our website or call the office at 250-426-2090.
REGISTRATION AND PROGRAMS
How do I register for a class, camp, birthday or Kids Night Out?
You can register online, in person, or by phone.
- To register online: please see Appendix A – HOW TO REGISTER at the end of this document.
- If you are new to KCGC, you must sign our membership waiver form when you register. This can be done online or in person.
- Online payment methods: VISA, Mastercard and E-transfer.
- In-person payment: VISA, Mastercard, debit, cheque, or cash.
**Please note: As of November 2023, there will be a surcharge of 2% applied to all member transactions that are paid by credit card
What is the membership fee?
For the safety and security of yourself, your child and everyone at our facility, ALL program participants must purchase a KCGC membership, which includes insurance. Membership is effective from September 1 to August 31 each year.
When do I register?
- Fall registration begins in July of each year
- Winter registration begins in November of each year
- Spring registration begins in February of each year
- Summer registration begins in May of each year
- Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration dates for our summer programs will be posted on our website and will be open for registration at the same time as our spring session.
- If you wish to join a program after it has started, please call our office to see if we can accommodate you. If you sign up after the session has started, your fees will be pro-rated.
- Our competitive programs all start in the summer or fall and run from 10 to 12 months. Please see the competitive program registration for further information.
Who can attend classes at KCGC?
KCGC is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment. We welcome all gymnasts regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or ability.
If you have a child living with a disability that requires any type of accommodation to participate in our classes, we are happy to work with you to provide customized accommodations that are best suited to their needs. Please reach out to our staff at [email protected] or call 250.426.2090 to discuss how we can best support your child’s needs.
Who do I speak to about registration and class times?
Please address your questions about payment, registration and class times to our office staff and they’ll be happy to help you! Coaches are not able to readily access the data needed to answer your questions.
Do you offer family discounts?
KCGC offers a 10% discount for families who have more than one child participating in programs. The discount will be based on the lowest program fees.
What if I am waitlisted?
If you are waitlisted for a class, we will contact you if a space becomes available.
What if I can’t afford the programs?
KidSport and Jumpstart can assist with fees each fiscal year. Applications and additional information are available directly through each of their websites and you can access the information by clicking on the following link: Funding Opportunities.
What is the minimum age a child can start at KCGC?
Once children are walking, they can take part in our Parent & Tot class.
How do you manage a child with a medical condition or allergy?
To ensure your child’s safety please provide all relevant information at the time of registration. EpiPens and other medication will be labelled and retained by the child’s coach throughout the class/training.
What is the difference between recreational and competitive programs?
KCGC recreational programs are designed for participants of all ages from early childhood up to and including teen and adult programs. Programming is offered as single day classes that run over a 10 – 14-week session. We offer 4 sessions a season (September through August). Recreational gymnasts do not compete, though they have excellent learning opportunities during their class time, with the focus being on gymnastics foundations, fundamentals, and fun!
The artistic gymnastics competitive programs are by assessment (held every spring) and invitation only. Artistic gymnastics is a challenging sport, demanding strength, power, flexibility, agility, courage, and a combination of technical precision and artistic creativity performed on vault, uneven bars, beam, and floor. KCGC has pre-team and team competitive programs. Competitive training is a year-round commitment with classes that run between 2 – 20 hours per week.
How do I register for a Competitive Program?
If your child has been invited to take part in the KCGC competitive program, you will be able to access your child’s program and complete their registration on our registration portal.
Do you run programs during the summer?
Yes, we are a year-round facility and we offer classes, camps, drop-ins and special activities such as Kids Klub and Youth Nights every month of the year.
What should I wear to the gym?
All athletes go barefoot in the gym. Please tie back long hair and do not wear jewelry. Do not bring valuables to the gym.
Females: A bodysuit, tights, or athletic shorts (no buttons) and a fitted t-shirt.
Males: Gym shorts with no buttons, zippers, buckles, or pockets and a fitted, tucked in t-shirt.
Do you give progress reports?
Most of our active start and recreational programs do a progress report at the end of their session. With all programs, if you have questions about your child’s progress, please talk to their coach.
Do I have to stay and watch my child?
No, unless your child needs you at the gym while they adjust to their class, you are not required to stay and watch. When registering, make sure you include your cell phone number on your file so we can contact you in the event of an emergency.
Where do I drop off/pick up my child(ren)?
To drop-off your child at Key City Gymnastics Club, please follow the round-about to the backdoor entrance located at the rear of our facility.
Pick-up – all participants will exit the building at the front entrance. Please do not block parking stalls or park alongside the garden bed inside the front parking lot.
REFUNDS AND CLOSURES
If I withdraw from a class can, I get a refund?
If, before the first class date, we are notified that your child is withdrawing from their program, a full refund will be given.
If, within the first two weeks of classes, your child chooses not to continue a refund will be issued minus the classes attended and the non-refundable Gymnastics BC Membership Fee.
No other refunds will be issued unless a prolonged medical condition and/or injury occurs and they are no longer able to participate. Key City Gymnastics will require a doctor’s note from your child’s physician stating that they are unable to participate. The nature of the medical condition/injury must be stated in the doctor’s note. If your child would like to return to gymnastics once they have recovered, we will require a doctor’s note stating that it is safe to do so.
What happens if my class is cancelled?
KCGC reserves the right to change the schedule or cancel a class due to low registration. If this happens, we will make an effort to accommodate you in another class.
If I miss a class can, I get a credit or do a make-up lesson?
If you miss a class, we do not give credits or offer make-up lessons. Your registration fee pays for a class spot for the entire session regardless of attendance.
What if a class is cancelled for an unforeseen event such as weather?
There have been occasions when the gym has been closed due to extreme weather, power outages and other unforeseen events. Generally, however, KCGC does NOT close for bad weather, but if you have concerns, please phone us. If the gym is closed it will be posted on our website, Instagram, and Facebook pages. We will also try to notify you via email.
If KCGC cancels a class a make-up class may be offered. In the event this is not possible, you account will be credited for the missed class.
COACHES
What are your coaches’ qualifications?
All of our coaches have completed the National Coaching Certification Program. They are trained in Emergency First Aid and CPR/AED, have their Respect in Sport and Safe Sport certificate, Fundamental Movement Skills training, and have been successfully evaluated within the Making Ethical Decisions program.
How are your coaches trained to prevent any inappropriate behavior?
At KCGC, we take Safety very seriously and continue to train and develop our coaches and leaders to make everyone aware and conscious about the important role we play shaping the lives of children and youth.
All coaches are required to receive certification in the following:
- Making Ethical Decisions
- Respect in Sport
- Criminal Record Checks (for all those over 18)
- Safe Sport
All coaches are encouraged to take the following:
- Commit 2 Kids – an online certification by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
- Respect in the Workplace – all KCGC staff receive training on this topic that is applicable with all relationships in the gym.
As part of our initiatives, we utilize the following:
- Code of Conduct
Coaches – The National Coaching Certification Program™ (NCCP) Code of Ethics provides ethical standards that reflect the core values of the coaching profession in Canada, and guides sport coaches to make balanced decisions to achieve personal, participant and team goals. The NCCP Code of Ethics applies to every coach in Canada—from the first-time coach to the head coach of a national team. The NCCP Code of Ethics is used to guide the conduct in sport that stipulate acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors and associated repercussions.
Athletes – The Athlete Code of Conduct provides a framework for behavioral expectations from athletes and a clear understanding of KCGC’s underlying principles of respect, effort, and attitude.
When athletes are participating in competitions, training, team activities or traveling to or from any activity sanctioned by Gymnastics BC (GBC), athletes must follow GBC’s standards and expectations.
Parents – The Policy is designed to require parents/spectators to maintain a sportsmanlike atmosphere during all sporting events whether held at our club or during away competitions.
Please see Appendix B – CODE OF CONDUCT at the end of this document.
How do I contact my Program Coordinator or Coach?
Our coaches and coordinators welcome your interest in your child’s program and progress. If you have a problem, please contact your child’s coach first. If the issue is still unresolved, please talk to the program coordinator, who will arrange a meeting. If, after the meeting, you feel the issue still needs attention, please contact our Head Coach or Board of Directors by calling 250-426-2090 and leaving a message.
To arrange a meeting with a coach, please phone the office. You can contact your program coordinator via email from the ABOUT/STAFF & BOARD section of our website. Our office can also forward messages via email for you.
If the problem is administrative, please talk to our office staff, who will direct you to the appropriate person.
How do you control/enforce that your coaches/leaders follow all your safety procedures to ensure child and youth safety and prevention of abuse of any kind?
We have an open and honest policy with our KCGC staff to ensure we all feel comfortable about talking about any real, perceived, or vulnerable situations with our participants (of any age).
- Leadership Team Meetings – All coaches work closely with the Leadership Team, who meets weekly, to bring up any issues to be discussed and acted on.
- Floor Supervisors – at all times, the gym has a person in charge of ensuring the safety of participants.
- Employee Training, Feedback, Mentorship and One on One Support – at KCGC we are committed to our staff’s growth and development. We provide yearly group training sessions, a personal staff development meeting, a series of either mentorship sessions or one to one support as needed, as well as a procedure for any infractions of behavior.
- Performance Review – each coach has an individual meeting with a coordinator to discuss any issues pertinent to their roles, including any behavior issues.
