We joined SGA this summer so our child could attend with a friend, and unfortunately our experience has been very disappointing. When I signed up, I believed I was enrolling in a summer session. Instead, I unknowingly entered into an ongoing monthly membership with rigid policies, automatic charges, and little flexibility for new families. Problems we ran into: Billing: We were charged $143.35 for June even though we only attended one class, plus an additional drop-in fee. There was very limited prorated adjustment and no flexibility for starting mid-month (as soon as you sign up you are charged rather than the first class you can join.) When I raised this, I was told tuition is amortized annually -- but that logic doesn't make sense for new members who haven't yet received a full season's worth of classes. Charges during closures: We were charged full tuition for July even though classes were paused the first week of the month. The explanation was that "you'll still get four classes," but the lack of transparency here felt like nickel-and-diming. Cancellation policy: To stop being charged, families must fill out a "drop form" by the first of the month prior. No reminders, no flexibility, no consideration for families trying to navigate school transitions. I missed the August 1 deadline and now I am paying for September classes my child cannot attend. Waitlists: Even when you want to stay enrolled, the waitlists are impossibly long (waitlists are 12-35 people long) So I'm being charged monthly for a class my child isn't even able to participate in. Overall, the business model feels punitive rather than supportive. Instead of welcoming new families, it places the entire burden on parents to read the fine print, track deadlines, and pay for services they cannot use. For a children's program that should be about building community and joy, the policies feel unnecessarily rigid, confusing, and profit-driven. The staff answering emails were polite, but their hands are tied by the system. The problem isn't the front desk -- it's the membership model itself. If you're considering SGA, be very careful before signing up. Unless you are prepared for long waitlists, inflexible billing, and paying for classes your child might not actually attend, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. read more

Very nice facility. Very little gymnastics going on. Mostly a place for kids to run around with a supervisor wearing a leotard. Fun and pricey. But none of you children will learn actual gymnastics here. They are grabby on prices too. Heaps of weeks off. Collecting tuition ahead of time. Unfavorable cancellation terms. In short, you can do much better. read more

The staff is always very nice and patient to help me look up class schedules etc. And we swapped classes back and forth s couple times and they were very helpful. There are many class time options however it is difficult for me to fine times for my two kids to attend at the same time. The class are full easily. And it is hard to find private coaches. Parking is full especially during weekend open gym time. The only thing is that to make Up the classes, it's just open gym or a session with a coach. But the qUality is definitely lower. And gym time it's just free play. Hope the !Make up can be a bit better but of course we will try not to miss. read more

Seattle Gymnastics Academy - Ballard - Gymnastics Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The after-school classes are serious and really get the kids exercised and worked. The morning classes are for younger kids, so it's less intense. It is 4-6 kids per teacher, on friday afternoon, and it is difficult for teacher to watch the last kid in a rotation, I wish the teacher can watch every kid, before instructing the first kid what to do with the next move. The location is convenient, there is some parking every time. The space is big as well. read more

I wish a place like this had existed when I was a kid. It is really neat. They have all sorts of great activities and equipment for kids to workout on, and burn some energy. They also teach about gymnastics. :-) The only downside is that it gets really crowded and noisy, but I have learned to bring ear phones and something to do while waiting They also have free Wi-Fi, just get the key from the front desk. My son really loves it, and I recommend it to anyone! read more

The SGA is a perfect spot to drop in ($6 for a drop in which is one hour or you can buy a punch card where you can get a free drop in) and let your little one expend all their energy. We come here at least once a week since my toddler loves all the fun things she can do. There are balance beams, trampolines, a foam pit to jump into, bars - sometimes they have a bouncy obstacle course. The floors are all covered or padded so there isn't much worry about bumps and bruises. There are instructors on the floor to help supervise and to make sure kids are taking turns and being safe. We haven't taken any classes, but will certainly sign up when my daughter is a little older. read more

Seattle Gymnastics Academy - Ballard - Gymnastics Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is a unicorn: Sky high prices paired with draconian policies and abysmal customer support. The worst of all worlds. Do not enroll in the classes unless your child is a budding olympian. Maybe worth the quagmire if your kid is exceptionally talented at gymnastics. Otherwise you'll get taken for a long, painful, expensive, poorly explained ride, administered by huffy staff who would be mostly unemployable in other settings. read more

I have mixed feelings about SGA. My kids have been going here for 11 yrs. Open gym (drop in) was great when my kids were under 5. However, the classes have a new pricing scheme which is such a scam. Rather than enrolling for Fall/Spring/Summer classes, they charge you every month, forever, summers included, until you cancel. To cancel, you need to give them 5 weeks notice, and a special form. For example, if I don't want to get charged for June, I need to send in a special form by the end of April - no exceptions. Nice going SGA, it's like gym memberships of the 80's...just as sleazy too. read more

Depressing. Take your time and kids somewhere else. No one is happy at this establishment. Turnover seems like a issue- or rather, a non-concern for them. Coaches changed so often with little to no notice. It's super clear to me that SGA does not work/train on those you hire. Don't just fire them or leave them be! Take some ownership? They coach our kids. Did you forget? If you wont put effort in to your employees - why the heck would they value us (clients). Whenever I am in the gym people are rude and barley acknowledge you until you are standing DIRECTLY in-front of them- and say hello first. Seems like absolutely NO ONE is professional or trained to interact with customers. So they don't. I once had a afterschool job but inappropriate comments from the coaches.....Please, talk about your "sexting" off the clock and away from the kids- come on. I saw a bunch of kids with "coach" shirt's on and not one person in charge or managing. Again, no one is in-charge. Makes me think about the effort and care they put into their coaches when their customer service is like this...The coaches don't even seem like coaches. The mom's talk- I hear the president has been there since she was a child too. I just don't see how someone who has been in the business this long can let the gym run like this. Maybe it's time to retire and get people who know/want to run a business?! It's a strange feeling in there...we will be staying away and take the drive to another gym read more

My daughter went there for summer camp. Unlike other summer programs, this is more like a provide daycare, which no skills were taught. Kids were running around by themselves, coaches changed everyday and they were just chatting with each other. I don't think we are going back for more classes, it is waste of money and time. read more

My step daughter attended gym classes at SGA Ballard and Lake City for many years. The teachers were truly mentors for her and helped her tremendously in all aspects of her life. My step daughter gained confidence in herself and the work ethic she learned at SGA has translated in to many areas of her life. I enjoyed watching the well executed meets and was super happy with our experience at SGA. Now that my step daughter is grown I have continued my relationship with SGA over the years and sell my active wear products to them. The management team is always professional and have been a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend SGA read more

Horrible registration process. Geared toward people sitting around waiting for an email to arrive. My daughter has been waiting for months to get into the class she is qualified for. In the meantime, I'm paying $200 a month for a class she is over qualified for. I wouldn't have anything to do with this place if my daughter wasn't so passionate about gymnastics. read more

Staff are friendly & my kid loves learning the skills. Just don't expect any customer service or flexibility - their rules are hard and fast and no exceptions. Make a mistake? Too bad. Medical emergency or custody order means you miss class? Pay full price anyway. Out of town for the summer? One week of prorating, during their definition of summer (July & August, not June). If you want to drop a class, it requires a full months notice, no exceptions for any reason (moving, medical, or otherwise), instead you pay full price. Period. read more

They are so professional ! High scale gymnastics facility where children can learn gymnastics and have fun ! My children love SGA.

This review is only for open gym: We have been here for open gym several times and my 3 year old daughter loves it. The space is HUGE and they have 2 foam pits, several trampolines (including a smaller one for those 2 years and younger), a running trampoline, as well as lots of climbing structures. Unfortunately, no adults allowed on the structures (ahem, especially inside the foam pit), but I do hear they have a separate open gym time for adults where you can frolic and jump to your hearts content. I've been to this location and the one in Shoreline. This location is much better, hands down. The Ballard location is bigger and cleaner (and newer?). The one in Shoreline feels older and is definitely smaller (with only 1 foam pit). That being said, both are great for a rainy day activity!! read more

My four year old had her birthday party here recently. The whole partu experience was so easy. Two coaches took the 13 kids and did obstacle courses with them and supervised them. The kids had the entire gym to themselves. They help set up the room and cleaned it up afterwards. I would highly recommend a party here. All the kids had a blast and the parents were able to connect with each other. read more

My children have been at Seattle Gymnastics for 4+ years -- from rec classes to parties to competitive programs. We've generally had good coaches that have worked my kids in supportive, challenging classes. That's the upside. There's good seating for parents that are waiting, and Wi-Fi that sometimes works. When you're there 2-5 hours/week, that's critical. The downside? The registration process. Each time my children have been promoted, it's months before we can actually get them in their new classes. The transfer registration process is a nightmare -- literally hundreds of parents show up on transfer morning, hours before registration opens, hoping to get a slot for their kids. To tell a child that there's no space after working hard to get promoted is heartbreaking -- and when it happens session after session after session, it starts to get demotivating. We pay close to $1000/quarter for our kids to go to classes that are below their level with the hope of getting a space via waitlist. For that kind of money, they should get more coaches. They've told me, over and over again, that it's because they can't find coaches. The coaches say it's because they don't pay enough to attract more. I don't know what's right -- I just know that of all of the activities my kids do, this is the single most frustrating registration process we go through. If that got worked out, this place would be awesome. read more

On the recommendation of a friend we started classes for our 7 year old in Sept (2018). The teachers and staff are always friendly, polite, professional and great with kids. My 7 year old is usually pretty well behaved but there have been a few classes where she was testing the teacher (not listening well, doing things she was asked not to, not doing the things she was asked to do, etc) and it was always dealt with quickly but with the utmost kindness and from the perspective of the teacher wanting to make sure all kids are safe. At the 7yo age the class focuses mostly on the fundamentals of gymnastics and her skills are coming along nicely. My daughter loves the circuits they do, all classes start in the warm up area then branch into different skill areas like the beam, uneven bars, etc. The layout is perfect for this constant rotation and allows for variety in the order skills are practiced. There are stadium style seats for parents (not very comfortable so maybe bring a sweater to sit on) and a section for siblings to play in. read more

There is an abnormally high turnover in staff, it seems we have a new coach every time we come to class with my young son. After doing a little research this seems like an ongoing issue for many years. When asking staff about the issue, no one has answers. Disappointing. We are so happy to be going to another gym, don't be afraid to make the drive! read more

We have had our 10 year old twin boys in the flip & fitness class with Coach Rich at the former Salmon Bay location for the past 2 years, and they are continuing at the new SGA in Ballard. They love the physicality of the class and the tumbling is done on trampolines and well padded surfaces so it's not intimidating. The equipment is up to date and the new gym is bright and spacious. We really appreciate Coach Rich in that he gives kids a nice balance of challenge and freedom. This class is not geared to competition and I am glad SGA offers this alternative to the competition track. It can be an enjoyable and intensely physical activity without the pressure and time commitment of competition. Coach Rich doesn't push kids to their limits but seems to let them find their own and keeps them safe. He also demonstrates the moves himself and that's really important for kids who are visual learners. The class does thorough warm up stretches beforehand. Only con is that we find make-ups are virtually impossible to schedule due to demand and limited class offerings. You sign up for the entire season and even if you know in advance that the kids can't attend every class, you cannot get credit , but have to try to schedule a makeup. read more

My 12 year old son has been coming to SGA Ballard for 7+ years now, since it was SGA Salmon Bay. My review is only for the boys recreational program. He has always had excellent coaches, with the most recent being Aslan. That is the ONLY thing that has kept us coming to this gym, despite having a 30 minute drive (each direction) from SGA Ballard and the terrible customer service I've had through the years. I realize they cannot find sufficient qualified coaches and keep pulling the good ones for the competitive team programs, which is why the older boys' recreation program keeps getting the short end of the stick. Aside from having excellent coaches, I feel that customer service is awful here. There were times in between sessions where there was no coach and therefore no class (ie: Learn, boys level 3), we had to stop coming. Do they ever notify me when they find a coach and can offer the class again? No. I have called or looked online only to find out they had added a class. The pdf schedule they post online is frequently outdated. When I ask about that they say that the most recent schedule was emailed to families. My reply is that we are no longer a currently registered family so we didn't get the email, and besides...isn't that what the website is for? Aside from this frustration, you're now at the bottom of the waitlist too. The registration process is awful. At least with the new monthly fee program you can give them 20 days (or something like that) notice to quit a class, rather than forfeiting an entire season's worth of tuition if something was to happen. Ask for a free trial class before giving them ANY of your money, to see if you and your child is a good fit for this business. read more

Our children have been in the SGA program for over two years now and we are happy with the experience. A couple of the coaches are excellent and the new Ballard facility is amazing and very clean. The kids play room is an extra bonus if you have a toddler. The parking spots are pretty snug outside, so extra diligence is required to prevent door dings. The only downside to SGA is the fact that so many of the younger kids classes (Junior Olympic and Magic) are late at night, not in the early afternoon when the kids seem to have more energy and perform better. The front desk seems to have become far more professional, friendly and helpful in the past year, thank you SGA! read more

I spent a lot of time and money at SGA Ballard between 2014 and spring 2017 for my two daughters. Between the two of them they took classes in the magic (pre team) program, preschool rec, and beginning t&t. They also did some camps. About 1/3 of the coaches they had were truly gifted and inspirational- they knew gymnastics and they were great with kids. Another 1/3 seemed like they knew gymnastics but did not like or understand children. And then the other 1/3... you had to wonder what they were doing there. My older daughter had team aspirations but burned out going 4+ hours per week, and I don't blame SGA for that, I don't think most 7 year olds are really up for that. She wanted to go into the star league, which is the competitive rec program, but good luck getting a spot in that class- she was recommended for it by her coach but there were no openings. So she did t&t, which she enjoyed but when I watched the class the coach seemed completely unengaged and the kids barely paid him any attention. Sadly my daughter liked it because she got to hang out with other girls and crack jokes and occasionally jump on a trampoline- no skills were imparted. Aside from the coaching experience, I didn't really enjoy going there and the registration process was quite frustrating. It didn't have a welcoming vibe, but maybe that's just the deal with gymnastics as a business- you need to shepherd a lot of kids through to be able to pay for the expensive equipment, not to mention the insurance. If I thought my kids really wanted to do gymnastics I would take them back, but my daughter's interest in t&t is not convincing enough to make me go back. For now, we are into ballet and piano, which feel like more friendly pursuits. read more

Run by very young kids who don't understand how to deal with children. The camp kids are allowed to run wild. I have to say that I would not entrust my children to any of the coaches except for the team coaching staff. Business model is extremely unorganized and the communication between managers and employees is not the best. read more

Their Open Gym is not as advertised. What they don't tell you is they allow people to come in earlier the day of Open Gym to pre-register. Then, once you've packed up your one year old & gear and driven 20 minutes to get there they throw up a sign on the door saying that Open Gym time is full. To top that off, once you speak to someone at the desk they are rude and cold. Terrible communication and service. read more

Not cheap but my daughter loves it and her progress has been really good. Plus you can drop your child off and go reuben's around the corner read more

My son was begging to sign up for gymnastics, so I signed him up for a class at Seattle Gymnastics Academy in Ballard. He is 5, in preschool full-time, and loves taking classes. He is outgoing, social, knows how to follow rules, etc. After his very first class, he said he did not want to go back. He said the teacher yelled at him and did not treat him respectfully--even though he was just learning. This has never happened before--he has literally never wanted to quit a class. So, I immediately wrote an email to SGA, explaining my son's experience and asking if we could get a refund. I received an email back from CJ. She was very apologetic, telling me that she had a conversation with the teacher, and "he [the teacher] knows better." Then, she explained that it is their policy to NEVER refund any money after a class has been paid for. And, she offered me a bunch of classes in the morning during the week. I responded saying my husband and I work full time, so none of these classes would work for us. She responded with a voicemail message explaining again that they do not give refunds, and encouraged my son to continue in the class. Honestly, it would be cruel to make my son continue in this class. I have checked in with him a couple times since the class about how he was feeling, and asked him if he wanted to try it again. Every time, he has said point-blank, "no--I don't want to go back." So, here's my assessment of this situation: I'm sure this place is great if your kid gets a good teacher, but if you don't, you're out $300+. Expect absolutely no compassion and no accountability. And, I work in tech, and I know how much a negative review can cost a business, so what they're doing is just not smart. They are being belligerent and unprofessional. They don't have to give refunds for every situation, but they should be open to exceptions when it makes sense. And, they talk a good game, but the bottom line is this: they don't care about their customers/community. read more

Very hit and miss. The Pros: - If you get one of the experienced coaches, your child will learn how to safely execute basic tumbling moves - Easy parking - Big facility The Cons: - Front desk staff rarely answers the phone, acts *VERY* put-out if you interupt their conversations to, say, buy an expensive leotard, and are generally arogant and unhelpful. They are all about 18 so not too surprising, but still very annoying - The registration process is a mess. The site is awful and unless you want the exact same class quarter to quarter you may be out of luck. Each time my daughter has been promoted to the next level, she is re-classified as a "transfer" which means later enrollment. On two separate occassions this has meant we've had to withdraw from the school as by the time she was allowed to register there were no classes left at her level. She just got promoted again so we're looking for a new school as a back-up - nothing sucks more than tellingyour kid "Congrats! You made the next level...but all the classes are full so you can't actually take that class" - Parties are hopefully better at the new one. At the old one the room was dirty from the previous group, the "instructors" were like drill sargeants (two of the kids wound up in tears and I had to apologize to their parents) and the whole thing felt very rushed and involved way too much yelling. - Foam pit is a bio hazard **UPDATE** We've now been coming to this gym (and spending A LOT of money on lessons for 2 kids) for 5+ years and the rudeness at the front desk continues to floor me. My older kiddo was in a class she really enjoyed, but apparently the coach didn't enjoy her and strongly suggested she switch to a different class. There were no other classes that fit our schedule, but I was told one was being added and I should sit tight. I sat, but the class that was added was on a day that didn't work, and when I went to register for the original class, it was full. Yes, I could have registered for the original one to begin with, but there are no refunds and I didn't want to risk paying double. It sucks for sure, but when I called to at least get on the wait list, the 20-year-old on the phone told me that "maybe next time you can have your head in the game and register on time." WOW. Really? Was it necessary to belittle and insult me? WTF? I didn't register on the advice of your staff! End of the day, they're one of only a few gyms in the area and they know it so don't expect them to give a damn about the families, no matter how many thousands of dollars you've spent over the years. I am cautiously optimistic we'll have better luck at SPU or Cascade. read more

very nice, clean, great smiles from the staff. not over crowded, not cheap but worth it to give the kids a new place to run around inside.

Be careful giving this company your money. If your child is in a class that he/she doesn't like, they will not give you a refund, or even a credit. They may offer a different class, but if that does not work for your schedule, you are out of luck. read more

My daughter loves SGA Ballard, and we (parents) are fans too. They do a good job of keeping the kids engaged and appropriately skills v fun oriented, for each kids' abilities and interest. I wish they had adult classes at the Ballard location so I could go too. read more

Recently the staff (young female instructors) at SGA Ballard are rude and defensive--quite unprofessional. This is not the SGA I have known. I have taking my children there for quite a few years but I will not be taken my children back there any more. I have treated the staff with respect and I deserve to be respected. SGA doesn't deserve my business by having poorly communication skills staff represent them. read more

We love this place. We attend the parent tot class with our two year old. She gets so excited for class that she runs to the front door and bolts when she sees her coach! The gym is huge and well equipped. Each week, the class changes a bit. The coaches cater to the kids short attention span and frequently adjust/shift activities. I tried Gymboree before joining this place and not only is it more interactive and directed its even a little cheaper. If you miss a class, you can make it up in another class or attend the open play sessions which are a fun time for the kids to free play on all the equipment. Only reason it's not five stars is they never answer the phone and sometimes the front desk staff seems unapproachable. Otherwise, perfect place to play for toddlers. read more

Wanted to update my old review, which was written only based on my initial interactions with SGA by telephone. We did eventually get our kids enrolled in classes, and we've been really happy with the gym. The instructors are extremely knowledgable and nice, and the kids have a great time. There were times when they were Bees (2-3 year old class) that there was too much sitting in class as opposed to moving around (after all, we're there to wear them out, right?) but that has decreased as they have progressed to more advanced classes. Highly reccomend! read more

Very good quality gymnastics education in both quarterly classes and holiday camps. They focus on strong core skills and won't promote a child who isn't ready for the next level. All the coaches are very good with children and also very good at bringing out the best performance and skills. The online registration could be better (but it is improving), and I do wish they had both recreational and "magic" (competitive level) classes in the same area if only for inspirational purposes but other than that, I highly recommend SGA. They also offer fun and well-supervised parents-night-out for kids. read more

Staff is unprofessional (dare i say, downright rude), I waited at the front desk but, even though they were just chatting, two employees did not even attempt to help me. Equipment is unsanitary. There was no parking available when I arrived. I will take my business elsewhere. read more