Policies

Communicable Diseases: Please keep you child at home if they are not feeling well or are displaying any symptoms including

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Runny Nose
• Headache

For the health & safety of our participants and coaches, we reserve the right to remove any child or participant from a class that we feel should not be participating in a class due to heavy coughing, fever, chicken pox, flu symptoms or any other illness that might be highly contagious and harmful to others.  The parent/guardian will be called and asked to take their child home. For Chicken Pox symptoms, please refer to the Healthlink BC website with information about this condition.

Medical policy: Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children can meet the physical demands of participation in the DGS program(s) in which they are enrolled.  Parents may make coaches aware of medical issues as they see fit.

Change Room policy: We have two change rooms, one for Women and one for Men for the exclusive use of our registered participants.

• Parents/Caregivers of pre-schoolers are allowed to go in the change room to assist their child(ren) provided that they go to the parent/caregiver gender’s change room.

• For school age children parents/caregivers would only be allowed to help if required, however a female parent/caregiver assists a female child in the Women’s change room and a male parent/caregiver assists a male child in the Men’s change room.

• For combined parent or caregiver/child groups of school aged children or other gender needs, please use the family changeroom located at the end of the "lily pad trail".

• Non registered participants must use the family change room located at the end of the “lily pad trail”

Physical exam for the Competitive program: DGS strongly recommends that every new gymnast entering our Competitive program has a complete medical examination to ensure their child can meet the physical demands of the sport. It is further recommended that the gymnast have a complete physical examination at the beginning of each season. Any pertinent changes in your child’s medical health should be discussed with your child’s coach.

Accident prevention: DGS uses only top-quality equipment that is checked on an ongoing basis to ensure it is in good condition.  The coaches follow a program of safe use of the equipment and you can expect your child to be taught to use it properly.

A child who does not follow the instructions of the coach, and who does not use the equipment in a safe manner can hurt themselves or someone else.  An infraction of basic safety rules may lead to disciplinary action.

Acute injuries: Gymnastics is a strenuous and difficult sport and hence, even with the best coaching and the best equipment, injuries can occur.  Our coaches are trained in sports first aid and we have well-defined procedures in case of injury.

Gymnasts must inform their coach immediately if they are injured in any way. The coach will decide on appropriate action. For a minor injury: rest. For a major injury: prompt medical attention. A Medical Book (record) is maintained in the gym with a record of all reported injuries.

In the case of a significant injury, a form will be sent home with the gymnast to indicate the nature of the accident, the treatment given and recommendations.

Injured gymnasts should meet with their coaches to plan a modified training program within the restrictions of the injury.  It is recommended that the gymnast attend their regular training   sessions as much as possible.  Absence from class is physically and mentally detrimental.

With injuries that result in absence from the gym or alteration in normal training, DGS requires written permission from the family doctor before the gymnast can return to regular training and/or competition. Please keep coaches informed of any limitations recommended by the doctor during the injury healing time.  Communication in this area is vital both for the coach, who will plan a modified training program, and for the gymnast who is coping with the injury.

Repetitive stress/strain injuries: Some injuries do not come as a result of a specific incident, but as a result of a series of small incidents or other causes.

Any pain must be communicated by the gymnast to the coach.  Where pain occurs during training, the training will be modified.  If after a week of modified training the injury has not improved, the gymnast will be directed to get a sport medicine doctor and/or sport physiotherapist’s evaluation, and modified training will continue.

Once a professional opinion is obtained, the coaches will then strictly follow the sport injury specialists’ advice.  It is vital there is good communication between coaches, gymnasts and parents regarding any injury.

Communicable Diseases: For the health & safety of our participants and coaches, we reserve the right to remove any child from a class that we feel should not be participating in a class due to heavy coughing, fever, chicken pox, flu symptoms or any other illness that might be highly contagious and harmful to others.  The parent/guardian will be called and asked to take their child home. For Chicken Pox symptoms, please refer to the Healthlink BC website with information about this condition.

Lice: If you notice signs of scratching, rash on the neck, or nits growing in the hair, ensure you wash the hair and start treatment right away.  Please do not bring your child to train until the condition has been treated and no sign of nits or lice are present in the hair.  If we notice a child in the class with symptoms of lice, we will call the parent and ask to remove their child to prevent spreading it to others and the rest of the group will be alerted.  Please refer to the Fraser Health website detailing guidelines for managing head lice.

Membership fee: Everyone who participates in any program at DGS must be a member of our Society.  Part of your membership fee covers your insurance costs through Gymnastics BC.

Accordingly, parents/guardians must sign a waiver for all minors in order for them to participate. You can do this electronically through our online registration system, or in person. We cannot accept registration over the phone until the waiver is completed.

Our membership runs from September 1 to August 31 each year. The Annual General Meeting is held in September and all members are invited to attend.

No refunds are given for Membership Fees.

Non-payment of fees: DGS does not allow anyone to participate whose fees have not been paid.  In cases of financial hardship, the family may approach the Business Manager for consideration.  Registration for the following season cannot be accepted until all outstanding fees have been paid.

Non-sufficient Funds (NSF) cheques: NSF cheques will be subject to a $50 administration fee. Replacement payment, including the NSF charge, must be paid in cash or by certified cheque. Payment not received within 10 days constitutes withdrawal from classes.

Failed credit card charge: After 2 failed attempts to process a credit card, an administration fee of $25 will be added to your account.

Birthday parties: Fees are paid upon booking.  To receive a refund, you must cancel three weeks in advance. A $15 administration fee will be applied.

Kids’ and Teens' Night Out: Fees are paid upon registration.  To receive a refund, you must cancel 24 hours in advance. A $5 administration fee charge will be applied.

Field Trips, Camps, Clinics and Sport Cross-training: Fees are paid upon registration. To receive a refund, you must cancel 72 hours in advance. A $15 administration fee will be applied.

Private lessons: Fees are paid on booking. One week’s notice is required for a full refund of a scheduled private lesson. No credit or refund will be given for notice less than 7 days in advance.

Full payment must be made at time of registration.  Class spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Your registration fee pays for a class spot for the entire session, regardless of attendance. In the unforeseen event that we cancel a class, whenever possible we will try to make up that class. If the class is cancelled due to an "Act of God" (storm, power outage, natural disaster, etc.), no refunds will be given.

Fees are calculated based on planned classes.  When the gym is closed due to an event, a charge will not be incurred.

A refund will only be given up to 3 business days prior to the beginning of the first class. A $15 service charge will be applied.

Refunds for program withdrawals are only permitted for medical reasons with a note from the doctor and will be applied from the time the note is presented to, and approved by, the Business Manager.

If you request a transfer to another class, we will try to accommodate you depending on available space.  A $15 administration fee will apply.

In the event that a class is full, your child will be placed on a waitlist at no charge.  We will contact you by phone or email if a space becomes available.

In the event of a late start, if space is available, you can register for a class or program on a pro-rated basis.

Program expense fees are paid in full upon registration and are non-refundable.  Training fees can be paid in full or in monthly installments.

No refunds or make-up times are given for missed classes.

Family discounts: DGS offers a 10% discount to families with two or more children registered in our 10 and 12 month programs only (Teams. Gymstars, Gymnaestrada, High School, Superstar and High School). When two or more children are registered, the discount applies to the lesser training fees. This discount does not apply to Membership Fees, Program Expenses Fees, Birthday Parties, Camps, Clinics, Kids’ or Teens’ Night Out.

From time to time, a coach may recommend a change in the athlete’s training hours.  Fees will be adjusted accordingly without penalty. However, if a change to training hours or times is requested by the family, the adjustment is subject to a $25 administration Fee and prior approval by the program staff and management

Please refer to the Withdrawal Policy below.

Program expense fees are paid in full upon registration and are non-refundable. Training fees can be paid in full or in monthly installments.

The training fees are for 12 months and summer training for the Competitive program is included. The coaches will recommend the minimum number of weeks the gymnast should attend.  Summer training is important so that conditioning and flexibility are not significantly compromised.

If, during the course of the year, there is a change in Group Option or training hours within the Group Option, recommended either by the Program Coordinator or requested by the parent due to academic or medical concerns, training fees for the remainder of the season will be re-assessed accordingly. Administration Fees may apply.

Your fees will depend upon the program option in which your child has been placed.  Coaches will determine the program placement based on skill level, work ethic and dedication.   All outstanding fees must be paid in full by June 15 to register in any program for the upcoming season.

Any request for exceptions from full fees must be submitted in writing to the Executive Director for approval.  The request must include the recommendations of the Program Coach and Program Coordinator.

No refunds or make-up times are given for missed classes.

Family discounts: DGS offers a 10% discount to families with two or more children registered in our 10 and 12 month programs only (Teams. Gymstars, Gymnaestrada, High School, Superstar and High School). When two or more children are registered, the discount applies to the lesser training fees. This discount does not apply to Membership Fees, Program Expenses Fees, Birthday Parties, Camps, Clinics, Kids’ or Teens’ Night Out.

From time to time, a coach may recommend a change in the athlete’s training hours.  Fees will be adjusted accordingly without penalty. However, if a change to training hours or times is requested by the family, the adjustment is subject to a $25 Administration Fee.

Please refer to the Withdrawal Policy below.

Meet entry fees require a deposit at the time of registration. DGS submits the entry fees to the club hosting the meet and then bills the attendees. (The fees will be added to your registration invoice; you can view your account online.) If you are entitled to a refund at the end of the season, it will be issued when no outstanding fees remain on your family’s account.

For each meet the gymnast attends, an additional $10 Administration Fee is added to cover the coaches’ expenses.

For some meets there will be additional travel costs to cover coaches’ expenses, which will be divided by participating athletes and charged to their accounts.

Choreography fees for WAG: Floor routines are individually designed for each gymnast and are used for two years. Training for floor routines may have to be scheduled outside of gym time and the cost is not covered in your training fees. The choreographer is assigned on an individual basis. The cost is for the one-on-one coaching time that the gymnast receives and the preparation time of the choreographer.  An invoice will be sent out to parents for payment.

As there is a tremendous amount of time put into the cutting of the music and the design of the routine, the music and choreography are the property of DGS.