Mountain Brook Gymnastics
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Mountain Brook Gymnastics excels as a family-centric gymnastics center, offering top-tier technical coaching from 'mommy and me' classes to competitive teams, while uniquely prioritizing character development, perseverance, and a deeply nurturing, supportive community environment. It's a place where children not only learn precise skills but also gain invaluable life lessons and build strong peer relationships.
Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional 'mommy and me' classes, with coaches described as 'fabulous kind, patient, easy-going and fun,' making young children eager to return.
- ✓Top-notch technical coaching ensures girls learn to execute skills with 'precision and excellence.'
- ✓The entire staff is 'loving and caring,' fostering a supportive and positive atmosphere for all gymnasts.
- ✓Strong emphasis on life skill development: learning to 'persevere, to be patient and diligent in their development,' and 'to cheer on their peers.'
- ✓Coaches approach competition with 'reasonable intensity,' focusing on kindness and encouragement over Olympic-level pressure for young girls.
- ✓A highly supportive environment where 'teammates encourage and are there for each other,' with coaches giving '110%' dedication.
- ✓Highly recommended as a 'great place to start and continue doing gymnastics' for long-term engagement.
Standout Features
- ⭐Dedicated and highly supportive coaching staff across all age and skill levels.
- ⭐Holistic development approach, integrating physical skill with character building and social-emotional growth.
- ⭐Good visibility for spectators from the 2nd-floor bleachers, allowing clear views of athletes.
- ⭐Availability of a snack bar during events.
- ⭐Ample parking provided.
- ⭐Consistently positive and encouraging gym and team culture.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If attending competitions or other events that require spectator seating, 'bring a stadium seat' for comfort on the bleachers.
- →Be prepared for potentially warm conditions, especially during crowded events like competitions, due to reported ventilation issues.
- →Budget for a $10 per person spectator fee if planning to attend a competition.
- →Consider the 'mommy and me' class for young children (toddlers/preschoolers) based on glowing reviews of coach quality and child engagement.
- →This gym is well-suited for families seeking a long-term commitment to gymnastics due to its supportive environment and comprehensive training.
- →Do not expect to purchase gym merchandise on-site, as it was not available during a competition.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Spectator seating consists of bleachers, which are not comfortable for extended periods.
- ⚠The gym can get 'burning up' hot during crowded events (like competitions) due to apparent AC/ventilation issues.
- ⚠A $10 per person fee is charged for spectators attending competitions.
- ⚠No merchandise (e.g., shirts) for sale, which disappointed a visitor during a competition.
Price & Value
Specific class tuition fees are not mentioned. There is a clear '$10 a person for competition fee' for spectators. The value proposition is strong due to the reported 'top-notch' technical coaching, significant emphasis on life skills, and a loving, caring environment, suggesting a high return on investment for the class fees (though unstated). No additional hidden costs are reported beyond the competition spectator fee.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Spectator seating is on 2nd-floor bleachers. No specific details about wheelchair accessibility, elevators, or other special needs accommodations are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •A 'snack bar' is available during events. No explicit policy on bringing outside food or drinks is mentioned, but the presence of a snack bar suggests limited outside food may be preferred or necessary.
🚗Parking Info
- •'Plenty of parking spots' are available, indicating easy access for visitors.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Can get 'so many people' during competitions, leading to 'burning up' conditions, suggesting high crowd levels for special events. No information provided regarding typical class crowd levels.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features like monitored areas or first aid stations are explicitly mentioned. However, the 'top-notch' coaching for 'precision and excellence' implies a focus on safe execution of skills, and the 'loving and caring' staff suggests a watchful environment.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Attending competitions or long events without a personal stadium seat if you require comfortable seating.
- • Visiting during peak crowded events if sensitive to high temperatures, as the venue can get 'burning up' due to AC/ventilation issues.
- • If your primary goal is to purchase gym-branded merchandise on-site, as it may not be available.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Annual Registration Fee - Single Student
$99Duration: Aug 2025 - Aug 2026 gym year
Yearly registration fee for a single student.
Annual Registration Fee - Family
$135Duration: Aug 2025 - Aug 2026 gym year
Yearly registration fee for a family with 2 or more siblings.
Tumble Buddy 2s
Duration: 45 mins/1x weekly (8-week session)
Introductory co-ed class in movement education, focusing on physical strength, coordination, balance, and agility, and interaction between buddies and children. Requires one active adult buddy.
3 All Me
Duration: 45 mins/1x weekly (8-week session)
Co-ed class for children to participate by themselves, promoting physical fitness, basic gymnastics skills (vault, bars, beam, floor), turn-taking, manners, body awareness, coordination, and cooperative learning.
Fantastic 4s
Duration: 55 mins/1x weekly (8-week session) (Note: classes after 3pm are 45 mins and priced as '3 All Me')
Co-ed class leading into the Recreational Program, encouraging mastery of progressively more difficult gymnastics skills, including Tumbltrak jumping, Loose-foam pit play, and trench slide stations.
Includes:
- •Tumbltrak jumping
- •Loose-foam pit play
- •trench slide stations
Beginner Rec
Duration: 55 mins/1x weekly (8-week session)
Beginner class exposing students to foundational gymnastics skills, body form & positions, strength, and flexibility on all four Olympic apparatuses (Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor). No pre-requisite skills required. Major skills for promotion include: Vault (Stretch Jump Stick It), Bars (Pullovers, Casting, Chin Hangs, Scissors), Beam (Releve Walks, Arabesque, Stretch Jumps), Floor (Forward & Backwards Rolls, Cartwheels, Handstands).
Includes:
- •Vault (Stretch Jump Stick It)
- •Bars (Pullovers, Casting, Chin Hangs, Scissors)
- •Beam (Releve Walks, Arabesque, Stretch Jumps)
- •Floor (Forward & Backwards Rolls, Cartwheels, Handstands)
Intermediate Rec
Duration: 90 mins/1x weekly (8-week session)
Intermediate class increasing training intensity, introducing new skills, and polishing previously mastered skills. Completion of Beginner Rec or an evaluation is required. Major skills for promotion include: Vault (Mat Stack Stretch Jump & Handstand Tree Fall), Bars (Chin-Up Pullovers, Back Hip Circles, Squat Ons), Beam (3/4 Handstands, Jumps, Cartwheel Dismounts), Floor (Vertical Handstands, Cartwheel Step Ins, Backward Rolls to Pushup, Bridge Kickovers).
Includes:
- •Vault (Mat Stack Stretch Jump & Handstand Tree Fall)
- •Bars (Chin-Up Pullovers, Back Hip Circles, Squat Ons)
- •Beam (3/4 Handstands, Jumps, Cartwheel Dismounts)
- •Floor (Vertical Handstands, Cartwheel Step Ins, Backward Rolls to Pushup, Bridge Kickovers)
Advanced Rec
Duration: 105 mins/1x weekly (8-week session)
Advanced class introducing students to skills necessary for the Compulsory Team Program without competition. Completion of Intermediate Rec or an evaluation is required. Major skills worked on include: Vault (Handstand Flat Backs), Bars (1 Cast Back Hip Circles, Shoot Throughs, Mill Circles, Front Hip Circles), Beam (Handstands, Cartwheels, Jumps, Cartwheel 1/4 Turn Dismounts), Floor (Handstand Forward Roll, Round-Offs, Backward Rolls to Pushup, Back Walkovers and Intro to Back Handsprings).
Includes:
- •Vault (Handstand Flat Backs)
- •Bars (1 Cast Back Hip Circles, Shoot Throughs, Mill Circles, Front Hip Circles)
- •Beam (Handstands, Cartwheels, Jumps, Cartwheel 1/4 Turn Dismounts)
- •Floor (Handstand Forward Roll, Round-Offs, Backward Rolls to Pushup, Back Walkovers and Intro to Back Handsprings)
Flippin' Fridays/Somersault Saturdays
$35Duration: 3 hours (6:30-9:30 PM)
Monthly evening event for children, offering food, games, and fun.
Includes:
- •Food
- •Games
- •Fun
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Summer Day Camp
Summer (end of May through early August)
Day camp options for preschoolers as well as school-aged boys and girls. Camp Instructors teach gymnastics skills with scheduled breaks for craft, snack, game time, and lunch throughout the day.
Flippin' Fridays/Somersault Saturdays
Once a month on Friday or Saturday (Next Event:: TBD)
$35, $25 per sibling
A night of food, games, and fun for children aged 4+ (boys and girls). Runs from 6:30-9:30 PM.
Birthday Parties
Scheduled
Host your child's next birthday party at MBG. Staff are able to lead children through the gym, engage each child, interact with parents, set-up, serve food, and clean-up. Mostly held on Saturdays and Sundays.
Private Lessons
By request
One-on-one time for specific skills or extra practice. Request form available.
Skill Clinics
Throughout the year (Next one TBD)
Clinics for different skills.
Holiday Camps
Holiday seasons (Next one TBD)
Camps including crafts, games, and gymnastics for ages 3+.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Invitational
Every October (2025 GJWHF Meet Dates TBD)
Home meet hosted at the gym for Compulsory gymnasts, with coaches and judges dressed in 80s attire and throwback music.
Team Tryouts
Every Fall
Tryouts for the Competitive Team, held for Advanced Rec students and coach-recommended lower level Rec students.
🍎Food Policy
- • Flippin' Fridays/Somersault Saturdays include food.
- • Birthday parties allow staff to serve food.
- • Summer Camp includes scheduled breaks for snack and lunch.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Tumble Buddy 2s class requires ONE active adult buddy (parent, caregiver) to participate; no additional babies or siblings (including infants/baby wearing) are allowed in the gym during this class.
- • Classes may be cancelled if there is not a minimum of 2 students.
📅Booking Policy
- • All registration for classes is done via the Customer Portal with a debit or credit card; email or phone registrations are not accepted.
- • Online class registration requests are not automatic enrollments and require approval.
- • A confirmation email should be received immediately after submitting a request, and another after processing. Requests can also be viewed in the Customer Portal.
- • If a class is full, request to join the waitlist.
- • The non-refundable Annual Registration Fee ($99 for 1 student or $135 for 2+ siblings) for the August 2025-August 2026 gym year will be charged when the first class request is approved, if not already paid.
🚗Parking Information
- • Physical location is by the baseball fields behind Mountain Brook High School, suggesting potential parking associated with the school/fields. No explicit parking details provided.
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 9 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Christine Mott
4 years agoLoving our mommy and me class at this gym! My daughter can’t wait to go every week a endorsing want to leave after class! She asks to go back for the next two days! Her coach is fabulous kind, patient, easy-going and fun! Looking around I see lots of kind coaches and children enjoying themselves!
Tiffany Martin
a year agoWe’ve been so happy at MBG! My daughter has been there for ~5 years and on team the last 2. From a technical standpoint, the coaching is top notch - the girls learn how to execute each skill with precision and excellence. The real reason we’ve stayed there as long as we have is that the entire staff is so loving and caring with their gymnasts. Yes, the girls are learning how to do these incredible skills and are building strength, but - more importantly imo - they’re learning to persevere, to be patient and diligent in their development, and to cheer on their peers. The coaches approach competition with a reasonable amount of intensity - these are young girls, this is not the Olympics. They are kind and encouraging in every part of the girls’ experience. MBG has been such a gift to us, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Anthony Monroe
2 years agoCame here for a competition and the gym is nice and the workers were friendly. The seating are bleachers which isn't the most comfortable. Your above the floor on 2nd floor. So it is easier to see the athletes perform depending on where you sit either next to the rail or up top of the bleachers. Bring a stadium seat if you are gonna be there for awhile. The place was burning up with so many people being there and they had 2 vents with either one going or none blowing for some reason. So we were all fanning ourselves. $10 a person for competition fee. Snack bar but no merchandise for sale such as shirts or anything which was kinda disappointing. Plenty of parking spots.
Ruby
a month agoBest gymnastics center in Bham!
Shortgymnast 05
3 years agoBeen going here since I was like 12 and I'll graduate there, love the coaches, gymnast and environment all around. Great place to start and continue doing gymnastics. Coaches give 110% to their gymnasts, teamates encourage and be there for each other and everyone helps everyone else out. Wouldnt wanna be anywhere else