Virginia International Gymnastics School
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Virginia International Gymnastics School (VIGS) offers a well-regarded facility where children can learn gymnastics and often develop a strong passion for the sport, staying engaged for years. Parents frequently highlight children's happiness, skill development, and the generally positive, hands-on staff. However, potential visitors should be aware of significant administrative and billing transparency issues, as well as inconsistent supervision for some younger beginner classes.
Key Highlights
- ✓Consistent positive feedback on children's enjoyment and skill development (e.g., 'she has learned a lot!', 'very happy and excited to go every week', 'My daughter loves it').
- ✓Generally well-maintained and 'wonderful facility' (Reviews 3, 5).
- ✓Some parents report 'caring/courteous staff' and 'very attentive coaching' (Review 5) and 'very hands on' (Review 1).
- ✓Suitable for long-term engagement, with children attending for 'years' from age 3 up (Review 3).
Standout Features
- ⭐Positive learning environment for gymnastics skills development, leading to happy and engaged children (Reviews 1, 5).
- ⭐Well-regarded physical facility, described as 'good' and 'wonderful,' with owners who 'take pride in investing in the gym' (Reviews 3, 5).
- ⭐Staff capable of being 'hands on' and 'attentive' for many students (Reviews 1, 5).
- ⭐Cost is perceived as 'appropriate' by long-term customers (Review 3).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Crucial Billing Alert:** Carefully read *all* enrollment and cancellation policies, especially the 'fine print,' to understand auto-enrollment procedures and avoid unexpected charges for additional classes (Review 4).
- →If enrolling a young beginner (e.g., 5-year-old), actively monitor their class for teacher engagement and be prepared to escalate concerns about supervision, as attention can be inconsistent (Review 2).
- →Be persistent and prepared for potential unresponsiveness when dealing with administrative issues via email or the front desk (Review 4).
Things to Consider
- ⚠Inconsistent supervision for younger children: One parent reported teachers being inattentive, talking amongst themselves, and their 5-year-old in a beginner class having 'no idea what she's doing,' raising safety concerns (Review 2).
- ⚠Serious administrative and billing issues: Reported auto-enrollment in additional classes without clear consent, unresponsiveness to emails, and unhelpful front desk staff (Review 4).
- ⚠Opaque or 'hidden' billing policies: Parents feel 'predatory tactics' are used to 'make money from fine print' regarding auto-enrollment (Review 4).
- ⚠Poor handling of customer complaints by management: A director's response to safety concerns was dismissive ('sorry, unfortunately') (Review 2).
Price & Value
Long-term customers perceive the cost as 'appropriate' (Review 3). However, there's a significant risk of hidden costs and feeling financially exploited due to automatic re-enrollment and unclear billing policies described as 'predatory tactics' (Review 4). It is crucial to understand the commitment and cancellation terms upfront to truly assess value.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs or accessibility features were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •While some staff are described as 'hands on,' a significant concern was raised about a 5-year-old in a beginner class receiving insufficient attention, potentially leading to injury, indicating inconsistent safety supervision (Review 2).
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you prioritize transparent, upfront billing and despise auto-enrollment policies that lead to unexpected charges (Review 4).
- • If you require consistent, high-level, proactive supervision for very young beginners without having to intervene yourself (Review 2).
- • If you have low tolerance for unresponsive or dismissive customer service regarding billing or safety concerns (Reviews 2, 4).
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Parent & Child
$65.00Duration: five-week term (30 minutes, once per week)
Fitness, developmental motor learning and exploratory movement with very limited gymnastics skills introduced. Class is set up and supervised by the instructor, however, parents work directly with the child.
Includes:
- •Use of pre-school sized bars
- •beams
- •rings
- •ropes
- •inclines
- •barrels
- •tunnels
- •bouncers
- •foam shapes
- •inflatables
- •largest foam-filled play pit
- •Activities include crawling, walking, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, leaping, rolling, bouncing, balancing, swinging, climbing
Events & Schedule
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Flash photography is prohibited in the gymnasium areas.
- • Photography in restroom areas is strictly forbidden.
- • No pets are allowed, except for service animals.
- • Parents, siblings, guests, and anyone not enrolled in a class must remain in the designated seating/waiting areas (marked by the long plexiglass barrier in the lobby) at all times.
- • Under no circumstances are adults or children not enrolled in classes allowed on any equipment or matting.
- • Class children must remain seated in the waiting area prior to the start of classes and are not allowed on equipment or matting before or after their class.
- • All instructors are Safety, First Aid, and CPR certified.
- • Instructors are registered Professional Members and Instructional Members, National Safety Certified, SafeSport Certified, and background checked with USA Gymnastics.
- • Each staff member undergoes VIGS Safety Training through in-house seminars and testing.
- • Continuing education is stressed through in-house seminars, clinics, and State, Regional, and National Congresses.
📅Booking Policy
- • All registration is done using the iClassPro app.
- • On-going enrollment allows students to register at any time on a space-available basis.
- • Tuition is pro-rated for students registering after the start of a term.
- • Progress reports outlining individual areas of progress are provided on the fourth week of every other term.
- • Lead teachers can promote students to the next level at any point in a term if ready.
- • Participation ribbons are given out on the last week of each term.
- • Medalist Program for outstanding attendance: Gold Medals for 8 or more terms, Silver Medals for 7 terms, Bronze Medals for 6 terms. Medals are awarded each August upon request.
- • VIGS does not offer private lessons directly but will pass customer information to instructors who may wish to contact them. Fees for private lessons are paid directly to the instructor. More than three students in a private lesson must be approved by management.
Recent Reviews
Cierra Harris
a month agoOur daughter loves it!!! She has been here for a few months. Has learned a lot! Everyone has been nice and very hands on. She is very happy and excited to go every week!
Michael Brown
4 months agoI wish the teachers would pay attention to the kids. My daughter is 5 and she’s in a beginner class. She has no idea what she’s doing and the teachers just walk past her and talk amongst themselves.. I’ve reached out to the director and was told sorry, unfortunately I feel like my daughter is going to hurt herself so we need to find another facility.
Travis Edwards
5 months agoI’ve been taking my daughter here for years from age 3 up. Great people. Appropriate cost. Good facility.
Kirk Bailey
a year agoThe classes were great and my son had fun but the office is pitiful. They auto enrolled my 4 year in a second set of classes after we signed up for a set of 5 classes. They have been unresponsive to emails and the desk was no help. Two weeks after our first attempted contact we get a condescending email saying "We are sorry that you did not understand VIGS policies when you joined classes." Predatory tactics to make money from fine print are an awful way to conduct business and take advantage of people. It's my fault for not reading it, but why it's hidden is worse. Be up front about how you charge.
Destinee Croom
a year agoGreat gym with a wonderful facility, caring/courteous staff and very attentive coaching. The owners take pride in investing in the gym and it shows as soon as you walk through the door. My daughter loves it at VIGS. Highly recommend!