California Gymnastics Academy

★sanaz kamkar

I appreciate that you aim to place children in the “right fit” program. However, I would like to clarify that my concern was not about coach-to-student ratio or whether my daughter can follow directions. At 4 years old, gymnastics should be: • playful • exploratory • relationship-based • focused on confidence and joy Not primarily skill-based independence, standing in lines, or working independently at stations. Expecting preschoolers to consistently stay at independent stations and “work independently” reflects a school-age model, not an early childhood model. Developmentally, 4-year-olds are still building regulation, attachment, and confidence through guided engagement — not independence for operational convenience. My daughter is energetic, curious, and engaged — all very typical and healthy traits for her age. What she needed was connection and guidance, not a recommendation to step down because she required attention. I understand that every gym has its philosophy. It simply may not align with what I believe early childhood gymnastics should look like. I truly hope your program continues to grow and evolve in ways that support young children developmentally. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I brought my 4-year-old daughter for a trial gymnastics class. She is full of energy, loves to run, jump, and explore—very typical and healthy behavior for her age. Unfortunately, the experience left me disappointed. The program seems understaffed with very young, inexperienced assistants working with toddlers instead of trained early childhood coaches. During our second visit, one of the staff members did not engage with my child at all and did not even acknowledge me when I tried to speak with her. This lack of basic communication and warmth was concerning. I was told my daughter “is not ready yet” because she needs someone to be with her the whole time. At age 4, needing guidance, support, and connection is completely developmentally appropriate. That statement felt less like feedback about my child and more like a reflection of the program’s inability or unwillingness to support young children properly. At 4, gymnastics should be: playful exploratory relationship-based focused on confidence and joy Not compliance, standing in lines, or forced “independence” for the convenience of staff. My daughter enjoyed moving her body, but the environment did not feel supportive, engaging, or developmentally appropriate for young children. Parents looking for a program with experienced early childhood coaches and a play-based approach may want to ask detailed questions before enrolling.

★★★★Dean Nam

My daughter had been here for about 2 years before the pandemic. She loved this place and I also agree that this is a good place in general. One thing I'd like to warn you if you're about to put yours to a competition team at CGA at any level and have no experience or information about what you're doing. Once your kid starts a competition team, there're lots of commitments to the parents. CGA hosts several meets (gymnastic competition) per year. Many gyms around bay area come to CGA for the competition and they, by all means, need many workforces to run the event including parking, setup, teardown, cleaning, admission, ticket sales, snack bar, award, announcer, music and etc etc. They ask the parents to volunteer for all of them. Unfortunately, there's no option like volunteer or donation which means every parents have to come and take at least one volunteer spot. Yes they count everybody check in/out. This was a big burden to me and some other parents who stopped sending theirs to CGA. You better keep that in mind.

★Rebecca Keenan

I was looking for gymnastics/tumbling to introduce to my toddler and called this academy. After several unanswered phone calls, several unanswered emails, I figured this place is not managed very well. I don' t think I can trust a place that can't return a phone call (three weeks of trying to get a response via phone and email) to teach my kid the basics of gymnastics. I will look for a professional location to enroll my son and happily spend the money to do so.

★Mukta

Average gymnastics centre for gymnasts in Livermore . Over priced . Short staffed .Very few trainers available . You might enroll with a different trainer but they tend to change trainer without parent approval . Advanced level training provision only for select few gymnasts. The owner seems to be unprofessional . Well equipped. They have a buy in snack bar for kids . Summer camps and pizza parties for kids at extra price .The upper section is a spacious sit out area for parents to work or view the gymnasts.Children are usually shouted at by some Coaches and the whole team is unfriendly . Overrated and over hyped .

★★★★★Anne Findlay

I had my daughters here for a couple of years when they were between the ages 2-5 and felt it was the best program in the area. We tried a couple others in Livermore, one of which closed down shortly after we joined, and the other we had to leave due to scheduling. At any rate, the classes at CGA are very appropriately suited to the age and skill level of the child and they have the perfect balance of keeping things under control and understanding that kids at very young ages are still learning how to follow instructions. My children gained confidence of their bodies and developed great body awareness for their ages, and also just had a lot a fun. They decorate the younger kids' area each month with a new theme, and really make it fun, while developing early gymnastics skills. The teachers care about the kids and the management is very invested in the sport of gymnastics. My younger daughter is pretty particular about people and we only had one teacher she was reluctant to go with; occasionally the class size became a little large, but they definitely made an effort to bring in extra help when this happened. We were really sad to leave CGA and only left because we were moving out of the area.