What to Wear to Gymnastics Class (and What to Leave at Home)
It's a small question that causes a surprising amount of first-day stress. The good news: gymnastics needs almost nothing. No uniform, no equipment, nothing to buy. Here's the whole answer.
The short version
Something stretchy they can move and flip in. Nothing with buttons, zippers, snaps, buckles, or drawstrings. Hair tied back and off the face. No jewelry. Bare feet.
For girls
A leotard is the classic choice and works well because nothing rides up, bunches, or gets caught during a roll. But it is not required — a fitted t-shirt with leggings or athletic shorts is completely fine. If your gymnast wears a leotard and prefers more coverage, fitted shorts over it are welcome.
Avoid loose tank tops and flowy skirts. They flip up during handstands and rolls, which kids find distracting at exactly the wrong moment.
For boys
A fitted t-shirt and athletic shorts or joggers. That's it. Nobody needs special gear. The only real rule is the same one: no zippers or hard buttons, since those dig in on a bar or a roll and can scratch equipment.
Loose basketball shorts are the most common issue we see — they slide during inverted skills. Slightly fitted works better.
Hair
Anything long enough to fall in the face should be tied back — a ponytail, braid, or bun. It's not about neatness; it's that hair in the eyes during a backward roll or a beam skill is genuinely unsafe. Skip hard clips, large barrettes, and beads, which hurt when a child lands on them. Soft elastics only.
Jewelry: leave it home
No necklaces, bracelets, dangly earrings, rings, or watches. They catch on equipment, and a snagged necklace on a bar is a real hazard. Small studs are usually fine. The safest approach is simply taking jewelry off before you leave the house — that way nothing gets lost in a gym bag.
Feet
Bare feet. Gymnasts grip the beam and floor with their toes, and socks slide. If your child prefers not to be barefoot, grip socks with rubber tread are fine — regular socks are not.
What to bring
- A labeled water bottle.
- A hair tie (bring a spare — they vanish).
- That's honestly it. We provide everything else.
Skip the big snack right before class. A light one an hour ahead is smarter than a full meal fifteen minutes before a kid goes upside down.
A note on grips and specialty gear
Parents sometimes ask whether their child needs hand grips. For recreational gymnasts: no. Grips are for advanced athletes doing high-volume bar work, and using them too early actually gets in the way of building hand strength and proper technique. Your coach will tell you if and when they're appropriate.
First class coming up?
Our guide on what to expect at a first gymnastics class covers the rest — how the hour flows, whether you can stay and watch, and what happens if your child gets nervous. Not enrolled yet? Here's how to book a trial class, or browse the schedule.
Questions about anything above? Just ask us — we're at 4956 Boiling Brook Pkwy in North Bethesda, MD.