Coach Mady’s Parent Must-Haves: Surviving the Gym (and the Meets!)
Gymnast parents, I see you out there on those bleachers. 💛 I’ve watched hundreds of parents sit through hours of practice and all-day meets, and I always notice the same thing — the parents who came prepared are a lot more comfortable than the ones who didn’t! Here’s what I recommend keeping in your bag (or your car) for gym life.
🪑 A Stadium Seat with Back Support
Gym bleachers are hard, cold, and unforgiving — especially during a 3+ hour meet. A stadium seat cushion is better than nothing, but I recommend one with back support. It is a game changer for your back and your patience.
☕ An Insulated Tumbler
Early morning practices call for coffee that’s still hot two hours later. Late meets call for something cold that doesn’t turn into a puddle of condensation on the bleachers. A good insulated tumbler handles both.
🔋 A Portable Phone Charger
You will be filming routines, checking meet schedules, and texting the other gym parents about how long warm-ups are running. Bring a charger — gym Wi-Fi and outlets are never where you need them.
🪑 A Foldable/Packable Chair
Some gyms just don’t have real parent seating, especially during open practice viewing. A lightweight folding chair means you’re never standing for two hours straight.
🧣 A Packable Blanket or Layer
Gyms are cold. It’s a fact of gymnastics life. Bring a layer you can throw on, even in summer.
👜 A Clear Bag (Check Your Gym’s Policy!)
More and more gyms and meet venues are adopting clear-bag policies, similar to stadiums. It’s worth having one on hand so you’re not caught off guard at a big meet.
