5 Best Gymnastics Management Software

Olivier Rousseau
27 June 2024 Gymnastics 2 min read

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably looking for a new gymnastics management software. Or you’re at least considering it.

You may feel your current solution has let you down somehow.

Or that it has not evolved to keep up with your gymnastics clubs’ changing needs.

We’ve compiled a list of the best tools for managing a gymnastics club to help you find the best one for you.

Every Gymnastics Club Software on the list has its own set of features, so we’ll focus on how they provide more than just online registrations.

What we’ll discuss:

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Author’s note: Olivier shares tips and tricks he’s learned over the past decade as the owner of a children’s sports program. Today, as co-founder of Activity Messenger, he helps hundreds of gymnastics clubs across North America simplify the management of their club and increase revenue.

DISCLAIMER: Activity Messenger is our product. We created it because we struggled for years with the shortcomings of existing Gymnastics Software and believe that most Class Management Softwares are broken.

List of features you should expect

Before looking at best options for Gymnastics clubs on the market, here’s a list of important features you’ll most likely want in your gymnastics software.

1. Email Marketing:

Create and send newsletters to keep your community engaged. You should be able to easily segment and personalize your marketing outreach based on registration status, age, level or any other segmentation your gymnastics club needs.

2. Start/End of Session Automation:

Automatically notify students when sessions begin and end, eliminating the need to manually send an personalize class start and end reminders.

3. Integrated MailMerge:

Personalize your mass communications. Seamlessly integrate gymnast-specific information into emails and SMS messages like their name, level, activity, start date etc.

4. Waitlist Automation:

Automate waitlist notifications to make sure spots are filled as soon as they become available to efficiently manage high-demand programs and improve your profitability.

5. Financial Reporting:

Comprehensive revenue, expenses and profitability reports to help you understand the financial health of your club.

6.Waivers with Digital Signature:

Securely and conveniently collect required legal consents and streamline the enrollment process with digital waivers. You should be able to replace SmartWaiver and collect liability waivers outside the registration process (for birthday parties, free trials, drop-ins, etc)

7. Ticketing for Gymnastics Competitions:

Simplify competition ticketing with an integrated ticketing system, making organizing an event at your club a lot simple for athletes, parents and staff.

8. Surveys:

Gather valuable feedback directly from your community to continuously improve your offerings and gymnast satisfaction. You should not only be able to replace a tool like SurveyMonkey but also automate the survey outreach based on the end of the session.

9. Class Registration:

Allow parents to register for the classes they want using a user-friendly online registration process that is mobile-first.

10. Staff Management:

Efficiently manage your team with, payroll, scheduling, onboarding documents and communication tools in a single tool.

11. Data and Analytics:

Make informed decisions about course offerings, marketing strategies, and more with detailed analytics.

12. Bulk Certificates:

Automatically generate and distribute mass certificates for course or level completion, adding a personal touch to student recognition and achievement.

13. Attendance Tracking:

Increase gymnast engagement and accountability by keeping an accurate record of attendance with a digital system that is easy to use.

14. Bulk SMS:

Use mass text messaging to quickly and effectively communicate urgent information or last-minute changes.

15. Gymnasts Progress Report:

Foster a transparent and encouraging learning environment by tracking and sharing gymnasts progress with customizable reports.

If you want to look deeper into each of these features, here’s an in-depth analysis of the top 14 features you should have in your gymnastics software.

6 Best Options for Gymnastics Registration Softwares

Here’s a quick guide on the best Gymnastic Softwares you may be considering for your gym club.

We’ve included a brief demo video, direct links to the softwares website, details on pricing, key functionalities, and a link to client reviews.

1. Activity Messenger: The One-Stop Solution for Gymnastic Clubs across North America

While other platforms might cover the basics, Activity Messenger is designed to bring your entire gymnastics club’s operations under one umbrella, eliminating the need for multiple tools and annoying workarounds.

It includes all the features of traditional gymnastics software but goes beyond by seamlessly integrating with your favorite apps like Canva, ChatGPT, Zoom, and Stripe.

As current operators ourselves, we understand the frustration of juggling multiple tools like SurveyMonkey, MailChimp, JotForm, EventBrite, and SmartWaiver. That’s why we’ve developed features that replace them in order to meet all the operational needs of a gymnastics club.

The idea is simple: Create workflows instead of workarounds to automate those manual tasks no one has time for.

You can also take a look at Activity Messenger’s Capterra profile to see what are clients are saying about us.
(We’re proud of our 4.8-star rating an 100% likelihood to recommend.)

Many gymnastics platforms provide a combination of registration, communication, and scheduling features, with some offering additional features like email marketing, event ticketing, and progress reports. But most simply integrate with tools like Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey and Eventbrite instead of offering a full suite of features in their software.

Discover why Activity Messenger is the preferred software for Gymnastics Clubs

 

Activity Messenger’s 3 Key Differentiating Features

Activity Messenger differentiates itself from traditional Gymnastics Software in 3 very specific ways.

Differentiator #1. Fully personalized registration process for each client

What It Is: Activity Messenger guides your potential families to the right gymnastics class in the shortest amount of time. Based on the customer’s initial selection (day, age, type of class, level, etc.), the registration process adapts to show optimal class offerings that take into consideration on their unique needs.

Why It Matters: Most gymnastics software shows all of your class options to each web visitor. This can easily overwhelm clients especially from a smartphone and does not consider the needs and wants of the client.

Extra Perks: No one likes to create yet another online account for their family. Especially those busy parents. By eliminating the account creation process, Activity Messenger provides hassle-free registration. And don’t worry, your customers have an account (we create it on the fly) and are able to log in at any time.

Gymnastics registration form

 

Differentiator 2. Powerful marketing tools

What It Is: Imagine doing all of your different marketing tasks without having to switch from one tool to another. With Activity Messenger, you can send newsletters, create marketing automations, and even retarget people who abandoned their carts before completing their purchase.

Email Marketing for Gymnastics Club

Why It Matters: Think about your newsletter. Currently, you have to manually export your subscribers from your subscription software to a newsletter platform like MailChimp or ConstantContact. The process is tedious and prone to error. Plus, you have to pay for an additional tool.

Extra Perks: You can create email marketing campaigns without ever leaving Activity Messenger to create your designs using our Canva integration. An analytics dashboard gives you at-a-glance insight into your marketing efforts, conversion rates and the direct impact it has on improving your registrations.

Differentiator #3. Task Automation (it’s like having an extra employee that never calls in sick).

What It Is: Task automation in Activity Messenger isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a core functional reality. Our system covers a wide range of automations designed for gymnastics, from sending reminders for unsigned waivers to marketing automation for children’s parties.

Here are just a few examples:

  1. Session start reminders
  2. End of session reminders
  3. Post-event survey
  4. SMS to people who have not opened an email
  5. Texting parents who have not signed waivers
  6. Party marketing email
  7. Welcome email automation
  8. Waitlist Automation

Why It Matters: For example, to ensure that no child attends a class, camp, free trial, or party without the proper safety protocols in place, automated reminders can be sent out for unsigned waivers based on the class list and status. This type of targeted, specific automation does more than just improve your efficiency. It also makes your gymnastics club safer and easier to operate.

Ensure higher liability waiver completion rates at your gymnastics club

Extra Perks: Automation works hand in hand with Activity Messenger’s mail merge capabilities. Customize your Gymnastics class reminder before you get a single sign-up and know that your email will be sent at the perfect time and personalized for each recipient.

Now let’s look at some of the other good options on the market.

2. Jackrabbit

Jackrabbit Dance has been a stalwart in the class management software arena, especially in the niche of gymnastics and dance studios. Its strength lies in its extensive features—ranging from attendance tracking to online registration and billing.

Jackrabbit dance reviews

Benefits of JackRabbit:

  1. Offers a broad range of features for complex dance schools.
  2. Excellent customer service with a supportive team.
  3. Continuous software improvements over the years.
  4. Provides online registration and parent portal services.
  5. Efficiently manages classes and student data.

Cons of JackRabbit:

  1. Lacks a comprehensive retail feature for online sales.
  2. Email/communication features could be more robust.
  3. Charges are based on both active and inactive students.
  4. Credit card processing fees through third-party are high.
  5. Some users find invoices difficult to read for customers .

How JackRabbit compares to Activity Messenger

JackRabbit offers good registration features and a basic communication tool, but Activity Messenger goes above and beyond with advanced features that have a modern look and feel. Canva integration keeps your branding consistent across all touchpoints. Sell tickets for recital directly from your website and benefit from advanced communication tools that track open rates and automate many of your manual tasks, such as start-of-session emails and end-of-session surveys.

3. IClassPro

iClassPro is designed to minimize administrative tasks, allowing gymnastics clubs to focus more on coaching and development. It provides features such as class and staff management, skill tracking, and party booking, all aimed at enhancing efficiency. Custom branding options and a dedicated support team ensure that iClassPro strengthens your brand and supports your club at every step of the way.

IClassPro Reviews

 

Pros of IClassPro:

  • Appealing parent portal, enhancing overall usability.
  • Functionalities that include attendance tracking, merchant services, and report generation.
  • Regular updates introduce new features, improving the system’s capabilities.
  • Skill tracking feature is particularly praised from users.

Cons of IClassPro:

  • Some users find certain menus hard to navigate
  • The trial class and intro offer is cumbersome and could be simplified
  • The punch pass feature and Pro Shop are considered to be lacking in user-friendliness.
  • Customer support is highly rated, but some users feel restricted by the lack of phone support.

How IClassPro compares to Activity Messenger

iClassPro offers a dependable system for managing class schedules, billing, and staffing. However, Activity Messenger sets itself apart by providing a more comprehensive and modern approach. In addition to robust class management features, Activity Messenger includes advanced communication and marketing tools. It enables full integration of the registration process on your website (instead of your clients needing to be redirected to a portal), ensuring your branding remains consistent across every touchpoint with potential clients.

4. Amilia

Amilia is a comprehensive management tool designed for gymnastics clubs. It simplifies the process of registrations, staff management, and administrative tasks, thereby enhancing the overall client experience. The platform efficiently handles class scheduling, drop-in sessions, and payment processing.

Amilia reviews and alternatives

Benefits of Amilia:

  • User-friendly interface for administrators, staff and customers.
  • Responsive and helpful customer support.
  • Constant updates and willingness to improve based on feedback.
  • Simplifies online registration and activity management.
  • Integrates with other tools like Constant Contact, League Source & Evolia

Cons of Amilia:

  • Some features, such as contract management, need enhancements.
  • The mobile app could be user-friendly.
  • Initial setup can be complex, time-consuming and costly.
  • Reporting and financial tracking features may be limited.
  • Some users report issues with mobile site registration.

How Amilia compares to Activity Messenger

While Amilia simplifies class registrations and memberships, Activity Messenger takes it a step further by allowing users to send beautiful, customized newsletters and mass texts targeted specifically to parents. Additionally, Activity Messenger’s form-building capabilities rival those of Jotform, offering an easy and intuitive way to create custom forms for various purposes beyond the registration process, such as digital waivers, surveys, event ticket sales, and more.

5. Uplifter

Uplifter Inc stands out as a good choice for gymnastics clubs nationwide, streamlining registration, attendance tracking, financial transactions, and client interactions within one integrated platform.

Benefits of Uplifter for Gymnastics Clubs:

  • The support and development team respond quickly and work to provide solutions tailored to the organization’s needs.
  • Reliable Reports: Uplifter offers confidence in registration and financial reporting.
  • Cloud-Based System: Provides accessibility and ease of use.
  • Auto Computing Tuition: Efficiently manages tuition calculations, saving time.
  • Dedicated Support: Always clear about changes made, with accessible support when needed.

Cons of Uplifter:

  • Navigation Challenges: Some users find certain menus difficult to navigate and suggest improvements for customization.
  • Email Marketing Enhancements Needed: Email building and campaign functionalities could be more robust.
  • Time-Consuming Deletion Process: Deleting multiple families from the system is not user-friendly.
  • Customer Portal Experience: Could be improved, especially for mobile users.
  • Inefficient Reporting and Functionality: Attendance tracking and other reports are not as straightforward as desired.

How Uplifter compares to Activity Messenger

Overall, Uplifter offers robust features and dedicated support, making it a reliable choice for managing gymnastics clubs. However, Activity Messenger provides a more comprehensive solution, combining advanced class management with powerful communication and marketing tools to enhance club efficiency.

2 critical things to consider before making your final decision

When looking for a modern gymnastics management platform, there are 2 critical aspects to consider:

1. Simple registration process (especially on mobile devices)

Customers, especially new ones, may feel intimidated by sifting through traditional client registration portals . This level of complexity can often cause potential clients to give up and abandon the process altogether. However, modern class management softwares offer a solution that mimics personalized phone assistance by fully customizing class selection based on each family’s needs.

By moving to an intuitive registration process, gymnastics clubs can help customers quickly find the classes that meet their needs, increasing the likelihood that they will convert to paying customers. And in today’s world, your software should be mobile first, not only mobile friendly.

2. Reduce the number of tools you need to run your club.

With a streamlined and easy to use registration journey, Activity Messenger is all about simplicity, efficiency, and forward thinking. The platform is designed to consolidate functionality. It eliminates the need for separate services like Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey, Tututix, BambooHR and SmartWaiver.

And it’s not just the financial benefits that really resonate with our users. It’s the convenience of centralizing all their needs-from registrations and communications to waivers and marketing campaigns-into one holistic view of their gymnastics club.

Interested in learning about Activity Messenger?

Sign up for a free trial or book a 20-minute demo with Olivier; we’ll show you how Activity Messenger might be able to help your Gymnastics Club.

Not ready to switch right away?

No problem. Many gymnastics clubs use Activity Messenger and get great value as they slowly transition from their current class management software. You can use Activity Messenger as an add-on to your current solution for email marketing, bulk SMS, event ticketing, gymnasts progress reports, bulk certificates, digital waivers, party booking, surveys and more.

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Written by Olivier Rousseau Olivier is a kids sports programs owner who has been operating for over a decade with locations in Montreal, Quebec city & Ottawa. He also helps Gymnastics Club, Swim Schools and Dance Studios streamline their operations. He is the co-founder of Activity Messenger an online registration platform for the sports & leisure industry.

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