Parents Paying Tuition while injured

[jennifen]

Hello:
My child was injured at practice at the end of February--he had surgery about 2 weeks after the injury, and he won't be able to return to regular practice until September at the earliest--so that's 6 months, maybe longer. He is on a competitive T & T team. Practice is typically 4 days per week 3 hours per practice. I discussed with the coach the possibility of having him come in 1-2 per week to do some stretching and conditioning (but mostly for team bonding since he won't even be able to do all of the conditioning) once he is off crutches and in a boot. The gym wants to charge me 1/2 tuition for the time he is out of the gym entirely and full tuition if he returns for stretching and conditioning. I find this unreasonable. I am willing to pay 1/2 tuition but not full tuition. Am I off base? Considering all of the extra medical expenses we have just incurred, we are feeling frustrated.

 

[skschlag]

It is frustrating, but it is pretty normal. When my son was injured over the years, we did not always even get any discounted tuition. He went to practice quite a bit, and since he is an artistic gymnast, he was able to do quite a bit.

Ask about pausing it for a month or so. I do see both sides, as the gym has budgeted based on a certain # of gymnasts in order to pay coaches, etc. But it is hard on a family, as this is an expensive sport.

Good luck and happy healing to your son!

 

[GymnastMomX2]

My daughter had surgery summer of 2024, the gym gave us one month off tutition and then we paid the full amount. Even though she was literally just coming in for an hour or so to do PT in the beginning. She didn’t do her first back handspring until 7 months post-op. It was a lot of money for not a lot of gymnastics for a few months.

 

[sun]

We do free makeup workouts for all missed classes if space permits, and hold spots with full tuition paid... or they can pay no tuition without guarantee of holding their spot in their preferred class upon return.

 

[Madden3]

How likely is it if you remove him from the team now, they will allow him back on once he can return to full practice? Because IF it is likely he will be allowed to re-join the team, I would suggest that. Short term out of practice for injury is one thing. At least 6 months out post-surgery is another.

You can spend what you save on tuition for physical therapy and (eventually) directed conditioning with someone who can focus on your son and his needs and has the knowledge for safely and effectively helping get an athlete back into shape so he comes back to the team with as much strength and flexibility as possible.

Otherwise I would pay the half, and use what you save from that for what I just suggested. Team bonding time is nice, but I never thought my (MAG) sons got the coach attention they needed for appropriate conditioning post severe injury just coming to practice and doing a bit of work on the side. (Understandably, as that is not their job.) It did not bother us as the time out of full-on practice was never more than 2 or so months at a time. The one time one of them had surgery requiring 6+ months of recovery, it was right before the California 2020-2021 shut downs and the whole gym shut down for his entire recovery.

 

[jennifen]

How likely is it if you remove him from the team now, they will allow him back on once he can return to full practice? Because IF it is likely he will be allowed to re-join the team, I would suggest that. Short term out of practice for injury is one thing. At least 6 months out post-surgery is another.

You can spend what you save on tuition for physical therapy and (eventually) directed conditioning with someone who can focus on your son and his needs and has the knowledge for safely and effectively helping get an athlete back into shape so he comes back to the team with as much strength and flexibility as possible.

Otherwise I would pay the half, and use what you save from that for what I just suggested. Team bonding time is nice, but I never thought my (MAG) sons got the coach attention they needed for appropriate conditioning post severe injury just coming to practice and doing a bit of work on the side. (Understandably, as that is not their job.) It did not bother us as the time out of full-on practice was never more than 2 or so months at a time. The one time one of them had surgery requiring 6+ months of recovery, it was right before the California 2020-2021 shut downs and the whole gym shut down for his entire recovery.

 

[Lobster]

I’d be thrilled with the 1/2 tuition because we have never been at a gym that offered that even out for 6-8 months with multiple surgeries and only conditioning allowed.

 

[jennifen]

I’d be thrilled with the 1/2 tuition because we have never been at a gym that offered that even out for 6-8 months with multiple surgeries and only conditioning allowed.

They are only offering half tuition for the time he is not in the gym. As soon as he returns for conditioning they want full tuition.

 

[Gymnast_13]

Hello:
My child was injured at practice at the end of February--he had surgery about 2 weeks after the injury, and he won't be able to return to regular practice until September at the earliest--so that's 6 months, maybe longer. He is on a competitive T & T team. Practice is typically 4 days per week 3 hours per practice. I discussed with the coach the possibility of having him come in 1-2 per week to do some stretching and conditioning (but mostly for team bonding since he won't even be able to do all of the conditioning) once he is off crutches and in a boot. The gym wants to charge me 1/2 tuition for the time he is out of the gym entirely and full tuition if he returns for stretching and conditioning. I find this unreasonable. I am willing to pay 1/2 tuition but not full tuition. Am I off base? Considering all of the extra medical expenses we have just incurred, we are feeling frustrated.

You are totally right. Because full tuition and not even receiving the benefits of it is crazy. Maybe try pulling him out for the next 6 months and he can do come visit the team once in a while (from the sidelines or maybe arrive a few minutes before practice starts so he can see his friends). Or even just arrange some outside of gymnastics hangouts. And 1/2 price for being out of the gym is also unfair and crazy. He isn't even in the gym. At this point find a new gym if that's an option

 

[Ty’s Dad]

Good you can even get away with paying half. My daughter tore her Achilles at the beginning of last season. Then as soon as she got cleared had a bone problem which took her out this season and we still have to pay full.

 

[Lobster]

They are only offering half tuition for the time he is not in the gym. As soon as he returns for conditioning they want full tuition.

Again, this has been our experience at every gym my kids have attended. I’d be more curious to hear of people who have had different experiences.

Not going for 6 months wasn’t something my daughter was willing to do as a multi year level 10 hoping to come back. Maybe for a lower level you can just stop going?

 

[bookworm]

My daughter was out of the gym completely from August of one year until the end of April the next for elbow surgery ...she was not allowed by the doctors to even come in and condition and it actually was a prerequisite to the doctor even agreeing to DO the surgery that I agreed to keep her out ....she did do PT starting 6 weeks after surgery. That said, I did not pay any tuition for the months she was out . She was Level 9 at the time and her sister was at the same gym so I was paying that tuition but there was no way I was paying for 9 months of place holding at $550 a month.