I have a lot of experience. For the past 35 years, I have helped build 15 gymnastics schools all over the USA. I have made a lot of mistakes, and then learned from them. Hopefully this article will help some less experienced coaches make some better decisions.

  1. Quality is paramount. Spend a little more for stuff that will last. Saving $200 on a springboard that you will have to recover in a year just doesn’t make sense. Equipment doesn’t last forever, but good equipment lasts much longer than cheap stuff.
  2. Buy equipment that you really need. If you have a recreational program, you don’t need an elite level floor system. You probably don’t need a vault table either.
  3. Take good care of your stuff. Many mats are rendered useless too early by throwing them in pits, folding them where they don’t fold, stacking other equipment on top of them. They will last longer and stay useful if you care for them properly.
  4. Don’t make your own equipment. The additional liability involved with any injury/accident that takes place on such equipment is huge. It’s just not worth it.
  5. Set up an equipment safety check list that you track monthly/yearly equipment checks. It will help you organize your projects and document your work.
  6. Set up a yearly equipment replacement and repair budget. Don’t wait until something breaks, and then try to find the $ to pay for it.
  7. Keep an ongoing audit of all your equipment and mats. Label all your stuff and record the age and condition. I suggest 1-2X per year.