Motionwear || Gymnastics Blog

Which Gymnastics Software Do You Use and Why?

Posted on 19. May, 2009 by Bob Wilson in Gymnastics Business

Kathe recently posted a blog entry on score tracking apps for the iPhone and well, it got me thinking about gymnastics software in general. Specifically, gym management software.

I looked up a few of the more prominent gymnastics software packages that were targeted specifically towards gym owners and gymnastics coaches and I found a huge range of products:

The Studio Director

The Studio Director is web-based, meaning you don’t have to run it on a specific machine and you can access your business software from anywhere. Being web-based, it’s also significantly easier to update, so instead of paying every time there’s a new version, you simply continue with your monthly fees and it automatically updates.

The monthly fee is a bonus, but also a drawback. You don’t have a huge upfront cost for multiple licenses or copies, but you’re also committing to paying that monthly fee for as long as you use the software – essentially locking yourself in. They offer no setup costs and free training and I’d recommend taking advantage of all of these features.

The web-based component also lets you create web pages with your class schedules and even on-line registration. For gym owners who struggle to keep their site updated, that’s a huge bonus.

GetPhysical Software’s GymSOFT

With more of a focus on gymnastics clubs and cheerleading gyms, GymSOFT is definitely targeted towards the gymnastics market. However, I worry that it’s simply a repackaged form of the designing company’s DanceSOFT (for dance studios), KickSOFT (for karate studios) and other studio software packages.

At $400, it has a hefty price tag, but it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and you can download a free demo to test it out before you buy. To be honest, the software looked a little dated, but it comes packed with features – accounts and billing, registration, attendance, inventory control, ID cards and even barcode scanning. I’d be interested in hearing from someone who actually uses this software to see how it holds up in the gym.

iClassPro

I think it’s important to note that iClassPro isn’t gymnastics-specific. It’s a class management software package that covers a whole range of class types – from gymnastics to math tutorials.

Where this particular software package excels is its online payments processing, electronic payment processing (instant debit, anyone?) and portable applications for the iPhone and PDAs. And, like Studio Director, it’s 100% web-based and priced on a subscription model.

iGo Gymnastics Software

Like Studio Director, iGo can be used for both dance studios and gyms. Integrated credit card and bank draft processing, scheduling, registrations, employee timesheets and even point-of-sale transactions for leotards, water or other items are all part of this comprehensive software package.

There are two things I like about this software – first, it looks great and seems simple to use. They went with large icons and a clear layout that’s easy to understand (a nice feature for Luddites like me). Second, you can request a free trial; if you’re paying that much for a software package ($800 plus $60 per month), you should be able to take it for a test run first.

JackRabbit Class

It may not be the prettiest software out there or the sleekest, but it’s one of the most popular gymnastics management software programs for a reason. JackRabbit is powerful, fast, comprehensive and subscription-based.

Their fees start at $45 per month with no setup costs, unlimited support and the freedom to cancel and export your data to Excel at any time. And though JackRabbit isn’t specifically gymnastics software, it looks like they do a good job of providing enough options for a gymnastics program.

What’s your favorite gymnastics software?

I’d love to hear some stories from the field though, so what type of gymnastics software do you use? What types have you tried? Are there any that you would recommend or perhaps avoid? Please, share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.

Photo: DeclanTM

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Tags: computer software, gym software, gymnastics school