You signed your daughter up for gymnastics lessons, but what is she supposed to wear?
Note: The first thing you should find out is whether your gym has a dress code or not. Only start shopping after you have those rules in hand. This post is for those who are enrolled in programs where official gymnastic clothing is required. In some programs, regular leggings and t-shirts are fine. There are different standards in different locations.
But if you don’t know exactly how the official gymnastics wardrobe works, we broke it down for you.
The most important – and only real requirement – is the leotard. There are options with long sleeves or no sleeves. Your child can choose whichever is most comfortable. Another option you’ll see is a unitard. This is a leotard with extended legs like shorts already attached. (Note: in some gyms, a sports bra and leggings are acceptable in place of a leotard.)
You’ll want to make sure the leotard fits well in the shoulders and at the leg holes. Too tight and she’ll be uncomfortable; too loose and she’ll be tugging. For developing girls who need just a bit of support in the chest, you’ll want to make sure the fit is snug across the chest. (You might need to try a few styles until you find the right one for each stage.) Once she needs more support, a sports bra is appropriate under the leotard. You can choose a style with a more closed – or even a high – neckline if your daughter is uncomfortable with the bra straps exposed, but it’s completely acceptable for them to show.
Whether your daughter wears leggings over (never under for gymnastics!) her leotard is a matter of choice. Some girls like very short gymnastics shorts, some prefer longer athletic shorts and some wear full leggings. Whichever length, it’s best to have activewear fabrics for the best performance.
We rounded up some of our favorite options below, but know that you might need to try a few to get the right fit. And if your daughter will be practicing at home, check out this roundup of equipment recommendations.
Since when do Jewish girls from Lakewood dress this way? How standards have fallen, unfortunately.
B”H we are so fortunate that we have lots of girls-only gymnastics programs where girls can dress for their sport – similarly to when they go swimming in pools that have a mechitza.
yes oy oy oy!!!!!!!!!!
Wondering the same thing…what is this? Have you been hacked?
This is real ?
I respect all the comments and the decisions of posts from Between Carpools. However, in Brooklyn, we don’t normally send our girls to gymnastics with a “must” for leotards. The only “must” is leggings. Most wear a dress or a large t-shirt over leggings.
Thank you so much for this post! I actually found it very helpful and I see nothing wrong with wearing a leotard in a girls only gymnastics place. Keep up your amazing posts!!
As a reply to those mentioning that the only “must” is leggings and as a mother who has sent her daughters to gymnastics, a leotard in my opinion is a “must”.
Keep in mind that part of gymnastics is doing cartwheels, hand stands etc. and if the girls are wearing only leggings and a t-shirt, their t-shirts will drop as they flip, cartwheel, handstand etc. exposing their stomachs and chest AKA embarrassing AND not tzanua all at once.
By wearing a leotard this does not happen since it is a one piece.
I don’t see why the girls can’t wear the long sleeve leotard with leggings on top.
I’m truly disappointed with this post as many others are as can be seen from the comments.
I grew up with gym being an important subject just like math, history, geography. Pants was required, in fact we had a gym uniform. Pants and a fitted t-shirt with long sleeves. There is absolutely no need for a leotard, short sleeves or shorts.
“uncomfortable with the bra straps exposed, but it’s completely acceptable for them to show” What a pritzus!! Tznius is not just when men are around!
Such a post does not belong on a frum website.
Thank g’d most ladies on this site have a sensitivity to tznius, please don’t take it aways from us.
Oh yes standard have fallen big time. When my older girls were young they wore a fitted t shirt with leggings. Now walk into the gymnasiums the girls are wearing sports bras and shorts. I was shocked
These comments are truly shocking. This is how we raise girls to have body image issues. I’m an all female gym there’s nothing wrong with leotards just like there’s nothing wrong with wearing a bathing suit when swimming with all females.
Yes but most frum women and girls don’t wear bikinis in all women pools. So while I can see the argument for leotards, I don’t think a sports bra plain can be justified.
Thank you Between Carpools for your wonderful work! Does anyone happen to have a link for a leotard that has shorts and short sleeves attached? I was unable to find one on amazon. Thank you 🙂
When was the last time it was an issue to wear a bathing suit to the pool? I wore a liatard when I was young at gymnastics cuz it was reserved for in the all girls gym only. My bathing suit is also only reserved for the pool only. So what’s wrong with that?