The Small Gym Summit
May 6th – 7th, 2027

2027 Guides:

• Event Information Guide: HERE!
• Qualifying Bid Guide: HERE!

These are working documents. Please refer to the date below to ensure you are viewing the most up-to-date version.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1. What is the Small Gym Summit Championship? 
   The Small Gym Summit Championship is a new End-Of-Season event created specifically to serve gym locations with 60 or fewer Elite Athletes. It is designed to support growth for small gym locations while providing an elevated championship experience tailored to their size and needs.
2. When and where will the event take place? 
   The Small Gym Summit Championship will take place Thursday & Friday before The D2 Summit weekend on May 6-7, 2027.
3. How is this different from The D2 Summit? 
   This event is designed to highlight gym locations with 60 of fewer Elite athletes. All gym locations are eligible for this event, regardless of D1 or D2 program designation. *Crossover rules apply.

2027 Information:
All athletes participating on a team at The 2027 Small Gym Summit must be a registered member of that team’s program during the 2026-2027 competition season. Any athlete that has exhibition or competed on the floor with a team in any level from a program (Primary Program) after January 1, 2027, must have a Varsity Spirit Program Release Waiver signed by the owner of the Primary Program before that athlete is eligible to compete with another program at The 2027 Small Gym Summit.

Completion of the Varsity Spirit Program Release Waiver is a required process between the Primary and Secondary Program owners. In the event a formal protest is made, and the official Program Release Waiver has not been signed, or if the Secondary Program is not able to provide one as physical proof to a Varsity Official, the Secondary Program will not be eligible or will be disqualified depending on the time of the formal protest. All Varsity Spirit Program Release Waivers must be turned in with your official USASF event roster at The Small Gym Summit.

Varsity Spirit Program Release Waiver

• Q: Can my gym attend both The Summit and the Small Gym Summit? 
  • A: Yes. A program may have different teams attend The Summit, The D2 Summit, and the Small Gym Summit. However, the same team may compete at only one of these championship events and may accept only one bid. Individual athletes may participate at more than one event when competing on different eligible teams, provided all applicable roster and eligibility requirements are met.  Teams will have time to decide which Summit they want to attend. 

• Q: When do I have to declare if my gym is a Small Gym Summit gym? 
  • A: Rather than making one gym-wide declaration for the entire season, coaches will complete the Bid Intention Sheet during registration at each qualifying event. On that form, each team will indicate whether it is pursuing a bid to The Summit or The D2 Summit, or a bid to the Small Gym Summit.  Small Gym Summit eligibility will be verified separately throughout the season and finalized before the event’s final registration deadline. 

• Q: Can I get both a Summit and Small Gym Summit bid for the same team? 
  • A: Yes. A team may earn bids to both events over the course of the season at separate qualifying competitions. However, the team may accept and use only one bid and may compete at only one championship.  At the same qualifying event, a team may pursue either a bid to The Summit or The D2 Summit, or a bid to the Small Gym Summit. It may not accept both bid types at that event.  

• Q: If my team has a bid to both The Summit and the Small Gym Summit, when do I have to tell Varsity which event the team will attend? 
  • A: You will register for the event you decide to attend. 

• Q: What happens if I earn a bid early in the season but my gym later grows beyond the Small Gym Summit athlete limit? 
  • A: Small Gym Summit eligibility will be reviewed throughout the season and finalized before the final registration deadline. If your location grows beyond 60 Elite athletes after earning a bid, please contact your Varsity Sales and Experience Advisor as soon as possible. Varsity will review the circumstances with the program and determine the appropriate next steps, including whether a bid transfer or another resolution may be available. Any transfer would be subject to review and approval. 
     
• Q: Why are franchise gyms allowed at the Small Gym Summit but not The D2 Summit? 
  • A: The Small Gym Summit designation is a Varsity All Star designation, separate from the USASF D1/D2 program classification. Small Gym Summit eligibility may therefore be evaluated at the individual gym-location level, provided the location has 60 or fewer Elite athletes and does not share athletes or coaches with other franchise locations.  The D2 designation follows USASF’s program-level classification and athlete-counting requirements, so a different eligibility structure applies.   

• Q: How is Varsity monitoring whether franchise programs are sharing athletes or coaches?
  • A: Small Gym Summit eligibility will be confirmed with USASF throughout the season. Varsity may also review athlete participation at USASF and non-USASF events and reserves the right to investigate the accuracy, eligibility, and legitimacy of any team receiving a bid. To remain eligible as separate Small Gym Summit locations, franchise programs may not share athletes or coaches across those locations.   

• Q: Will the experience be the same as The D2 Summit? 
  • A: The Small Gym Summit will deliver the same high-quality championship experience that athletes, coaches, and families have come to expect from all Summit Championships. Although the schedule and competition format are designed specifically for the Small Gym Summit, guests can expect an elevated Summit-style experience featuring championship production, reveals, recognition, awards, banners, and Summit Championship rings.   

• Q: Is there a Celebration Party for the Small Gym Summit? 
  • A: Yes. The Small Gym Summit takes place on Thursday and Friday in conjunction with The D2 Summit weekend. The Celebration Party will be held on Sunday evening, and athletes competing in either the Small Gym Summit or The D2 Summit are invited to attend.  

More information coming soon!