DSA rents elementary school gyms from the Vancouver School board for use by House league teams (U7 – U10) for practices during October through mid March. The assignment of gym space is managed by the Gym Coordinator.

FAQ's about Gyms

When are gyms available? Dunbar Soccer rents local elementary school gyms from the Vancouver School Board from October through mid March.

Which age groups are eligible for practices in gyms? Gyms are available for House League teams in the U7, U8 and U9 age groups. Some U10 teams occasionally prefer to practice in a gym instead of on a lighted practice field.

May a team have practice time in a gym and on a lighted field? House league teams can opt for practice time in a gym or on a lighted field, BUT NOT BOTH.

Gym Application Process

Before the start of each new season, the Gym Coordinator prepares a list of available gym times and prepares an application form.

Prior to the start of the season, House League coaches and managers are asked to submit a Gym Application Form with their top 4 or 5 choices for gym practice times.

The Gym Coordinator will prepare a practice schedule and advise teams of their assigned practice time prior to October 1. In preparing the schedule, the Coordinator tries to assign each team one of its top 3 choices but certain practice times tend to be popular and some teams may be assigned 4th or 5th choices. Priority is given to accommodating requests from younger teams.

Gym Application Form

A list of available times and gyms and application form for each season will be posted by June of each year.

Using the VSB Gyms

Team coaches and managers are responsible for ensuring that their teams are aware of the following guidelines for using Vancouver School Board elementary school gyms:

To ensure that Dunbar Soccer maintains its good standing with the Vancouver School Board and is able to continue to rent gyms, please be respectful and careful to avoid damage to school property.

The staff of the school will be on site until 6PM. To avoid disturbing staff during this time, families should wait in the gym during practice and not use the school hallways.

Any school equipment that is stored on the stage in the gym should not be touched or disturbed.

It is imperative that any request made by the school janitor be respected.

If your team arrives at the gym to find that a school event is running overtime in the gym, please be courteous and allow the school to finish up.

Please leave promptly at the end of your practice time to allow the school janitor to lock up in a timely fashion.

The school gyms will be closed for all statutory holidays when school is not in session.

From time to time, the Vancouver School Board will send the Gym Coordinator notices by mail of additional cancellations of gym rental time during the season. The Coordinator will advise the affected team coach/manager and age-group coordinator via email if this should occur (unfortunately we don't often receive a lot of advanced warning).