<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000892907</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPORT CHALET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPCH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000940867</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLBERZ NORBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SPORT CHALET DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LA CANADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>974150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.44</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>116328</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Olberz Trust is transferring 730,613 shares of Class B Common Stock ($0.01 par value) to Craig Levra, SPCH's Chief Executive Officer and 243,537 shares of Class B Common Stock to Howard K. Kaminsky, SPCH's Chief Financial Officer, in connection with SPCH's recapitalization as approved by its stockholders at the annual meeting held on September 30, 2005.  The transfer of these shares was also approved by SPCH's stockholders at such annual meeting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Based on the average closing price for the five days ending September 29, 2005 adjusted for the Class A dividend.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares are held by the Olberz Trust, a revocable grantor trust of which the reporting person and his wife are co-trustees.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Norbert Olberz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
