Hi. I'm new to competitive gymnastics and my daughter has never competed but has been training to do so now for 8 months. The recreational gym where she has attended since 4 years old hired a former Olympic coach last year. He coached in Romania of the 70's and 80's era, helped coach Nadia for the Olympics, so everyone is in awe of him. But of course, he is getting up there in age. His personality is of a tough-guy and he is hard-core when he coaches but my daughter is fine with all that. He has much respect from the other coaches (recreational) in the gym. So basically, the program is being built and 99% of the girls in it have been pulled from the recreational kids that were already in the gym before he came.
At first, everything was great, heavy progress was being made. We were all-in, excited, all smiles. But now (based on my observations) , I'm beginning to have doubts and sometimes I become upset. I think some other parents may feel the same way but hard to know for sure. Here are the issues that bother me: A girl from another gym came to our gym a couple of months ago and she has competition experience (level 4) and is really good. I'm fine with that. I'm not a jealous person. What bothers me is that the coach now spends most of the time on her. I feel like I and many of the other parents are paying for her private lesson. I'm not exaggerating on this. Even when he spots girls on the bars, sometimes his eyes will be on her across the way. That looks dangerous to me actually. This has been witnessed over several practices, not just one. On Beam, the 1-on-1 attention may be 80% her, 20% everyone else. On bars, she always gets more turns.
Now my gut-feeling tells me that it is not THIS new girl per se being the next Nadia. It is WHOEVER is the best that is going to get all his attention. So if a new girl comes to the gym who is at a higher level already, then she will get all his attention. I think he knows he is getting old and he has a dream of taking another girl all the way to the Olympics, so whoever is best, whoever is closest to doing that, he is pulled to spend the most time on them, whatever he can get away with. I have noticed that parents who do not stay and watch, he pretty much ignores their girls. Parents that are watching, he tries to just do enough with them to fulfill his duty/obligation.
So this is my #1 concern, I'm paying a lot of money for the coach to train someone else's daughter in group session. All I want is a an equal share of time. Here is my next conern. This coach has told me "your daughter is very good" and "can go very far", things like that. Now that I look back, I have to wonder if he has not told every parent this sort of stuff. I wonder if it is all manipulation/lies and my heart tells me it may be, but I'm not 100%. This coach has also gone back on his word a couple of times with us. He says one thing and then later says something entirely different. That upsets me.
Thoughts from experienced coaches or parents? Am I over-reacting perhaps and this will all level out in time? Or do I have valid concerns? Is this normal coach behavior in competitive gymnastics? Do I dare approach the coach?
At first, everything was great, heavy progress was being made. We were all-in, excited, all smiles. But now (based on my observations) , I'm beginning to have doubts and sometimes I become upset. I think some other parents may feel the same way but hard to know for sure. Here are the issues that bother me: A girl from another gym came to our gym a couple of months ago and she has competition experience (level 4) and is really good. I'm fine with that. I'm not a jealous person. What bothers me is that the coach now spends most of the time on her. I feel like I and many of the other parents are paying for her private lesson. I'm not exaggerating on this. Even when he spots girls on the bars, sometimes his eyes will be on her across the way. That looks dangerous to me actually. This has been witnessed over several practices, not just one. On Beam, the 1-on-1 attention may be 80% her, 20% everyone else. On bars, she always gets more turns.
Now my gut-feeling tells me that it is not THIS new girl per se being the next Nadia. It is WHOEVER is the best that is going to get all his attention. So if a new girl comes to the gym who is at a higher level already, then she will get all his attention. I think he knows he is getting old and he has a dream of taking another girl all the way to the Olympics, so whoever is best, whoever is closest to doing that, he is pulled to spend the most time on them, whatever he can get away with. I have noticed that parents who do not stay and watch, he pretty much ignores their girls. Parents that are watching, he tries to just do enough with them to fulfill his duty/obligation.
So this is my #1 concern, I'm paying a lot of money for the coach to train someone else's daughter in group session. All I want is a an equal share of time. Here is my next conern. This coach has told me "your daughter is very good" and "can go very far", things like that. Now that I look back, I have to wonder if he has not told every parent this sort of stuff. I wonder if it is all manipulation/lies and my heart tells me it may be, but I'm not 100%. This coach has also gone back on his word a couple of times with us. He says one thing and then later says something entirely different. That upsets me.
Thoughts from experienced coaches or parents? Am I over-reacting perhaps and this will all level out in time? Or do I have valid concerns? Is this normal coach behavior in competitive gymnastics? Do I dare approach the coach?