(First post! But need advice!)
DD's gym just got a new head coach at the start of the summer. At first I thought it was going to be great as all the girls were being put on a strict strength program (which was never enforced before) and the new HC is a firm believer in great basics - as that is all they were working on when he first got to the gym. Well now it is nearly 2 months later and that is STILL all they are working on. I'm beginning to get a little worried. Bars is an event that the entire gym has struggled on in the past with the previous HC and was always their lowest scored event. I like that this new HC is backtracking and re-teaching them basic skills, but none of the girls have learned a single new skill on bars this summer. Or really any event for that matter except for a little bit of floor and beam tumbling (minimal).
My concern is that we just had our first one-on-one meeting with the new HC (who is from Texas) and he basically told us that all the girls will be repeating the same level that they competed last year. He said that in Texas this was very common for compulsory levels. He also said that none of the 10 girls that the last HC moved up to level 3 from pre-team will be competing because they are not ready - even though to my understanding from a level 3 parent, they have all their skills except the front-hip circle (a couple have it). Because of this, a lot of our girls have dropped out and switched gyms.
Here's my issue: DD, 9 yrs old, competed level 4 last year and got a 36 something at state. 9s on every event, placing on bars, floor, vault, and AA. I really do not want to pay another $5,000 this year between tuition, coaches fees, new leotard, meet expenses, traveling, etc......to watch her AA score go up to a 37. Sure she might win more meets and place higher, but I'm worried she will get bored. I expressed these worries to the new HC and he basically said that the level is "just a number" and "let's focus on good gymnastics instead of their level". He also said that they will up train during the season so she shouldn't get bored of level 4, but she will also have to do tons of routines and repetitions esp during the winter months. Ugh. I don't know. Am I acting like a CGM?? Old HC hardly ever repeated kids, ever, so I guess this will just take some getting used to.
Also, let me add that we do not live in a huge city with a ton of powerhouse gyms. Our city is fairly small and we are the best gym in a 50 mile radius. DD LOVES gymnastics and her gym but some of her friends have already quit since the new HC switch and I'm just worried that once she finds out she's repeating, she'll want to quit too.
Advice?
DD's gym just got a new head coach at the start of the summer. At first I thought it was going to be great as all the girls were being put on a strict strength program (which was never enforced before) and the new HC is a firm believer in great basics - as that is all they were working on when he first got to the gym. Well now it is nearly 2 months later and that is STILL all they are working on. I'm beginning to get a little worried. Bars is an event that the entire gym has struggled on in the past with the previous HC and was always their lowest scored event. I like that this new HC is backtracking and re-teaching them basic skills, but none of the girls have learned a single new skill on bars this summer. Or really any event for that matter except for a little bit of floor and beam tumbling (minimal).
My concern is that we just had our first one-on-one meeting with the new HC (who is from Texas) and he basically told us that all the girls will be repeating the same level that they competed last year. He said that in Texas this was very common for compulsory levels. He also said that none of the 10 girls that the last HC moved up to level 3 from pre-team will be competing because they are not ready - even though to my understanding from a level 3 parent, they have all their skills except the front-hip circle (a couple have it). Because of this, a lot of our girls have dropped out and switched gyms.
Here's my issue: DD, 9 yrs old, competed level 4 last year and got a 36 something at state. 9s on every event, placing on bars, floor, vault, and AA. I really do not want to pay another $5,000 this year between tuition, coaches fees, new leotard, meet expenses, traveling, etc......to watch her AA score go up to a 37. Sure she might win more meets and place higher, but I'm worried she will get bored. I expressed these worries to the new HC and he basically said that the level is "just a number" and "let's focus on good gymnastics instead of their level". He also said that they will up train during the season so she shouldn't get bored of level 4, but she will also have to do tons of routines and repetitions esp during the winter months. Ugh. I don't know. Am I acting like a CGM?? Old HC hardly ever repeated kids, ever, so I guess this will just take some getting used to.
Also, let me add that we do not live in a huge city with a ton of powerhouse gyms. Our city is fairly small and we are the best gym in a 50 mile radius. DD LOVES gymnastics and her gym but some of her friends have already quit since the new HC switch and I'm just worried that once she finds out she's repeating, she'll want to quit too.
Advice?