Recent content by A's Mom

My daughter (13, L8) has such solid leaps and jumps on floor...and they are SO BAD on beam. Same leaps/jumps. This is pretty new and she's working on it and I am not saying a word. I know leaping on a beam is not the same as leaping on a floor. It's just amazing how different they are. I know...

Hold up: they have states after only 2 months of competition? That's fishy to me. Are there more experienced parents at your gym who you can talk to about the short meet season and qualification requirements? I think you can ask a coach for that clarification too, in a way that's saying you're...

Mine has knees :) Honestly what has helped the most has been the body awareness that comes with time (mine is now 13). General flexibility helps too, but if what you've got are knees that naturally stick out, I'm sure her coach is giving corrections on tightening and she'll get there.

I'm so fascinated that you see it so much in Xcel! It's encouraging. And yes - nearly all the teens in our gym practice in shorts, but none compete that way. I feel like we just need someone to break the ice.

My 13yo daughter will be L8 this season and wants to compete in shorts. No one else at her gym does and they haven't offered the option, though I'd be shocked if they pushed back at a gymnast who wanted to. Like many normal teens, she would rather not be the only one and attract that attention...

It's a lot. But it also depends on what your gym's plan for those level 4s is. Do the optionals also practice 20 hrs? Do 4s frequently skip to 6/7? Are all 4s also training TOPS/HOPES? Conversely, can you tell them you're worried about burnout and injury, and ask to not come one day a week?

Thank you! Leave it to USAG to make you pay ;)

I went to the link and I still don't see a list of what exact skills are A/B/C. I swear I'm normally not this helpless.

Is there a list of A/B/C/D skills? I'm trying to find it but I suspect I'm not using the right search words. Ha! My daughter just competed level 6, and we found out she could do 8 next season. Her coaches were talking about composition requirements and I guess I thought it would be easier to...

Thanks, y'all. I appreciate all your perspectives. We don't celebrate meets beyond sometimes ice cream either. And little sister doesn't have to come - often she'll have a sleepover with a friend and that makes her plenty happy. If she has her own event, at least one parent is there. I guess...

For those of you with a gymnast and sibling who is not competitively athletic: how do you make sure they feel celebrated? I have two kids. My gymnast is a level 7 and practices 22 hrs/wk. Just that alone is a lot of family energy. Then during meet season, it's several weekends of focus on her...

Strength! That's so interesting to think about. Thanks for that. Now how to fit in and afford a trainer with school and 21 hrs/wk of gymnastics...

My gymnast is 12 and level 6. She's made a remarkable recovery from a broken elbow and loves gymnastics more than ever. She's also growing like a weed for the first time in her life and dealing with all the joy adolescence brings. She's been getting down on herself because she feels behind. She...

Yes! She's awesome. But until she's not the only one, girls who want to wear shorts or leggings will carry the additional burden of making a statement.

All about Katie Ledecky! Also Jordan Chiles, and Ali Raisman may be considered "old" now but is an incredible role model, I think. I also totally agree with the poster saying the best role models are people in your kids' real life. As for the sexualization of NCAA gymnastics, I think the...