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Ok, this is what my daughter said- if you’re 5’6 and not hitting the low bar your bar settings must be pretty far apart so she thinks you must be tapping below or at the bar but you need to tap much later. She suggested putting a pit block on the ground where you want to tap- spot the pit block...

I'm a parent/fan so no technical advice, but if you just started trying on your own last week, you probably just need more time.

It sounds like when you try them yourself you change what you’re doing from when you have a spot. That’s totally normal and usually comes from fear (even subconsciously). Id say that the best thing for you to do would be to keep trying. The more times you try, the more comfortable you’ll get...

I am training for Level 7 and have been swinging a full giant with a spot for over a year. I tried them on my own for the first time last week. But every time I just arch off the back side. My coach says I'm not tapping hard enough and not pulling my toes over the bar. I can cast all the way to...

It really is heartbreaking that these kids go through so much chasing their dreams, and it does seem to go from fun after school activity to all-consuming fast. I’m so sorry you and your family went through this, and I appreciate you sharing so that we remember to be more vigilant as parents...

Yes, this is one of the things about Xcel that is surprising to me. Our gym uses it to bypass lower level compulsories, so we have stricter skill requirements in Xcel in comparison to some gyms. Can't move to Gold without a kip, for instance. But I've seen the skill variation swing soooo much at...

Have you asked your gym? When it comes to Xcel, there seems to be a ton of different answers all dependent on the philosophy of your gym. At our gym it's pretty common after Silver or Gold. We don't see many Platinum or Diamond girls move over to DP, but I don't know if it's because they don't...

The ease of switching from Xcel to DP is gym dependent. USAG has designated the transfer from DP levels to Xcel based on the highest DP level a gymnast has competed as an all around athlete. They do not have a similar transfer chart for Xcel to DP. Some gyms will NOT let a gymnast transition...

Not only is it easy to switch between the programs, but doing so is actively encouraged in the event that one program is a better fit than the other. Many gymnasts have made the transition from Junior Olympic to Xcel, and we have also seen gymnasts move in the opposite direction

Thank you for your feedback. Yes, a kip isn't required until Xcel Platinum I believe, but it is a commonly competed skill in Xcel Gold and even Silver.

I am aware that for Xcel levels, a wide range of skills can be competed to meet scoring requirements. I have seen evidence of this at meets. I have seen gyms that consistently compete more advanced skills than are being trained at my child's gym. For example: Current gym does not require or...

Yes. However, I would have stayed at the small recreational gym she started in and just let it be a fun physical outlet versus an all-consuming lifestyle it quickly became after moving to a power house gym. There, she and her teammates sustained mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse on a...

Actually I am thinking about quitting the level 9 girl because she is heading toward freshman high school now. We think she can focus on academic in high school .

You nailed it. I feel EXACTLY the same way!

A close friend of mine repeated level 3 for the fifth time when we were younger. It really hurt for her to watch other people move up when she felt ready for Level 4. She's now a Level 6. You will get there.

Yes. Every time. I have even asked my gymnast if they will allow their child to do gymnastics. The response was "if they love it as much as I do, absolutely." That shows that it was a good choice for my kiddo. In addition, the number of things my kiddo has gained from gymnastics far...

I completely relate to the stress that gymnastics places on a parent's career. The years of trying to balance work obligations, part time coaching (which helped fund gymnastics) and the efforts involved in getting my gymnast to and from practice, Friday meets etc really made it difficult to...

Be prepared for anything. In the two competitions my daughter has had since changing gyms, she not only ran into her old team - her new team was literally rotating with them. Despite both competitions being large, multi session competitions, and one a travel competition. She found it very...

Yes, no, maybe? I don't know. This is such a complicated question. The trials and tribulations that she has experienced due to this sport have made her who she is today, and she is IMHO pretty awesome. And she loves it. Like really really loves it. Over the years I have made it absolutely...

My answer: I don't know. The longer she's in it, the more clear it has become that there are more downsides than upsides in this sport, and more things that go wrong, than things that go well. There are many upsides. Aside from things like time management, confidence, quality friendships...