crazygymkidsmom
Proud Parent
Hi - I'm a long-time lurker, first time poster. I'm hoping to get some insight/clarity from the parents and coaches of successful, high level gymnasts.
Some background info - My daughter is a very talented 8 year old gymnast who is currently training level 7. She couldn't do a cartwheel a year and a half ago when she started a gymnastics class sponsored by her school and very quickly (to me at least) was asked to join the team and moved up several levels by the coach. She has been a top of the podium kid ever since she started and consistently scored in the top 5% of all state-wide competitions across all age groups and in the top 15% (ish) in the few bigger competitions that she's had the chance to compete in. Her goal, like most young gymnasts, is to go to the Olympics. (I understand this is a difficult goal to achieve, but I also encourage all of my children to aim big - and I do my best to support them.)
The catch is, there is a definite ceiling at her gym - and it is WAY below any type of elite/college dreams my daughter might have. The gym is very small, with only 3 main coaches and one level 10 gymnast. Our gymnasts usually do pretty well at competitions, but our gym doesn't have the resources to send coaches with them to bigger meets so we do not attend Regionals even if a gymnast qualifies. There is no TOPS or HOPES training available, and even the top levels are only given about 18 hours of practice a week - and I think the parents had to really REALLY fight for those hours.
There is no other option nearby, the next closest gym with any type of upper level optionals program is more than 100 miles away. My daughter loves her gym, she loves her coaches, and I think that her coaches actually have the ability to take her as far as she wants to go - but the gym program definitely does not. We don't have a real foam pit or any other upper level training gear and, really, if the girls aren't allowed to compete at Regionals then it seems like their ceiling is pretty low.
So we've been considering relocating to get her into a program that could offer her the opportunities she needs to pursue her goals. And my main question is - does anybody here have any insight or experience in similar situations they can share? It seems unlikely that all of the amazing gymnasts I hear about on this board were just lucky enough to live next to a good gym. Has anybody actually uprooted their whole life to move their daughter to a better program? How did it work for you? And to the coaches on this forum - I'm sure you've all seen your share of crazy in your jobs so I'd love to hear your opinion about this as well. Is my daughter too old to start in a new program with a realistic goal of becoming an elite competitor?
Some background info - My daughter is a very talented 8 year old gymnast who is currently training level 7. She couldn't do a cartwheel a year and a half ago when she started a gymnastics class sponsored by her school and very quickly (to me at least) was asked to join the team and moved up several levels by the coach. She has been a top of the podium kid ever since she started and consistently scored in the top 5% of all state-wide competitions across all age groups and in the top 15% (ish) in the few bigger competitions that she's had the chance to compete in. Her goal, like most young gymnasts, is to go to the Olympics. (I understand this is a difficult goal to achieve, but I also encourage all of my children to aim big - and I do my best to support them.)
The catch is, there is a definite ceiling at her gym - and it is WAY below any type of elite/college dreams my daughter might have. The gym is very small, with only 3 main coaches and one level 10 gymnast. Our gymnasts usually do pretty well at competitions, but our gym doesn't have the resources to send coaches with them to bigger meets so we do not attend Regionals even if a gymnast qualifies. There is no TOPS or HOPES training available, and even the top levels are only given about 18 hours of practice a week - and I think the parents had to really REALLY fight for those hours.
There is no other option nearby, the next closest gym with any type of upper level optionals program is more than 100 miles away. My daughter loves her gym, she loves her coaches, and I think that her coaches actually have the ability to take her as far as she wants to go - but the gym program definitely does not. We don't have a real foam pit or any other upper level training gear and, really, if the girls aren't allowed to compete at Regionals then it seems like their ceiling is pretty low.
So we've been considering relocating to get her into a program that could offer her the opportunities she needs to pursue her goals. And my main question is - does anybody here have any insight or experience in similar situations they can share? It seems unlikely that all of the amazing gymnasts I hear about on this board were just lucky enough to live next to a good gym. Has anybody actually uprooted their whole life to move their daughter to a better program? How did it work for you? And to the coaches on this forum - I'm sure you've all seen your share of crazy in your jobs so I'd love to hear your opinion about this as well. Is my daughter too old to start in a new program with a realistic goal of becoming an elite competitor?