MAG "Age Bumping"

[Deleted member 10727]

My son has been in gymnastics since he was 4, and he has recently been asked to join the team as a level 5. He has wanted to be on team for a long time, and he has competed in one competition as a level 4, but he was too young to join the team officially for the current season. He is now old enough to join the team, and he has been hounding his coach about being a level 5, so he was excited to hear he would go onto team as a level 5.

His coach went to the state meet this last weekend, and I guess there was a meeting where he was informed they may be changing the rules. He says they won't be allowing "age bumping" anymore (although that's not set in stone yet), so my son would have to go in at a level 4. This would bore him to tears! They can't be serious?? Is there some rational explanation for this, or are they just wanting to dumb-down kids? He just turned 6 years old, but he works very hard and he's extremely determined, and he's already been knocked back because of his age too many times.

 

[ZJsMom]

He must be really talented. I've never seen a 6-year old level 5 around here.

If he can't compete next year, couldn't he just train level 5 anyway?

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

The current rule in the men's program is that a kid's age is determined as of September 1st, but they can be bumped up one year.

Kids are not allowed to compete level 5 until they are 7 years old (meaning they must turn 6 before september 1st).

I'm not aware of any movements to change this, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening.

All that said -- be patient. There's no need to rush to compete -- heck, in an ideal world, I wouldn't have ANY of my boys or girls compete at all until level 8. Currently I don't have my level 4 boys competing at all. They just spend the season training individual skills and preparing for level 5 -- and let me tell you, my rookie level 5s are MUCH stronger under this system than they were back when I had them compete level 4.

 

[Deleted member 10727]

He has been training level 5. However, the more I think about this, the more I think it might be a good idea to let it go. My son may want to compete level 5, but as he progresses, the better it will be for him to really hone his skills. The coach says he will still train him at level 5 (and some level 6 stuff) at the gym. My concern is the fact he will have to dial back in competitions which can be very hard to do with body memory.

 

[J&A's mom]

There are bonus skills that will set him apart from others in Level 4, which are mainly Level 5 skills. He could also be really focusing on execution, which will definitely help in the future. I don't think it will be a 'waste' of a year, and I bet he will love being known as the small kid that can do great gymnastics at all of the meets. Also, it will be better for him to have more competition....ie, he won't be one of the only kids in his age division.

 

[gymdog]

Wait...does he have all level 5 bonuses? It would be unusual for a just 6 year old to have mastered all level 4 bonuses already. Does he have a roundoff back handspring on floor without a spot, 5.5 circles consistently? Unless he has all the level 4 and 5 bonuses, I'm sure he'll still find his first real season of competing challenging.

I hadn't heard about any changes either...not next season anyway.

 

[J&A's mom]

He has been training level 5. However, the more I think about this, the more I think it might be a good idea to let it go. My son may want to compete level 5, but as he progresses, the better it will be for him to really hone his skills. The coach says he will still train him at level 5 (and some level 6 stuff) at the gym. My concern is the fact he will have to dial back in competitions which can be very hard to do with body memory.

Coaches correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the level 5 routines build off the Level 4 routines, and so on? That is what it seems like when I watch Level 5 routines on you tube.(to get an idea what next year will bring) I would think you wouldn't have a problem with 'body memory' since level 5 is adding to what you do in level 4.

They have been working on a lot of Level 5 skills with my son's team, especially in a month where we didn't have a meet in the midst of the season. None of his team members had trouble remembering what their routine was that they were supposed to do.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

strange...i haven't read or heard this. but i will ask someone tomorrow that will know for sure.

 

[Deleted member 10727]

He does not have 5.5 circles. He can do one circle now, barely, but he has been working on level 5 floor, rings, etc. I'm just going by what the coach told me, and told my son that he would join the team as a level 5, and then I had to tell my son today that he would NOT be a level 5 (which he has bugged about continuously for awhile now, fyi). He said, WHAT?? That's not fair!

It wouldn't be so upsetting except that my son has been promised things, and then had those things taken away for various reasons.

Body memory IS hard for a 6 year old. For example, the coach will tell him to do 5 round-offs, and then tell him to do a front handspring, and he will do a couple of round-offs automatically, accidentally before doing a front handspring. It's hard for my son to switch gears like that. Maybe when he is practicing the level 4 routine for competing next season, he will be older and it won't be so hard for him to dial it back. I just wonder about these rulings about age-bumping. I can't find anything about it. Is it a state decided thing, or national?

 

[Deleted member 10727]

Level 5 floor does not look like level 4 floor much to me. Same with rings and Pbars, etc...

 

[pattymello]

Body memory IS hard for a 6 year old. For example, the coach will tell him to do 5 round-offs, and then tell him to do a front handspring, and he will do a couple of round-offs automatically, accidentally before doing a front handspring. It's hard for my son to switch gears like that. Maybe when he is practicing the level 4 routine for competing next season, he will be older and it won't be so hard for him to dial it back.

This problem isn't body memory. This is a lack of focus and attention. Body memory would be repeatedly practicing a tucked front sault and then having trouble doing a piked one.

As for the comp i wouldn't worry about accelerating him too fast. Girls peak at 16ish so naturally accelerating them through the levels is desirable. But a boy won't peak until he in his twenties so it is probably better to make sure he masters the basics before moving on. I would also be hesitant about a 6 year old who is having trouble differentiating a cartwheel from a handspring competing level 5 skills.

 

[gymdog]

He does not have 5.5 circles. He can do one circle now, barely, but he has been working on level 5 floor, rings, etc. I'm just going by what the coach told me, and told my son that he would join the team as a level 5, and then I had to tell my son today that he would NOT be a level 5 (which he has bugged about continuously for awhile now, fyi). He said, WHAT?? That's not fair!

It wouldn't be so upsetting except that my son has been promised things, and then had those things taken away for various reasons.

Body memory IS hard for a 6 year old. For example, the coach will tell him to do 5 round-offs, and then tell him to do a front handspring, and he will do a couple of round-offs automatically, accidentally before doing a front handspring. It's hard for my son to switch gears like that. Maybe when he is practicing the level 4 routine for competing next season, he will be older and it won't be so hard for him to dial it back. I just wonder about these rulings about age-bumping. I can't find anything about it. Is it a state decided thing, or national?

I can understand the disappointment. I'm not sure how team works at your gym because all gyms have different policies. From a practical angle though, it doesn't make sense to me to place a 6 year in level 5 with one circle attempt and difficulty switching between a roundoff and front handspring. That doesn't mean he isn't very advanced for a 6 year old. Being able to even attempt those things is advanced for 6. My overall point though, is that level 4 probably won't be easy or boring for him when it has skills he hasn't yet mastered (base mushroom routine is 3.5 circles without bonus - with bonus 5.5). With the bonus system in the boys compulsory it can really stretch their skills at each level.

 

[gymboymom]

I totally understand where the OP is coming from. Your son was told one thing, and now they are wanting to do another.
Boys levels are different than the girls with the bonuses, etc. DS competed L4 as a very young 6 year old this year. And he did well. But some of those boys can already do all the bonuses. Scoring over 15 on almost all events. I do think in some ways competing L4 will be boring for him since he is not a perfectionist, but L5 would be a disaster. He could probably pull off the L5 routines, but not at the level of the other 7 year olds (and 8 year olds, so boys almost 2 years older than him in his age group) and probably none of the bonuses. Our gym uptrains, A LOT. They are definitely working on level 5 skills, and have been all year as a L4. Just some things to keep in mind.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

there are no age changes. and if your son is having 'transfer' issue between round off's and front handsprings, maybe he would be better served staying at level 4. these 2 skills are gross motor skills, not fine motor.

 

[Deleted member 10727]

Just to clarify, I really don't mind what level he competes at, but he does! HE was told this by the coach. He was promised things that keep getting taken away. As far as body memory, he has no trouble when he competes, it's just during practice when the coach throws like 3 things at him in a row after he's been practicing one thing for awhile. But that's neither here, nor there. I just wish he wouldn't get promised things, and then gets slammed back.

 

[Deleted member 10727]

there are no age changes. and if your son is having 'transfer' issue between round off's and front handsprings, maybe he would be better served staying at level 4. these 2 skills are gross motor skills, not fine motor.

Could the age change thing be a state rule?

 

[BlairBob]

unless he can swing in upper arm and not fall thru the pb or not incur irritation/aggravation/discomfort in his sternum, i would not compete l5 with him. i would not compete him as a level 5 while scratchin one event.

enjoy the first year of medals in l4 because that might not happen in l5.

ask him about that. do you want trophies and medals and to stand on the podium. done deal.

 

[skschlag]

See, I think this can be somewhat normal. My son thought he was competing L6 this fall. He was working the skills, etc. BUt about a month before competition, the coach told him he was competing L5 again. He was disappointed at first, but then had a great season and can't wait to keep going. THe disappointment was tough, but he did great.

I think that enjoying a succssful season at L4, gaining the basics and having them down (consistent 5 1/2 circles, etc.) And, like BlairBob said..that pbar routine is tough at 5, and if they fall or lose confidence, it can take a while to get over it (from experience.)

 

[Deleted member D3987]

Could the age change thing be a state rule?

no. the states can't override the national policy on this one.

 

[pattymello]

Just to clarify, I really don't mind what level he competes at, but he does! HE was told this by the coach. He was promised things that keep getting taken away. As far as body memory, he has no trouble when he competes, it's just during practice when the coach throws like 3 things at him in a row after he's been practicing one thing for awhile. But that's neither here, nor there. I just wish he wouldn't get promised things, and then gets slammed back.

Growing up is learning to deal with the disappointments. Trust your coach.