WAG Average age per level?

[kris]

We're new to the current gym, so I don't know many ages but my DD, who would be ancient at your gym, has been in the youngest age group in pretty much every meet she's ever been in. She did bump up to child B at level 7 states, but was back in child A for level 8 states the following year. She was an (old) level 4 (similar to new 3) at 7 years old and then moved up a level a year competing level 8 at 11-yo last year.

 

[KyTheXcelGymnast]

my gym tends to be pretty average I’d say (region 7)

Xcel bronze: 2 are 5, 2 are 6, and 3 are 7
Xcel silver: 1 is 7, 3 are 8, 2 are 9
Xcel gold: 1 is 10, 2 are 12
Xcel platinum: 1 is 10, 2 are 12, 2 are 13, 1 is 14
Xcel diamond: 2 are 14, 1 is 16, 2 are 17
Xcel sapphire: she’s 17
Level 6: 1 is 9 and 1 is 11
Level 7: both are 12
Level 8: 1 is 13, 3 are 14, 1 is 15
Level 9: 1 is 15, 1 is 16
Level 10: both are 17

 

[GymDad00]

I attended a not so local meet this weekend and was shocked by the ages of the lower level gymnasts... they had level 4's that I'm pretty sure were 16.... made me curious what the average ages are at different gyms, for us its:
Level Two- All are 5
Level Three- Most are 6 and two are 7
Level Four- All are 7
Level Five- All are 8 besides one, who is 11 (third year on L5)
Level Seven- Youngest is 7 and oldest is 11
Level Eight- Youngest 8, most are 9/10 and two 12 year olds
Level Nine- Most are 12-14
Level Ten- 13 or older with the exception of an 11 year old

That's an extremely young gym across the board. For reference at our States....Level 7 for the YOUNGEST age group at states the average age was probably 10. Maybe a few 9 year olds.. and the cutoff was just shy of 11. And that was only the absolute bottom age group... so the other 95% or 220+ gymnasts at states were older than 11.

So your gym probably would rank in the youngest gym in the country across most of those age groups. Curious... are they all killing it with high scores too at that age? Is your gym an elite training facility?

 

[Mthegymqueen]

This is from my gym (ymca)

Level 1 (considered pre team) - ages 5-7
Level 2 (first year as comp level at gym) - usually 10 and 11 (with a few 7s, 8s, and 9s)
Level 3 - 10-12 (few 8s and 9s)
Level 4 - 12 and 13 (few 8s - 11s)
(removed level 5s due to lack of interest in district) (mainly were 12-14)
Level 6 - 12-15 (few 11s and 16s)
Level 7 - 2, 16s and 1, 17
Level 8 - all 16-18 (with the exceptions of 1, 13)
Level 9 - 14, 16s, and 17
(no 10s, 2 previous ones were 1st years as seniors)
Silver (considered pre team) - mainly 11-12 (with a couple 11s and 14/15s)
Gold - 12-16
Platinum - 15-17 (1, 10, 1, 12, and 1, 13)
Diamond (first year as comp level at gym) - 14-18 (one masters, 19)

 

[Tmacs]

Definitely much younger than ours/our area. Youngest optional at our gym is 11. We do every level though- both 5 and 6 so it trends older.

 

[WV Gym Mom]

Old thread brought back to life! (think its important to remember levels adjusted some sine the OP posted in 2015). Our gym is very "open" with age and we have a pretty big range:

Level 2 - 5 to 10
Silver/3 - 6 to 11
Gold/4 - 6 to 12
Platinum/6/7 - 8 to 15
Diamond/8/9 10 to 15
10 - 16 and up

 

[Gymnast4Life]

I’m on recreational team so I only know that

Level 1: age 6-9 ( 1 is 6, 1 is 9 and the rest are 7 and 8)
Level 2: age 7-10 ( 1 is 7, 2 are 10, and the rest are 8 and 9)
Xcel Bronze: age 10-13( 1 is 10, 1 is 11, 2 are 13)
Xcel Silver: age 12-13 ( 2 are 12 and 1 is 13)
Xcel Gold: age 13-14( 1 is 13 and 1 is 14)

 

[ayaaaa!]

Your gym makes my gym look like grandmas
Preteam: not totally sure but I think around 5/6
Level 2 (well they compete xcel bronze): 6/7/8/9
Level 3: youngest I believe is 7 turning 8 soon and oldest is 12
Level 4: youngest is 7 turning 8 soon and oldest is me!
Level 5: youngest is 11 and oldest is 15 turning 16
Level 7: youngest is 14 and oldest is 17
Level 8: 17
Xcel silver: 14
Xcel gold: 16

my sister is in gold and shes 8 lmao

 

[ayaaaa!]

our gym doesnt let people under 14 compete anything over gold. my sister is in gold, shes 8 and she has ro bhs full and fhs fp ro bt and also she has a double fly away, but she has to compete ro bhs bt, fhs ft, and single flyaway but she has gotten 10s twice and 9.x's almost every comp. the only up thing she does is roundoff BT on vault but idk if she is allowed to compete it at non-locals.

 

[Kylie]

our gym doesnt let people under 14 compete anything over gold. my sister is in gold, shes 8 and she has ro bhs full and fhs fp ro bt and also she has a double fly away, but she has to compete ro bhs bt, fhs ft, and single flyaway but she has gotten 10s twice and 9.x's almost every comp. the only up thing she does is roundoff BT on vault but idk if she is allowed to compete it at non-locals.

Sounds like you should find a new gym lol. That gym is obviously holding her back because of made up age requirements.

 

[ayaaaa!]

Sounds like you should find a new gym lol. That gym is obviously holding her back because of made up age requirements.

lol we will eventually get into a new gym, we just live in the middle of no where and thats our closest one and its still an hr away

 

[Aussie_coach]

I know you are looking for what is the norm and what is average, but really it’s not relevant at all.

And comparing to much to the average May be sending out the negative idea that gymnasts need to be a certain age by a certain level.

The level you should be is what ever level is appropriate for your skill level and the length of time you have been training:

I know of plenty of people who did not compete level 4 until their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and much older.

The right age is whatever age the athlete happens to be when they are ready for that level.

 

[Kylie]

My gym:
Lvl 3- 8
Lvl 4- 9.5
Lvl 5- 10
Lvl 6- 11
Lvl 7- 13
Lvl 8- 14
XB- 8
XS- 10.5
XG- 11
XP- none
XD- 13

 

[GymDad00]

I know you are looking for what is the norm and what is average, but really it’s not relevant at all.

And comparing to much to the average May be sending out the negative idea that gymnasts need to be a certain age by a certain level.

The level you should be is what ever level is appropriate for your skill level and the length of time you have been training:

I know of plenty of people who did not compete level 4 until their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and much older.

The right age is whatever age the athlete happens to be when they are ready for that level.

I have a feeling most people asking this type of question it is always related to whether their child is on track to be a college level gymnast. This question while similar to planning for your little leaguer to go pro… does have a basis in reality because gymnastics is one of those sports where if your goal is to compete in college at a D1 school… then you likely have to have 4 years of level 10 under your belt before you graduate highschool. It’s a pipe dream for most… but people like to know the odds of things. If your end goal is just recreational enjoyment of gymnastics… then yes, age doesn’t matter.

 

[mezzamare]

if your goal is to compete in college at a D1 school… then you likely have to have 4 years of level 10 under your belt before you graduate highschool

I appreciate you being specific in your language here. Too often people get too general, and convey the idea that college competition is off the table without 4+ years of Level 10.

I am close to finishing the numbers for the incoming freshman class recruits, and girls with 4+ years of level 10 experience made up about 81 percent of the gymnasts at the top 20 programs, while across ALL programs that same cohort comprises about 60 percent of NCAA competitors.

In other words, girls with 4+ years of level 10 experience make up the majority (but not all) of NCAA gymnasts. But anyone hoping for a full-ride would benefit strongly by getting to 10 by freshman year.

I'll post those 2025 freshman numbers soon. Just trying to add something new and try to show roughly when most girls announce commitments relative to their high school graduation year.

 

[GymDad00]

I appreciate you being specific in your language here. Too often people get too general, and convey the idea that college competition is off the table without 4+ years of Level 10.

I am close to finishing the numbers for the incoming freshman class recruits, and girls with 4+ years of level 10 experience made up about 81 percent of the gymnasts at the top 20 programs, while across ALL programs that same cohort comprises about 60 percent of NCAA competitors.

In other words, girls with 4+ years of level 10 experience make up the majority (but not all) of NCAA gymnasts. But anyone hoping for a full-ride would benefit strongly by getting to 10 by freshman year.

I'll post those 2025 freshman numbers soon. Just trying to add something new and try to show roughly when most girls announce commitments relative to their high school graduation year.

I think the pandemic year of 2020, is probably skewing those numbers lower than they will be moving forward. With elites taking up some coveted spots now on college rosters as well…. And programs being cut not added, the expectation is the competition for roster spots will only get more difficult, not less.

But yeah, there will be opportunities for walk ons and non-scholarship recruits with less years of level 10 experience.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

I wonder where all the athletes are from the initial post are - nine years later. I would guess most are not doing gymnastics.

The point about multi year level 10's making up the bulk of D1 scholarships sometimes distracts from a more important factor...

It's not being a multi year level 10 that increases your chances - it's having the physical talent to be a multi year level ten that increases your chances.

Athletes who have the physical talent to get to that level faster are the athletes that found the right gym to harness and develop that talent. Also a fair chuck of luck in regards to injury and having a family able/willing to support high level gymnastics.