WAG DD is interested in following Elite path...

[AlexsGymmyMom]

my DD like the OP's started competing gym at an older age (mine was 9 at her first comp). At first she and I both had high expectations (because we didn't know any better! lol)
Now that she is 14 and has had a few injuries and fear issues we are both just enjoying the journey wherever it leads! I am just thankful that she still loves it and looks forward to going.
I guess what I am trying to say is that while its not impossible for her to attain her goals and aspirations, please keep in mind the real reason most girls do gym! Because they love it! And of course all parents want the BEST for their kid, but very few make it to elite or even college gym for that matter.
And for what its worth, please make sure she is doing gym in a safe environment! No reason to add additional risk in a sport already full of potential injuries!!

 

[aerialriver]

These threads always get so out of control! Yeah its like playing the lottery someone wins but your odds are really bad but if you have the money and want to play go for it. Same with this if you understand the risk and have the means nessessary go for it.

 

[myeyeson_u]

my DD like the OP's started competing gym at an older age (mine was 9 at her first comp). At first she and I both had high expectations (because we didn't know any better! lol)
Now that she is 14 and has had a few injuries and fear issues we are both just enjoying the journey wherever it leads! I am just thankful that she still loves it and looks forward to going.

Yes my dd began competing at 9. However, my dd isn't new to gymnastics. She's been in the sport since 2008. There were several interruptions along the way, which is why she's just competing now at 9. FYI! So I "know better". I know that this is a rigorous & injury prone sport. So does she. She has had the fear issues, and has overcome them. Will she encounter more along the way? Maybe she will, maybe she won't. She's young and optimistic & may just be hopeful, and that's ok. Mommy will be hopeful right there w/ her until she tells me otherwise, or a doc tells us otherwise

 

[myeyeson_u]

These threads always get so out of control!

I'm new to CB so I didn't know it would. The replies are already at 80..... and counting. Haha! Way to get people involved

 

[Krystan]

Some, whom are moms/dads and not coaches, proceeded to tell me based on her age and level that the possibilities are slim, in so many words. But had no idea on dd's story and why she even started where she did. I also saw one who, based on where there gym is at, and what my dd scored at her meets, would score lower at their gym. And this is being compared to gymnasts who currently train AND compete at the compulsory level already. Something my dd hasn't done yet. But yet you've concluded that based on a XCEL SILVER competition, she'd score such somewhere else? Cool! Some assumed I went to the coach and asked/said this and that. And the list goes on. In any case, I'm reading and making SOME notes. Some, not so much

Listen, people have taken the time to respond to your post. I know some of them have told you things you don't want to hear. I've been there. But no one is doing this to be rude, everyone is taking the information you provided, the videos you display, and their own experience, and giving you what they think is helpful information/insight. You certainly don't need to it listen to it all, or agree with any of it, but please try to be respectful and understand everyone is honestly trying to help. The amount of parent/coach/gymnast experience on this board is unbeatable, and I've learned to really take it ALL in, and not just the stuff that sounds right to me initially. Each poster on this thread has had something worth listening to, even if they don't agree. In my mind, what it all boils down to is the most important piece of advice you can receive here: Do not become too emotionally involved in your daughter's gymnastics. Do not get overly excited about your daughters prospects. Let HER get excited about it, and support her dreams, but let them be HER dreams. Don't let her realize that they are your dreams too, or she will worry about making you happy as well as yourself. That's probably over simplified, but the "don't get too emotionally involved in HER sport" mantra is the most useful thing I've learned here, even if it's something I totally denied I had an issue with at first. I'm 99% positive that if I hadn't been on this board and had that drilled into my head a million times, my daughter would have quit by now. So even if all the naysayers on this thread are wrong, and your daughter becomes an Olympian, there is still a lot of value to the perspective they are trying to give you.

 

[myeyeson_u]

And just like people took the time to respond, I can do the same. I didn't disrespect anyone. I can express myself like everyone else has. It's easy to pop off behind the keyboard. You can also be tactful w/ your response. So don't get so bent out of shape when my response is not what you expect. No one got cursed out. I can choose to make note of some comments, and choose to NOT make note of some. Just like it was their right to respond, w/ conclusions and/or speculation of what may or may not be, it's my right which feedback I'd like to take heed too. Simple.

And if I didn't want the comments and/or reviews on my dd's vids, it wouldn't have been in my signature. I'd have been just as discreet or anonymous as the rest of you. I never said she was the best. She has talent and I acknowledge that.

Lastly, this is HER aspiration, not mine. I'm the one who's constantly asking her if she's sure this is the path she wants to take. If she changes her mind later, she changes her mind.

 

[iwannacoach]

Kudos to all of you for an ever lasting thread with multiple side plots, and a special heartfelt "thank you" to Vaultbeastmom for starting the thread. You see, I'm in a race to total more likes than posts, and I'm getting kinda close because of threads like this. Geez, I gathered up 13 like from this thread alone. Hmm, now if only I redeem likes for a new car or hoveround, whoops.....harumph....., errrr, a jet ski. Yeah that's what I meant to say, a car or jet ski. That's the ticket!!

 

[happychaos]

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Or not......

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

You see, I'm in a race to total more likes than posts, and I'm getting kinda close because of threads like this.

Who are you racing, sorry Mary A has already beat you to that target, why don't you aim for 2 likes to every post?

 

[iwannacoach]

Who are you racing, sorry Mary A has already beat you to that target, why don't you aim for 2 likes to every post?

Great..... now I gotta craft a long term power outage wherever she happens to go. That'll give me a snowballs chance of catching up. I would like to point out just how good her posts are. Hmmm, maybe too good for any one person to craft on their own. I wonder..... do you think it likely she has a staff of writers and a proof writer hidden away.

Geez, the lengths some people will go to for a bit of "like" fame.

 

[Dr Maleficent]

Who are you racing, sorry Mary A has already beat you to that target, why don't you aim for 2 likes to every post?

I think iwannacoach has to have realistic expectations though. He (or she?)may develop fears of posting, or have a injury that makes him stop posting. Plus he/she has started out a little late. But he/she should definitely remember that it is a sprint not a marathon and just enjoy the journey

 

[iwannacoach]

He (or she?)may develop fears....... Plus he/she has started out.... But he/she should definitely .......

Thanks not so much. Not only do I have to bear the burden of coming late to the "like party," I also seem to be gender conflicted.

 

[Jenny]

. So don't get so bent out of shape when my response is not what you expect. .

Your response is exactly what I would expect and have seen many times before. Welcome to chalk bucket and stick around!

Your dd has lots of natural gymnastics talent. At the moment she doesn't have the form needed for the elite pathway where deductions are rigorous. And as she has been in and out of gym I wouldn't expect that either. If you can find a gym and a coach that would focus on that and your dd is up for the hard slog and relentless repetition and correction that working under the FIG code on the elite pathway entails then who knows how far she could go! She looks like she loves her gymnastics and I hope she enjoys every part of her journey in this wonderful sport. She is doing great and good luck to her.

 

[Muddlethru]

Been a member of this forum for a few years now and not one topic garners more controversy than the word "elite". Perhaps it's meaning has something to do with it:

a group of people considered (by others or themselves) to be the best in a particular society or category, esp. because of their power, talent, or wealth.

And when coupled with the fact that the posts are made by individuals new to the game, it produces rapid fire.

OP, I don't think anyone is denying your daughter has talent just that it is too early to tell if the elite track is for her. Dunno once said, elite comes to you, not the other way around. Also she (and you) are inexperienced considering the level she is in and the number of years you've been exposed to the sport. At this stage, a good gym with coaches you feel you can trust to train her accordingly is a step in the right direction. Not much else.

 

[AlexsGymmyMom]

Thanks not so much. Not only do I have to bear the burden of coming late to the "like party," I also seem to be gender conflicted.

Sort of the Chalkbucket version of SNL'S Its Pat!

 

[bogwoppit]

If we are talking points, keep posting.

P.S. There are no prizes for having the most. I know.

But I also know that this board has some of the most gym educated people around on it. The advice, both asked for or not, is always to the point.

Elite, TOPs and home gyms are the topics most likely to combust on the forums. This thread is TAME compared to some of our older gems. Some have involved threats, name calling and multiple bans. Mind you I do find those mildly amusing.

 

[myeyeson_u]

Some feedback is appreciated (notice I said some and not any). Lol! No but seriously. Just because it's posted doesn't mean I have to like it and/or make note of it. Do some of you sit back and read your post before you post it? My response is a reaction of your response. There's absolutely no way for me to tell your demeanor through this forum. And some of you have been on here since the forum began. So you've been around the block a few times I'm certain, w/ some of these same questions. I'm new to this. And I inquired on the forum because I felt there could be a wealth of knowledge on here. The question was geared more towards the coaches. And maybe I should've stated that. But that's neither here nor there. Some parents may have been in the game long enough to know what to look for. And that's fine too. But I will still continue to support my dd's aspirations. They're realistic if she gets the right coaching and takes the correct measures given to her along. Also if she works hard and keeps at it. If she chooses it's not for her when she hits puberty or whenever, I'm ok w/ that too. I don't live through my dd in this sport. I'm happy that she's happy doing something she loves.

This thread would probably make some never want to post anything on CB again. Some of you can be ruthless You may not mean to come across that way, but you do. But I'm not going anywhere. This is my third post on here and by far the worse Lol! I'm for real but not really. The worse as far as some responses I've received. But it's all good. I still dig the forum

 

[myeyeson_u]

The advice, both asked for or not, is always to the point.

Agreed.

Elite, TOPs and home gyms are the topics most likely to combust on the forums.

As I can attest to this, lol

 

[myeyeson_u]

OP, I don't think anyone is denying your daughter has talent just that it is too early to tell if the elite track is for her. Dunno once said, elite comes to you, not the other way around.

I can dig it. And yes, I agree w/ what dunno said. Now that I've done some reading on it.

Also she (and you) are inexperienced considering the level she is in

She's in this level because she never competed. It had to be that way. Her coach informed me Friday that she's learning L6 skills. So his plans for her, when the season is over, is to have her score out of L4 and L5, come the next season. Maybe by the time that comes, L6 too. As I found out on here that L6 isn't required anymore. Or something along those lines.

At this stage, a good gym with coaches you feel you can trust to train her accordingly is a step in the right direction. Not much else.

Indeed!

 

[myeyeson_u]

Your response is exactly what I would expect and have seen many times before. Welcome to chalk bucket and stick around!

Why thank you. And I'm not going anywhere!

Your dd has lots of natural gymnastics talent. At the moment she doesn't have the form needed for the elite pathway where deductions are rigorous. And as she has been in and out of gym I wouldn't expect that either. If you can find a gym and a coach that would focus on that and your dd is up for the hard slog and relentless repetition and correction that working under the FIG code on the elite pathway entails then who knows how far she could go! She looks like she loves her gymnastics and I hope she enjoys every part of her journey in this wonderful sport. She is doing great and good luck to her.

This is a much appreciated post. Not to say some weren't. Her form has seen to come up a couple times. And that's ok. I'm sure I think it's fine because I'm no coach. But I know you all know what to look for, as this is what you do. I've watched some of the younger up and coming elites, and I was blown away. My dd and I saw one last night, an 11 year old out in Iowa. She was so good! So I get it. And where we're at is great, to me and dd at least. But only time will tell if it's good enough. Thanks though!