Disaster at Intersquad meet

[gym monkeys mom]

Last week DD gym did and intersquad meet. Coaches called it a Judges Eval no big deal.

Yeah right gymnasts consider anyone evalulating them a big deal they are over achievers most of them any ways and ecspecially once they have gotten to optional levels.

DD's other Level 8 teammate was hurt so it was DD and the level 7's there are 9 of them. Well floor went great she got an 8.55 was missing a b .Her coach this week added the b changed the tumbling passes around and DD is very happy with them and they lok good.

Beam and bars were a disaster her teammates did not let her warm her seriese up on beam more than once and she never got to warm up her giants. Coach is talking to judge misses all this and consuquently she could not do either well. Scores were not even worth mentioning and start values were a disaster UGH!!

The plus side is the judge worked on her jumps and leaps on beam gave suggestions and she is now doing slipt jump split jump and they are lots nicer than the slipt leap.

Vault was fine however she only did a handspring as she has not gotten her tsuk down yet on the flor only on mats in the pit.

Now to me all these things are cause to be a little concerned her coach says "oh she will be fine meet season is 5 weeks away and then we have 3 weeks between the first meet and all the rest". ARGH!!!

I know DD can do all the skills needed for beam that is no probnlem.

Bars however are always and issue and the new requirements are tough if bars are tough for you anyways. I am not sure she will make all her casts to the required height and I know her clear hip will only ever be counted as an A. The .3 for all low casts scares me.

This is just the way our gym is and changing is not an option as DD loves it here and would not consider leaving ever. Her words not mine and she is 14 yrs so she knows what she wants. Over all i am fine with this we are no going to the Olympics and it is her sport. at least that is what i tell myself over and over and over. I am still a gym mom

Oh well just needed to vent and have some sympathatic ears. I am hoping things will turn out fine.

First meet is an easy one anyways.

It drives me nuts to have things be changed around so close to meet season and for us to not be working out details on routines but still be working out skills. UGH!

Thanks for the help and listening. I will keep you updated. sorry for the long post.

 

[gymdog]

Most optional programs are constantly working out skills in routines or slightly changing routine skills, as the gymnast either progresses or it becomes clear that a skill is not progressing on track. The higher the optional level goes, you'll see more changes as the routines get harder and more complex. It's very different from compulsories and even level 7 to some extent, which tends to be a little more clear cut on requirements the way most gyms set it up. Once they hit level 8 they might compete three different beam series in a year, or add two skills on bar, or change their two salto pass, or start doing a tsuk before states when previously they just had a handspring.

That's not to say there shouldn't be some baseline understanding of what skills everyone is aiming for, clearly there shouldn't just be mass chaos going on. But it sounds like she more or less has some base routine but some things will change as she progresses. That's actually good - it'll allow her to challenge herself and get higher scores. The vast majority of gymnasts I know have done two years at level 8, or even three. Although of course things have been restructured so that might change, but either way, it'll just be three years at L9 then. It's a continual process of skill progression through optionals, and the first year at a level can look VERY different than one or two years later even at the same level.

 

[gym monkeys mom]

Gymdog

Thanks for the clarity on a few things it really helped. We are the highest level at our club right now as we are a small club and not around too long yet. we did have 1 level 9 last year but she graduated and DD hopes to be level 9 next year LOL. I hope she stays 8 next year but we will see what this year brings

It helps alot to hear from others who have upper level 9's and 10's and gain some wisdom.

Thanks

 

[cathiann]

Beth's coaches are always (well, not always, but frequently!) adding things in or taking other things out--just based on what is working and what is not. A mock meet this early really does give the coaches and gymnasts a chance to see what's working and what isn't--sounds like it did that job. What your DD upset with the scores/results? If she can see it's a work in progress, then all is well

 

[mariposa]

Sorry her Intersquad didn't go as well had hoped. Level 8 is tough. I hope she sees the meet as a chance to see where she needs improvement and look at the positives, then go from there. Gymmies are so tough on themselves, but they definitely need to be able to take the positives and use the negatives to help in the future. Hoping her first meet goes well and she can start her season off positively!

 

[gymjourneymom]

So sorry to hear it was a rough intersquad meet for your DD. It's always hard to watch them in the "developmental stages" of new skills & routines.

I didn't even go to my DD's mock meet because she requested me not to. She prefers me to wait and watch her at a meet. Which is fine with me. Otherwise I know I would be a stressed out mess & I'd be no help to her. I can't be her rock if I'm freaking out. This is my 'ignorance is bliss' mentality in action. Or 'what I don't know, can't stress me out' . It's working for me so far, I highly recommend it!

I'm sure once all the kinks are worked out, your DD will have beautiful routines for the real meets. Good luck!

 

[taximom]

Sounds like she got great feedback from the judges on beam. To me that's what a mock meet is all about. See where you stand and focus on the weak spots getting stronger before the season starts. I'll bet you are impressed to see the changes in the next 5 weeks!