Parents End of era

[Pbo6]

So update on my daughter, I posted about our coaches adding some crazy goals to get to next level, stating they were USAG requirements, which weren't true. Well my daughter finished up states as floor and beam champion, 2nd place bars, and 4th on vault, landing her 1st in AA. With that though she decided to turn down a trip to regionals and has decided to walk away from gymnastics all together. She stated (at 9) being stressed out by a coach telling her she is worthless and horrible at this sport just isn't fun. So folks fight that as a Girl Dad!

 

[Coach Kate]

I'm so sorry to hear that she wants to walk away from the sport, especially since she has had such success! Are there any options for other gyms?

 

[Pbo6]

There are 2 other gyms but I have spoken with my daughter and at this time she wants nothing to do with the sport. 3 years of competition, very successful, but said tired of giving just to be looked at as always wrong. I did speak to 1 of the other gyms, they said they contact us after the entire season was over, so we will see.

 

[Coach Kate]

That's so sad. I hope she finds another activity or finds her way back to the sport when the time is right for her! There are so many wonderful coaches out there who are dedicated to building up their athletes and she deserves to have one.

 

[Pbo6]

Thank you. Yes I hope she returns one day as well. Maybe a change in area would do the trick.

 

[Dahlialover]

Put her in team sports! My sons play baseball and whenever we are within a 1/4 mile of a girl’s softball team, the cheering is just deafening! They are so stinking positive, it’ll blow her away. I have seen people posting things like ”criticism is part of every sport, not just gymnastics” and I can tell you that my gymnast gets more criticism in a single practice than my baseball player has gotten in years of playing baseball. Same with flag football and swimming. Even without a toxic coach, individual perfection sports are really psychologically risky endeavors and she is wise to recognize that she needs to step away from that. I’m so sorry that she had such a terrible experience with the sport. Hopefully, she can find new passions that build her up and fill her life with positivity. She deserves that.

 

[Pbo6]

Yes I'm gonna let her explore, see what she finds. I'm not going to make her go into anything but I pain on showing her everything I can and hope she finds something. I agree criticism is part of sports but these coaches were beyond acceptable. Seemed better the gymnast the worse they got.