Favoritism.

[unsure]

Okay, my question to you all is this. My daughter is in a level 4 class that is preparing to compete soon. The thing that really bothers me is when they work floor. The coach/ owner has been working with half the class on their back handspring, while the others do round off after round off. All the girls need this skill to compete. My daughter can do it like the girls she keeps working with, but instead gets stuck doing round offs for twenty sometimes thirty minutes. I just feel if they are all supposed to compete level 4 then they should all be working on the same skills. I am extremely frustrated and would really love to hear if anyone else has dealt with an issue like this.

 

[gymnastjess]

Okay, my question to you all is this. My daughter is in a level 4 class that is preparing to compete soon. The thing that really bothers me is when they work floor. The coach/ owner has been working with half the class on their back handspring, while the others do round off after round off. All the girls need this skill to compete. My daughter can do it like the girls she keeps working with, but instead gets stuck doing round offs for twenty sometimes thirty minutes. I just feel if they are all supposed to compete level 4 then they should all be working on the same skills. I am extremely frustrated and would really love to hear if anyone else has dealt with an issue like this.

The reason your daughter would be working roundoffs whilst the others working backhandsprings is because she may need a stronger roundoff in order to connect it with her backhandspring ready to compete level 4 whilst the other girls only doing backhandspring may have a good roundoff but need to work more on their backhandsprings

 

[unsure]

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately she does have a strong round off with good rebound that is why I am confused.

 

[Aussie_coach]

The reality is that all coaches have favorites, anyone who tells you this isn't true is in denial. The art of a truly good coach is just not to show it.

As human beings we are naturally more attracted to some types of personalities or even appearances and turned off by others. Just like the kids probably have favorite teachers the teachers all have favorite kids.

This is a very touchy subject because coaches who blatantly show favoritism are probably the same ones in denial about it. If you bring this up with the coach in any sort of blatant way and its unlikely to go down well.

It may be better to discuss your concerns with her training. EG if you notice she is being held back on an apparatus ask a question like "I notice DD is not progressing on bars what is it she needs to work on or show to improve?", what this often does is make the coach deal with the problem. They will have it in the front of their mind when the kids next go to bars and will be aware that you are aware of it which may change things.

I don;t know what your gym owner or head coach is like, but if they are good and understanding then it may be best to go to them. They can often address the problem without letting the coach know you have made a complaint. Its often the coaches who play favorites who are also the ones who take it out on a child if a complaint is made.

But also remember that your child will have to deal with many different types of people in this life for both the good and bad sense.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately she does have a strong round off with good rebound that is why I am confused.

Mmmm. i don't see where it says "coach" or "former gymnast" under your group membership.

 

[AGM78910]

My DD unfortunately had a bad experience with favoritism. She is one of the quiet, hardworking, but not brilliant gymnasts. She noticed the favoritism and told me about it. I dismissed it until I made it a point to watch practice a few times and darned if she wasn't right. The girls who were "easy to coach" and not struggling with skills got the coaches attention. It is very hard on a young girls' self esteem to be ignored. They think the coach does not like them. Lots of them quit the sport.

IMHO there are lots of coaches out there (especially former gymnasts) who don't understand how to motivate and coach the "average" gymnast. (This is my observation after 10 years as a gymnastics parent only.)

This and other reasons were why we moved gyms. We found a gym where the "diva" gymnasts did not get extra attention. The coaches are very fair and it is a great atmosphere for the gymnasts.