Finding the best fit for DD

[GGranny]

What should we look for and what questions should we ask when deciding which gym to join?

 

[lilgymmie7]

Are you the same Granny that asked about your GD's Olympic hopes? If so please do not tell me that you are already looking for a new gym just because she placed third at States recently. I don't want to sound cynical and of course I don't know your story, but why are you looking to switch already? Level 3 is not usually competed in most gyms. At my DD's gym they only started to compete level 4- 3 years ago. And they only do a few meets for exposure.
If your GD won third maybe she is at a good gym already. A word of advice, most gyms seem to like it when they have a dedicated- to the gym- family. They tend to look negatively at gym hoppers. If I may ask, how old is your GD?

 

[gymjoy]

GGranny,

First you need to ask yourself why you want to switch your gd's gym.
Is she unhappy? Is it unsafe? Are her coaches mean? Are you chasing the stars in your eyes?

We all want the best gym for our children; we all want them to be as successful as they can possibly be in gymnastics and in life. Be careful how you define success - and whose success you are defining - yours or your grand-daughter's.

May I suggest you do a search through the threads for this topic. It has been answered about a billion times. Usually we know a little more about the situation of the gymnast.

There is a search function/pull-down menu near the top of the page.

 

[cher062]

What should we look for and what questions should we ask when deciding which gym to join?

That isn't as simple a question as it might seem as there are just so many gyms with different approaches. There are so many gymnasts that all learn differently. What is good for my child and works for her will be very diffent from what might work for your GD. How my child learns and how your GD learns can be very different. Know what works best for your child is the best indicator of what questions you want to ask. Basicly you want to ask questions that match what you, your GD want to get out of gymnastics.

If your looking to switch gyms then I would be asking you why? Knowing what your unhappy with is the start of your question base. What is your current gym doing or not doing that you both are unhappy with and would cause you to want to switch?

Guess you need to give a little more background as to what the reasons are that you would consider switching.

 

[Bobby]

What should we look for and what questions should we ask when deciding which gym to join?

Honestly it really does depend on the child you're trying to place into a program.
The bigest generalisations I'd make are:
a) how happy are the gymnasts and parents who are already there and what do they like about it;
b) what sort of communication can you expect from coaches about your gymnast (frequency, mode - in person/written report);
c) what class would they put your gymnast in and what progression from that class might look like (eg: days/hours/compete or not, plus what skills/age/etc are required to move to the next class and what is that class);
d) bit obvious ... but how much are they gonna slug you?
Are you researching for the parents or does she live with you?

 

[GGranny]

Simple ?

Thank some of you for your informative replies.
NO DD is not moving gyms to the rest of you.
I had not seen this ques asked in this forum and was interested in how parents determine which gym to invest their money/time into. I also think others who are new to gymnastics and to this site would like to be informed. Isn't that the purpose of this website?
So in the future please do not assume.
It was only a simple question that requires a simple answer.

 

[MdGymMom01]

Thank some of you for your informative replies.
NO DD is not moving gyms to the rest of you.
I had not seen this ques asked in this forum and was interested in how parents determine which gym to invest their money/time into. I also think others who are new to gymnastics and to this site would like to be informed. Isn't that the purpose of this website?
So in the future please do not assume.
It was only a simple question that requires a simple answer.

First of all, I thought your reply was a bit snippy and rude. The poster that was questioning your initial intent and asking if you are planning on moving gyms for your dgd, was probably basing it on your previous posts. Your very first posts talk about home gyms, saving money and investing for the 2020 Olympic trip for your now 5 YO dgd, and the benefits/disadvantages of going to an elite gym. And gymnastics is NEVER simple and there will never be a SIMPLE solution or plan.

When choosing a gym I would think you have to look at your current needs for the child at that time. There may be a time that the child "outgrows" the gym and needs to move, or their interests or motivation changes that causes yet another gym change. But you cannot predict that at age 5 in most cases. So, your simple question is not so simple and will not get a simple answer.

 

[Panda-girl's Mom]

I agree with MDmom it is not an easy answer, it could take a couple of years to find the right gym or to realize you are in the right gym for your daughter.

 

[bogwoppit]

GGRanny just to let you know the forum is not here just to answer peoples questions. It is a community where people share their situations and issues. If you don't like the responses that's fine, but you cannot dictate what people write. All the responses are from people with huge experience as gym parents, they say they need more info to help you, if you want their help, provide it.

Nobody is required to respond and nobody is paid to be here for anyone else's benefit. Gratitude is always rewarded.

 

[cher062]

Thank some of you for your informative replies.
NO DD is not moving gyms to the rest of you.
I had not seen this ques asked in this forum and was interested in how parents determine which gym to invest their money/time into. I also think others who are new to gymnastics and to this site would like to be informed. Isn't that the purpose of this website?
So in the future please do not assume.
It was only a simple question that requires a simple answer.

No one is trying to offend you here. As a matter of fact this question has been asked many times by parents who are considering moving. If you want to throw questions out there for general discussion that's fine we always love a good general discussion but let the rest of us in on that. Usually when someone asks a question like that it usually has something to do with them and their gymnast.

And as I said in my original response - that question isn't simple. There really aren't any general questions out there because alot will depend on the situation that promps the family to consider moving. If I'm looking for a more competitive team for my gymmie I wll ask different questions than if I'm looking for a cheaper program or a program with a better ratio for coaches to gymnasts or a better rec class program. The questions will depend on the situation.

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

I just wanted to add as well, that there have been many posts in the past about what kind of questions to ask if you were interested in switching gyms.

 

[gymjoy]

First, finding the best fit for any gymnast is not simple. There is no one program that fits all. There may be a few standard question, but more often the advice sought here is more nuanced.

Here are just a few threads discussing questions to ask when choosing a gym. It took me about 10 minutes.

Link Removed

Link Removed

Link Removed

Link Removed

Link Removed


Notice how all of the threads discuss an individual situation, prompting some general and some specific advice on looking at gym programs.
Sure, the threads are buried, but yours will be too in time. I'm not saying don't ask this question. It is a good and important question when it is asked in need, and I wouldn't want any future askers of this question to search, find this thread, and then not ask their question. Heck, if you come to the decision to ask this question as it applies to your GD, please, ask away.

 

[gymcoach34]

Poor ggranny- if she had been on this site longer, she would realize what a hot topic this is! LOL!

I wonder how involved in the decision making ggranny truly is? I have a good coaching friend who has a really talented young gymnast. Her grandmother is OVER THE TOP- coaches her, is always online researching gyms, drills, other gymnasts, etc, sits through every workout etc. Her daughter (the girls mother) is super grounded and WILL NOT let her mom take over her daughter. In fact, they now barely speak (which is sad) but the girls mother is calm and just wants her daughter to be happy in gymnastics. Just wanted to throw out that perspective- and say that
she probably means well - just is a little starry eyed right now.