Hi everyone! This is my first post and I'm looking forward to learning from you.
My DD just turned 8 and loves gymnastics. I put her in once a week rec classes when she was 5 because after she begged me to (and because she started doing cartwheels and roundoffs in ballet instead of tendus). She joined the AAU competitive silver team the following year with 4 hours of practice a week and is now competing USAG Excel Gold (with 12-15 hours of practice per week).
Here's my dilemma. One of the assistant coaches pulled me aside last year to tell me that she could see my DD going really go far because of her early skills, body type/muscles, and power. I didn't think much of it because she was only 6. Now that she is 8, I'm seeing the talent, but she has TERRIBLE form - bent legs, toes unpointed, arms bent on bars, hops on landings, etc. She scores in the 7s or low 8s on bars and low to mid 8's in everything else. Even though our gym has a USAG program, it's not hardcore and the focus is more on recreation/fun. I've been watching the practices lately and noticed that they hardly ever correct form. I'm now looking to move my DD to a better gym. I had her evaluated at a gym that does well in our city but they told me that it's too late for her to go the USAG track with them because she lacks the form/conditioning and would have to relearn some of her skills. They also said most of their USAG girls started at 3 or 4 years old. They offered to have her try out for their AAU team (not as hardcore, and just 6 hours of practice a week). I feel that "now" is the right time to get her the right form/technique but I can't figure out how to do that if her current gym doesn't focus on it.
Has anyone else had to trade off the opportunity to do USAG for better coaching on an AAU team at a better gym? Should I just keep looking for other gyms or give up the chance for her to do USAG (and possible college scholarships if this ends up really being her passion)? I didn't realize gyms were so selective at this age! Any advice you can share would be appreciated.
My DD just turned 8 and loves gymnastics. I put her in once a week rec classes when she was 5 because after she begged me to (and because she started doing cartwheels and roundoffs in ballet instead of tendus). She joined the AAU competitive silver team the following year with 4 hours of practice a week and is now competing USAG Excel Gold (with 12-15 hours of practice per week).
Here's my dilemma. One of the assistant coaches pulled me aside last year to tell me that she could see my DD going really go far because of her early skills, body type/muscles, and power. I didn't think much of it because she was only 6. Now that she is 8, I'm seeing the talent, but she has TERRIBLE form - bent legs, toes unpointed, arms bent on bars, hops on landings, etc. She scores in the 7s or low 8s on bars and low to mid 8's in everything else. Even though our gym has a USAG program, it's not hardcore and the focus is more on recreation/fun. I've been watching the practices lately and noticed that they hardly ever correct form. I'm now looking to move my DD to a better gym. I had her evaluated at a gym that does well in our city but they told me that it's too late for her to go the USAG track with them because she lacks the form/conditioning and would have to relearn some of her skills. They also said most of their USAG girls started at 3 or 4 years old. They offered to have her try out for their AAU team (not as hardcore, and just 6 hours of practice a week). I feel that "now" is the right time to get her the right form/technique but I can't figure out how to do that if her current gym doesn't focus on it.
Has anyone else had to trade off the opportunity to do USAG for better coaching on an AAU team at a better gym? Should I just keep looking for other gyms or give up the chance for her to do USAG (and possible college scholarships if this ends up really being her passion)? I didn't realize gyms were so selective at this age! Any advice you can share would be appreciated.