Parents Form in rec classes

[scb838]

My daughter is in rec classes. She gets skills quickly, but her form is not great. For example, legs apart during her pullover and back hip circle. The coaches don't seem to be correcting her although they do praise the rare times she remembers to keep her legs together and toes pointed.

My daughter says she wants to join the team, but will this hold her back from getting chosen? She already has all level 2 skills. Would they still take her to team and work on form then? Or are most coaches expecting the girls to already have good form from the beginning? She is 7 if age matters.

 

[JBS]

Just depends on the gym... good form wouldn't hurt her chances though.

 

[CluelessGymMom]

I would nicely ask the gym how their preteam and team programs work, or what your daughter should work on.

We had a similar situation with my daughter. She was in rec and very ahead of the other girls, but seemed stuck or forgotten in the class. I emailed the gym and asked a few questions. I don't know if it was coincidence or the email, but the team coaches saw her in practice the very next practice, pulled her aside, asked her to do a few things, then moved her up immediately. She is now a thriving team gymnast.

I highly recommend asking nicely how things work at your gym. Not only will you understand how they do things, it may also get your daughter on their radar as a kid who wants more. Good luck!!!

 

[cocoslc12]

My daughter is in rec classes. She gets skills quickly, but her form is not great. For example, legs apart during her pullover and back hip circle. The coaches don't seem to be correcting her although they do praise the rare times she remembers to keep her legs together and toes pointed.

My daughter says she wants to join the team, but will this hold her back from getting chosen? She already has all level 2 skills. Would they still take her to team and work on form then? Or are most coaches expecting the girls to already have good form from the beginning? She is 7 if age matters.

As a coach who selects rec kids for xcel team, I would take a gymnast with potential, even if their form is not great. Especially because I know form is not always emphasized in our rec program. So if a gymnast isn't being corrected on their form, I wouldn't expect them to have perfect form.
I also select gymnasts who are coachable, kids that want to learn and be corrected. Those are the kids that will go far in my opinion

 

[scb838]

I would nicely ask the gym how their preteam and team programs work, or what your daughter should work on.

We had a similar situation with my daughter. She was in rec and very ahead of the other girls, but seemed stuck or forgotten in the class. I emailed the gym and asked a few questions. I don't know if it was coincidence or the email, but the team coaches saw her in practice the very next practice, pulled her aside, asked her to do a few things, then moved her up immediately. She is now a thriving team gymnast.

I highly recommend asking nicely how things work at your gym. Not only will you understand how they do things, it may also get your daughter on their radar as a kid who wants more. Good luck!!!

I did ask before and they said they move up girls from the rec classes sometime in May. So we just have to be patient I guess.

 

[scb838]

As a coach who selects rec kids for xcel team, I would take a gymnast with potential, even if their form is not great. Especially because I know form is not always emphasized in our rec program. So if a gymnast isn't being corrected on their form, I wouldn't expect them to have perfect form.
I also select gymnasts who are coachable, kids that want to learn and be corrected. Those are the kids that will go far in my opinion

Thanks that is helpful. I think my daughter takes corrections well. It is just frustrating to me as a parent that the coach lets her continue with her sloppy form. She has a bit better form on floor because that gets corrected. But the coach is always spotting someone on bars so doesn't focus on the others. I guess we will see if that holds my daughter back or not.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Rec and team have very different goals.

In rec, we want them to have fun and stay busy and active. Actual gymnastics quality is a secondary goal. And some coaches are good at making form corrections while still keeping it fun and interesting, but that's kind of a bonus, not a central goal.

On team, form starts actually mattering, and becomes much more of a primary focus.

 

[cocoslc12]

Thanks that is helpful. I think my daughter takes corrections well. It is just frustrating to me as a parent that the coach lets her continue with her sloppy form. She has a bit better form on floor because that gets corrected. But the coach is always spotting someone on bars so doesn't focus on the others. I guess we will see if that holds my daughter back or not.

Yes this is common. I find floor coaches can walk around and make corrections more, where as bars there is typically a spotted station the coach stays at so its difficult to give corrections on side stations. Seasoned coaches can multitask, however most (not all) rec coaches tend to be younger, hence less experienced.