Parents Gateway skills for DP Compulsory Levels?

[InMyGymMomEra]

My gymmie is 6yo and SO excited to be joining the DP team this year! The coach had her try out for L2, but ultimately placed her in L1 so she can work on her form and shapes. That’s totally fine with us — she is just over the moon to have graduated from rec.

Since L1-3 are not required levels, the coach said that depending on her progress, she could move up to either L2 or L3 next year. I’ll be happy with wherever they place her, and trust the coach’s judgement, but of course having heard this my very driven daughter has set the goal of L3.

From reading the requirements & watching the compulsory routines on YouTube she and I have a general sense of the skills competed at each compulsory level. However, I’m wondering whether there are a couple of gateway skills that sort of “unlock” each level from
L1-5? For example she needed a pullover for L1, and I’ve heard folks on CB talk about kips for L4.

Are there any skills like that (on any of the 4 events) she could set as a goal to “unlock” L3 for next year?

Thank you!!

 

[AlexandraU16]

Level 3 the big step up is a round off back handspring. It is also the first time they compete a front handspring vault (although over a mat stack not the table) but I feel like for most level 2s the big focus is that round off back handspring. A front hip circle on bars is also required as well as a squat on. Front hip circles take some kids a while to master. Handstands on beam are a good thing to be working on too.
Hope this helps!

 

[Dahlialover]

Different kids have different skills that are barriers. I was all prepared for my son to struggle to get his kip and he had it in a week! You just don’t know until you are there.

I’ve asked this very question myself and I want to warn you that there are benefits to being blissfully ignorant. Gymnastics is mostly a mental game and, as parents, we have a lot of influence on how that develops. You can undermine a child’s gymnastics progress and enjoyment by being too invested in their progress towards certain skills or benchmarks. Just asking a kid how they did today on a challenging skill can feel like pressure to the kids and that pressure can lead to struggles with confidence and motivation.

It’s better to ask things like: “Did you have fun with your friends today?”, “What was your favorite event today?”, and then move along to other topics. Less is more.
Good Luck!