Grades help

[Learning Parent GB]

DD competed at our local level 5 this year. She did well, but not quite well enough to move to level 4 and that was a fair reflection of her abilities at the end of the year. She has told me tonight that she will be doing a grade next year, but only if she can get everything 'perfect' - so presumably 14. I tried the BG website, but got lost in the high level stuff. Can anyone point me in the direction of what they have to do for this? (She's 9 already so out of age so we're not talking high level competition, but a nice challenge for her).

 

[Faith]

Google youtube videos. BG seem quite closed about publishing requirements, badges, grades, compulsories, there's no lists or documents I can find. I think it's all behind the coaches firewall.

But plenty of people do post videos of their kids competing, so you should find something. Grade 14 is very simple, so must be very clean and tidy. The R+C is probably the hardest part

 

[Learning Parent GB]

I should have done that first! I've had a look now and it is interesting. A lot of it does look very easy, and then there is the odd controlled strength move that looks tough to get looking perfect. She is working on her conditioning a lot so I'm sure she should get there. I'm going to have to watch several now up the next few grades too. Good bye Monday evening!

 

[Iwannabemargo]

I have sent you some info

 

[SXS524]

Agreed about finding grades info. I'm a coach and couldn't find anything on the BG website! I recently went on a coaching workshop (with Rochelle Douglas!!) at another club and asked if anyone knew how to get the rules. The club where the course was being held had a spare copy of the grades rules book so let me have it So if you have any questions let me know

 

[Flossyduck]

Do you know which grade she will do? If she competed level 5 recently then she may not do grade 14 but 13 instead. Also check out when your region holds it's grades, as quite a few are in March/April, but some are much later in the year and it'll give you an idea how long she has to prepare.

But yes second the comment about watching the routines on youtube, very informative!

 

[Learning Parent GB]

Now I've looked I'm wondering whether it might be 13 instead. Her coach is great and will tell me what she is thinking, but this is just the biggest gap with no gymnastics as we have school Christmas plays and choir concerts which we have had to give preference to. I'm just a want to know now kind of person! I think are region are early in the year, so we would have a floor and vault comp, grades, then level 5, then teams later in the year. It gives a nice spread of things to aim for over the course of the year I suppose.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

depends on her age I think, I thought 13 was a minimum of aged 9 ?

 

[Flossyduck]

It is minimum year you turn 9, but the op said her dd is already 9. She would be old enough to do grade 12 next year, but beware the free forward roll. I can't help thinking that must be one of the most difficult skills in the whole of gymnastics?!

Quite a few gyms seem to do either 14 or level 5 and then progress to 13 or level 4. It would seem slightly strange to go from having done level 5 to doing grade 14, so it's worth checking.

 

[Learning Parent GB]

She has just turned 9, so will be a competition age 10 next year. She didn't quite make the standard across the board (stupid beam!) to move to level 4 so is effectively repeating a year next year. We're not a big gym, but that actually works in our favour as she 'uptrains' in that she works at the next skill irrespective of what level it is. I'll let you know when I find out...

 

[Iwannabemargo]

Level 4 is not a low level, I would think if she is doing level 4 next year, from the comps I have seen that would be acro on beam (flicks), giants on bars, would she not be better doing Grade 8 if she is competing 10 ?

 

[rd7]

OP may be talking about county level 4 rather than full on regional 4.

In our county we rarely see giants at level 4, it's a one off 0.5 bonus. Lots of flics on beam yes but it is possible to compete without and many do as the CR is back walk over flic series.

We're not the most competive county in the country, you can probably tell

My guess would be grade 13.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

Bet you are more competitive than us - it was a real shock traveling out of county !

 

[Learning Parent GB]

Definitely only county level. She's repeating 5 next year. Level 4 here would be a nice walkover flic series, but no giants necessary. I asked DD and she said their level 4 girl who is brilliant at R&C type stuff will be doing level 12 - she thinks. So maybe 13 for her? I should stop waffling and just let you know when I find out!

 

[Learning Parent GB]

Tonight was the first night back at training after Christmas. It's like someone has turned the light back on and she is buzzing. She even managed a full spin on the high beam (which for her is a very big deal confidence wise). Anyway, the coach mentioned to just a couple of them that they will be doing grade 13, and has 'bribed' them with the offer of a new floor routine for the first person that can do their box splits fully, neatly and something else for however long. I like her style!
I think the club are generally sticking with levels, but this is an extra challenge for these girls to do that fall between our level 5 and our level 4 group. It also means she gets to work with both coaches and they have different styles that each get something different out of her, so it is all good