- Feb 23, 2013
- 15
- 8
I had posted a while ago about some issues going on at my DD's gym. Other gyms would want her to start competing now as they start competing in lower levels at all the gyms near me. I'm dealing with some other family issues so the fact she isn't competing this year works well for us. Next year we are hopeful that we will be able to do more with both my kids competitive sports. I keep getting told what a great reputation the gym we go to has, but I'm starting to doubt a lot of things. I'm not sure what to do.
Anyway, I would love some input on this. My DD skipped from L2-L4 as did all the other kids in her developmental program. For some reason the kids in their Rec program did A LOT more tumbling last year and they came in this year with round off back handsprings and cartwheels on the beam, the developmental kids only did the L2 routines all year. My DD and her other Developmental program friends are working their butts off and they are making slow and steady progress. My DD is one of the closest to getting a kip after only working on it for 4 months. They are making it crazy competitive promising the girls that the first to get a kip will get 3 leos and a bunch of other gifts. My DD wants it so bad she can taste it and works on her kip at home to the point she is tearing her hands up, but continues through it on her bar at home.
Anyway, I get a frantic call from a mom I'm friends with. She makes me promise not to say anything to anyone, but her DD made TOPS and she was told that she needs to not tell the other parents. My DD did not make TOPS, and to be perfectly honest, while I think its a good program I can't commit an extra 3 days and I hear over $300 for a conditioning program. So one of the times TOPS kids do their TOPS thing is right before one of the team practice times. I get there about 5 minutes early and my DD sees some of her friends in the gym. I knew of course that they were there for TOPS but my 6 year old didn't. I told her to wait for the coach to call her in. Then one of her "gym besties" comes out for a water break between TOPS and practice and says to my DD "hey, where have you been?". My DD almost cried and thought I neglected to get her to the gym on time. After practice I asked my DD if the coaches told her group about TOPS or a conditioning programs some of her friends were chosen for. She said no. I explained. She of course felt like garbage. I tried the whole "you should work harder"... but then thought that is ridiculous because she does work very hard. I did tell her to work on her splits and strength a lot more. Well after a million questions from her I showed her on YouTube what they test in TOPS. She decided to make her own TOPS training at home. She did something, like held a handstand for quite some time and came running to me to call her coach and tell him so that she can do TOPS now. TOPS is not something I'm familiar with as most of my experience is Varsity gymnastics. My friend said that this is not any benefit to the kids that do it and no disadvantage to the kids that don't. I do not see how that is possible. In fact the TOPS kids are now further kicking the butts of the non TOPS kids in things like press handstands and handstand contests. It's discouraging my DD, who asks me why the coaches want to make the other kids stronger when she wants to be stronger too. I'm not sure what to say anymore. Is this even a big deal? Also is it typical for gyms to make it some deep dark secret that some kids make it and others don't? Shouldn't the coaches discuss this with the kids? Do they think it won't be found out? I think now she doesn't trust her coaches the same. Like a betrayal. She tells me that they scare her when they spot her and she feels like they are pushing her off the apparatus. Thoughts? Meanwhile the parent waiting room has gotten crazy... the our kids are great and made TOPS moms and the "other" moms. It's not pretty and some of these moms are thinking their 2 cents about the other kids is warranted, one MOM told me I should remove my kid from team. I'm not liking that at all. My DD wants this, she just doesn't know how to get there and I can't get 5 minutes of the coaches time to ask. They are pushing private classes very hard.
Anyway, I would love some input on this. My DD skipped from L2-L4 as did all the other kids in her developmental program. For some reason the kids in their Rec program did A LOT more tumbling last year and they came in this year with round off back handsprings and cartwheels on the beam, the developmental kids only did the L2 routines all year. My DD and her other Developmental program friends are working their butts off and they are making slow and steady progress. My DD is one of the closest to getting a kip after only working on it for 4 months. They are making it crazy competitive promising the girls that the first to get a kip will get 3 leos and a bunch of other gifts. My DD wants it so bad she can taste it and works on her kip at home to the point she is tearing her hands up, but continues through it on her bar at home.
Anyway, I get a frantic call from a mom I'm friends with. She makes me promise not to say anything to anyone, but her DD made TOPS and she was told that she needs to not tell the other parents. My DD did not make TOPS, and to be perfectly honest, while I think its a good program I can't commit an extra 3 days and I hear over $300 for a conditioning program. So one of the times TOPS kids do their TOPS thing is right before one of the team practice times. I get there about 5 minutes early and my DD sees some of her friends in the gym. I knew of course that they were there for TOPS but my 6 year old didn't. I told her to wait for the coach to call her in. Then one of her "gym besties" comes out for a water break between TOPS and practice and says to my DD "hey, where have you been?". My DD almost cried and thought I neglected to get her to the gym on time. After practice I asked my DD if the coaches told her group about TOPS or a conditioning programs some of her friends were chosen for. She said no. I explained. She of course felt like garbage. I tried the whole "you should work harder"... but then thought that is ridiculous because she does work very hard. I did tell her to work on her splits and strength a lot more. Well after a million questions from her I showed her on YouTube what they test in TOPS. She decided to make her own TOPS training at home. She did something, like held a handstand for quite some time and came running to me to call her coach and tell him so that she can do TOPS now. TOPS is not something I'm familiar with as most of my experience is Varsity gymnastics. My friend said that this is not any benefit to the kids that do it and no disadvantage to the kids that don't. I do not see how that is possible. In fact the TOPS kids are now further kicking the butts of the non TOPS kids in things like press handstands and handstand contests. It's discouraging my DD, who asks me why the coaches want to make the other kids stronger when she wants to be stronger too. I'm not sure what to say anymore. Is this even a big deal? Also is it typical for gyms to make it some deep dark secret that some kids make it and others don't? Shouldn't the coaches discuss this with the kids? Do they think it won't be found out? I think now she doesn't trust her coaches the same. Like a betrayal. She tells me that they scare her when they spot her and she feels like they are pushing her off the apparatus. Thoughts? Meanwhile the parent waiting room has gotten crazy... the our kids are great and made TOPS moms and the "other" moms. It's not pretty and some of these moms are thinking their 2 cents about the other kids is warranted, one MOM told me I should remove my kid from team. I'm not liking that at all. My DD wants this, she just doesn't know how to get there and I can't get 5 minutes of the coaches time to ask. They are pushing private classes very hard.