Hello!
I've realised that I'm still not done with gymnastics, but I have no more time to waste as I inch ever closer to 30. It's really "now" or never. And I can't live with never.
To that end, I'm planning a move back to my home state of Texas. I'm looking for gym recommendations for optional level gymnastics. While I'm Level 8, I think I can still drop back to Level 7 (old level 7? did the optional levels change when they changed the levels?) if really necessary.
I realise most of the above y'all aren't necessarily going to know, and I do plan on getting in touch with the various team coaches/owners to get permission in advance, because I'm centring my job and apartment search on where the gym I would go to is located. So...I have to find a gym first. And I can't visit them in advance. The bolded bits above are probably the most important aspects of what I'm looking for in a gym.
I'm asking your advice/recs because there are just so many gyms in the DFW area that I don't really know where to start.
If anyone knows anything about any of the DFW gyms (what the coaches/philosophy are like, what the team trial is like, what practice schedules are like - anything), I would be very grateful for your insight.
Thank you so much!
- A little background: I started gymnastics in 1992 and have trained/competed consistently until 2008, Level 8. Competing has been non-existent since then, and training has been off and on (mostly off in the last couple years), as I moved to the UK to get married to a Brit.
I've realised that I'm still not done with gymnastics, but I have no more time to waste as I inch ever closer to 30. It's really "now" or never. And I can't live with never.
To that end, I'm planning a move back to my home state of Texas. I'm looking for gym recommendations for optional level gymnastics. While I'm Level 8, I think I can still drop back to Level 7 (old level 7? did the optional levels change when they changed the levels?) if really necessary.
- What I'm looking for in a gym: Positive (non-abusive) coaches (I survived the whole coaches yelling angrily and scarily at you thing as a child and I'm not willing to endure it these days or witness it against other children), team training schedules that have practices after 5 and/or on Saturdays (or coaches/owners who might be willing to work with me), gyms that have insurance for over 18s, coaches/owners who'd be willing to allow having a nearly 30 year old train with their kids (I can compete as an independent if necessary).
I realise most of the above y'all aren't necessarily going to know, and I do plan on getting in touch with the various team coaches/owners to get permission in advance, because I'm centring my job and apartment search on where the gym I would go to is located. So...I have to find a gym first. And I can't visit them in advance. The bolded bits above are probably the most important aspects of what I'm looking for in a gym.
I'm asking your advice/recs because there are just so many gyms in the DFW area that I don't really know where to start.
If anyone knows anything about any of the DFW gyms (what the coaches/philosophy are like, what the team trial is like, what practice schedules are like - anything), I would be very grateful for your insight.
Thank you so much!