I never said it doesn’t happen. All I’m saying is if it’s to such a high degree that everyone’s making it out to be then there’d be way more children dropping out of the gyms program which they would notice and then reassess their problems. For gyms that don’t either are negligent and not aware of the drop out rate. You make it out to seem like it’s worse thing ever and happening all the time.
Worst thing ever? Nope. That would be childhood cancer, or the death of a child. But happens all the time, yep.
Coaches taking advantage and over training children? Offering privates when kids simply do not need them? Yes, I think lots of coaches would agree that this happens way too often.
Of course there are some incredible coaches out there, who nurture, and cherish, children's development and health. But at this point I am not prepared to believe that enough coaches, especially in the USA where there is no mandatory coach training, are completely able to be impartial when it comes to over training kids. It is so easy to be caught up in the "race to elite", dragging a kid and their family after you writing cheques like crazy people.
Drop out rates in competitive gymnastics are very high, the numbers of under 11's in the sport are massively higher than the 12+ crowd.
Gyms have cultures, you see them. Super high hours, weekly privates for team girls, "special" training groups for select girls, required in gym homeschooling programs. These are the places that are waving their red flag high. Trouble is they produce good results, so parents get sucked in with their very young children. Maybe 40 girls start at L3, but maybe 7 are left by L7. That is serious attrition through over work.
No, I am not imagining this. Like I said, after 10+ years here I have seen, and heard, the most crazy things happening in the name of "a talented child".