Parents How to ask and what to ask her coach.

[Josette]

Hi everyone,

My little gymnast is competing this year in xcel, silver level (she is 7 yrs. old). . She has big dreams which I understand at some point she'll need to enter the developmental track. I'm totally new to this so need to be schooled. She has big stage dreams, and being a collegiate gymnast as well.

When and how (what questions to ask) do I speak to her coach about these dreams without seeming to jump the gun so to speak. Is it crazy to backwards plan the next 10 years of her life/training when she hasn't even completed one year of competition yet?

She is totally locked in, loves training, loves watching competition, etc etc.

Thanks for the thoughts, ideas, guidance!

 

[Coach Kate]

I would initiate that now. Does your gym use Xcel in place of compulsories? Is there an opportunity to transition to developmental? Do they think your daughter would be a good fit for your gym's development program? Why/why not?

If your gym does not use Xcel in place of compulsories and they tell you they don't think your child is a good fit for their development program, you could pursue an evaluation at another gym after this season if you want another opinion.

 

[Josette]

Thanks for the reply!

Yes they use Xcel in place of compulsory. I was worried they didn't support developmental track but with a quick chat I learned they do! In your opinion is that approach acceptable for an elite hopeful?

So, I understand at some point she would transition from Xcel to developmental. I don't want it to be a late transition putting her "behind."

It sounds like I have a legitimate ask by asking her coach to backwards plan with me now to college recruitment?

 

[Coach Kate]

Thanks for the reply!

Yes they use Xcel in place of compulsory. I was worried they didn't support developmental track but with a quick chat I learned they do! In your opinion is that approach acceptable for an elite hopeful?

So, I understand at some point she would transition from Xcel to developmental. I don't want it to be a late transition putting her "behind."

It sounds like I have a legitimate ask by asking her coach to backwards plan with me now to college recruitment?

I definitely think that approach is working for a lot of programs and athletes! In what I've seen, the gyms have a way they like to do this - maybe going through gold or possibly platinum, and then scoring out and going to level 6.

I think it's completely reasonable for you to ask something like

We're new to team and daughter is absolutely loving it. She wants to work hard and see how far she can go in the sport and has her eyes on college gymnastics one day. I know it's early and she's young, but I'm wondering what a typical progression looks like in this gym. Do most people do more than one year at each level? When might there be an opportunity to transition to the developmental program and what does that look like?

As a coach, I honestly preferred getting a heads up about this kind of thing in an email and then if you want to set up a time to talk, make sure you communicate that. It can end up being more than a 5 minute conversation and if I have another class to do or it's the end of a long coaching day and I wasn't expecting it, I would be more likely to rush through it.