I am here for therapy

[NotAMom]

A little late jumping in... Let me start off by saying Welcome!

This possessiveness on the part of coaching is not unique to gymnastics, but this sport does tend to push its athletes more at a much younger age. Even though joining a competitive team is a commitment, you still need to do what you feel is right for your situation. Whether to take the 3 days off or not should solely be between you and your gymmie. The gym should have no say in it, no matter how obsessive you think the coaching staff is.

As your daughter progresses through the levels, the balancing act will become progressively more difficult. Given that and her current age, it's more of a reason to just liberally take all the breaks you need and it's a perfect time to expose her to as much things as possible. Maybe she will remain a gymnast for the long run or maybe she won't. There is no way in telling. There is no point in putting all eggs in one basket at this time.

 

[MarR99]

Well, I managed to make somewhat of a compromise. I drove up two hours round trip on Tuesday this week so DD could be back for her Tuesday night and Wednesday practices then drove another two hours on Wednesday night so DD could return to camp and then picked her up early this morning to make today's practice. I told her HC, "She here on time!" Her HC said, "Should I clap for you?" I said, "After driving two hours? YES!"

 

[MaryA]

HC is a SA (that would be a "Smart... butt")

I am clapping for you!

 

[Optionals United]

MarR99 I give you a standing ovation for driving that much. That is a lot of work to be back for all those practices. I bet your dd is having a great time at camp! I am also suprised that your church camp let you pick her up and leave all those times!

 

[MarR99]

Overall, I think we were able to reach a compromise. I think that it was the hardest on me, really, with all the driving. I have always been one to try to work together with our HC but anytime I ask for time off she is so defensive. I really have my daughter's best interest at heart. I really appreciate our HC and all she does for the girls and I take her training schedule very seriously. We barely ever miss a practice. I would think she would realize that we are on her "team". I guess some of the other parents at the gym just take off without discussing it with her though.

As for leaving and returning to the camp, we did not really have any problems whatsover doing that. I guess since we paid for the whole week it was up to us to determine how much time we wanted to miss. It all worked out. I am really tired from all of the driving though!

 

[bribri514]

My gym is in one of the major ski resort towns. ALL winter we have people showing up from around the country to train, it's kind of crazy. A few years ago a parent brought their daughter in who was a level 3 and wanted to practice with the team. Our state doesn't even have level 3 ha ha.

Parents and coaches drive me crazy about missing time in the gym. OMG..we all have busy lives, jobs, other children, church and my I dare say it our own activties we would like to do. If a child misses a few practices or even a week or two WHO CARES!!! It's life, your child's life and you are in charge not a coach. Let's face it 99% of our kids are not going to the Olympics or even high level gymnastics. Just enjoy it for what it is and what they learn from the sport during this time in their lives.

These parents who go on a vacation and then find a gym near where they are vacationing are nuts (especially for level 4 & 5). Enjoy your vacation.

I don't want mine to fall behind, but they really don't. Mine missed two months to an injury and within two weeks was caught back to the rest of the girls.

Just enjoy the ride you are on with your childs gymanstics, but enjoy all the others parts of your life as well. Keep in mind it's your child's sport.

 

[NotAMom]

bribri, the ski training part is a bit different. It's still a bit nuts if they travel mainly for vacation and the kids are spending the whole time training (but most good clubs don't because free skiing is just as big a part in their programs). OTOH, it's understandable for many because they just want to take advantage of the terrain that they can't have otherwise.

Back to gymnastics... L3! *roll eyes* That's really crazy. What are they afraid of losing? Their forward rolls?

 

[bribri514]

bribri, the ski training part is a bit different. It's still a bit nuts if they travel mainly for vacation and the kids are spending the whole time training (but most good clubs don't because free skiing is just as big a part in their programs). OTOH, it's understandable for many because they just want to take advantage of the terrain that they can't have otherwise.

Back to gymnastics... L3! *roll eyes* That's really crazy. What are they afraid of losing? Their forward rolls?

Oops guess I wasn't very clear. I mean people on ski vacation from all over the country come to our gym for gymnastics. We have an open policy for tourists (our gym is part of the town's rec district). Every so often it was okay, but after awhile it just gets frustrating during meet season.

 

[gymnastbeth]

Back to gymnastics... L3! *roll eyes* That's really crazy. What are they afraid of losing? Their forward rolls?

Hahaha, well said.

 

[coachmolly]

I'm just now reading through this thread and I really think you made the best decision for your daughter.
As a gymnast, I would have lived in the gym if I could so I gladly missed school activities and the like to be at the gym instead. If I did miss, it was often to do something relating to gymnastics- traveling to watch an elite or NCAA meet, camps, that kind of thing. I wouldn't change anything about my experience, but every child is different and I had plenty of teammates who would have quit much sooner if they had not been able to miss practice for dances, camps, and non-gym related activities. I actually think it kind of benefitted those girls to some extent because when I had to leave gymnastics, I was totally lost and for those girls, they had a life outside of the gym they could turn to. So I really think balance can be a great thing.
And missing 3 practices is far from the end of the world. As a 13 year old level 7 I had major surgery, was in the hospital for 2 weeks, and not allowed to do any kind of running, jumping, or gymnastics for another 3 months. I got to go back to the gym in October or November and only missed the first meet which was in December. Three days, in the whole big scheme of things, is nothing.