Parents I think I need a little help understanding it all......

[LJL07]

I think @sce gave you a good succinct response. I tried to answer you in that other thread.

Yes, those skills are definitely above average and being able to do them is suggestive of raw talent. But, I will tell you right now that our gym did not care that DD was doing ROBHS at age 5 and stuck her right on the level 1 team to work on getting tight, details, form etc. There were zero BHS all year last year. That being said, I think we wasted a year at that other place. Although form-wise and for the area we live in, level 1 might have been appropriate for her, that gym did not work on fundamentals--handstands, drills, etc. Just the level 1 routines over and over and over. We switched gyms, and they do conditioning, drills, basics. Do look for a gym that is doing that stuff. Drilling lower level compulsory routines is kind of a waste of time. Since switching gyms, DD looks like a different child now. But they do not work on ROBHS, and they certainly don't even look at her back tucks. I'm not sure that's the best approach because she will just keep doing them wrong. She also has a muscled up kip, and they won't look at that either. I think it's silly not to work with her on the kip or at least kip drills and spend so much time on mill circles, but what the heck do I know? I'm not a gym coach.

But you are saying they have her on level 3. If they have her on level 3, I think that is more than adequate for a 6 year old. They can't even compete level 4 till age 7, and the poster above who said the ROBHS is a critical skill is right.

Yup, having fun is most critical at this age. You don't want her to burn out.

I do think a good gym foundation is important though. If you don't think she is getting good coaching, I think you should do some research. The coaching does make a difference now and in the future.

As far as the tumbling at home, you will get lots and lots of negative feedback. I sympathize. I have a compulsive tumbler too. I definitely don't coach her, but I know she does all kinds of crazy stunts at open gym and probably at recess. It is very hard to have eyes and ears everywhere, but you can discourage it.

Good luck to you! This board has been both a blessing and a curse for me, and DD is really just at the beginning of her "gymnastics journey."

 

[z2akids]

Many of us have taken the USAG safety course and are safety-certified. While it is a pleasant course, a person can call 911 just as easily from home as from the gym.

Yikes.

Definitely phones work the same at home or at the gym. But, coaching at home is going to lead to so many more calls than properly coached skills with appropriate equipment and safety precautions.

Between school and gym, these kids need time to just be kids rather than mom or dad trying to rush new skills at home.

Honestly, my main goal for my DD is that she stays safe while she learns and enjoys her sport. I can't imagine having the expectation that she may as well throw skills at home because I can call 911.

 

[Alyssa S.]

 

[Alyssa S.]

Alyssa -

Just so I completely understand, you are a parent, a former gymnast, and a judge and you are advocating someone coach their child at home? Must be different up there in the cold north.

As @dunno would say, YIKES!!

I sincerely appreciate your desire to understand my perspective. In fairness, I don't think that is precisely what I advocated. Instead, I proposed, "If you are coaching effectively and your coaching is optimal for your situation, then you know what to do. Take responsibility..."


Also, you and I might be defining "coach" differently.

 

[gracyomalley]

Your DD sounds wonderful - and enthusiastic. It sounds like she's a gifted tumbler. Perhaps her form is above average for age, although its very hard to compare - in our region 6 year old never score that high at L3, but our scores in general are lower than many regions, and my DD didn't compete that level (started at old L5/new L4). Here a 6 year old can win state with mid 8s....at L3 (many gyms skip L3 here as well...)

I have 3 kids doing gym. I was a dancer/swimmer...I can not coach gymnastics, but I am also an obsessive researcher in all areas of life, and have learned a great deal about this sport as my kids have progressed into optional levels over 4+ years of competing and several of rec/developmental gym prior to that. In the beginning I encouraged them to try new things, either at home/friends trampolines, or open gym. DD was doing BHS at home at age 5, as was youngest DS. Both had to be re-taught at gym, by proper coaches. DS younger has gotten more fearful with time, but when young would do whatever his older brother was trying - doubles in the pit, etc....but boy oh boy did they look "different" than his brothers proper ones! There were certain areas that DD first gym was very good at working progressions slowly and carefully - in those areas she excelled into L8. The bars coaching stunk. DD hit many hangups as she headed into higher levels due to not having proper progressions at lower ones. DD is gifted with strength and natural form - but is not a super quick skill learner, is VERY short, and has vestibular issues. She has a friend a year older who learns skills quickly, but has been unable to get out of L7 or even score in the top half of the field over 2+ years of competing it because her form is still not good. Not sure if a different, slower progression/stricter coaching would have helped this girl, or if the fact that she still loves gymnastics is really all that matters - but as a family friend I wish for her that someone had corrected her form earlier - I can't imagine its much fun to NEVER score well/get a medal...and hard for adolescents to feel good about themselves with that kind of situation.

All this is to say that:
1. It really is a marathon. What a child does/can do at age 6 is only very slightly relevant to what they can/will do at age 12 - which is only slightly relevant to what they will/can do at age 16...there are necessary factors, like interest, parental money, coaching, physical health, etc...but other than that, it really is hard to say - the most talented natural gymnast DD has ever trained with quit at age 7/ old L5 despite being able to tumble like a L7 at the time - she didn't like the competition and hard work. She can still practically do most of what my DD can do when they mess around at open gym - her form of course isn't like DDs - but I would bet she could still walk in, train hard for a couple months and score out of L4-5. She has no interest in doing such. But she was just like your DD at 6. That doesn't mean the same will happen to your DD - but it does mean you'll go crazy if you try to control it all now!!! So focus on providing your DD with safe opportunities to learn gymnastics in a gym with good coaches, and try to leave it there. If she really wants it and has the talent/luck etc you will have done your part to make her dreams (when she's actually old enough to understand them) come true!

2. There are safety issues to consider - ones I, as a pediatrician, wasn't even aware of until being around the gym community for years. Certain skills are not properly taught until certain ages due to growth factors, ratio of strength to weight/head size, etc, and ligamentous development. Certain skills must be done certain ways at the beginning because otherwise when 2 twists and a different landing are added later the kid will break something if they have learned them slightly wrong. Some form issues kids will grow out of with time, and some absolutely need correction - and its very hard to know all these issues unless you are an experienced coach. I now listen intently when coaches either in person or on this board explain the reasons behind the JO progressions....they make sense medically/developmentally, and I've seen kids "suffer" either physically or emotionally from mistakes being made in early training.

3. At the lower levels, and younger ages, it really needs to be about having fun, learning to work hard, follow coaches instructions, be a good team member, not giving up on the little details, etc - just like every other sport/kid activity. This doesn't mean that your DD should not be ever "allowed" to move faster than some others, train harder skills, etc - some kids simply are more talented than others, and that's great! But if the kid is having fun, learning the above, and if you trust the coaches overall approach (for this you need to really look at the team as a whole - how many upper level/older kids are there, do they do reasonably well at meets, seem happy, serve as good role models, etc. or do kids tend to leave for other gyms at a certain level, or quit, among other things) then the best thing we can do as parents is simply support. It is good to have some degree of open communication with coaches, and simply talking to them about the situation, with the attitude that they probably have good reasons for having your DD working lower skills than she plays with at home, may put your mind at ease. It certainly helped me - and a year later when DD was again doing ROBHSBHS I could truely see the big difference!

4. Keep an open mind - these forums can be very helpful!

 

[Deleted member D3987]

kimkuzma2 -

Please take the following in the spirit intended; I have been associated with this sport for almost 14 years. My daughter started at the lowest level and is now a level 10. The following come from many years of watching gymnasts and parents come and go.

First and foremost, take a deep breath. Second, stop "coaching" at home and letting her "learn" new skills. She will only have to re-learn them properly at the gym under a trained and certified gymnastics coach.

Backyard trampolines, trampoline parks, and anything of that ilk are not for the learning of serious gymnastics skills. In fact, these things can only cause more problems (injury, poor form, etc) than any good they do. I can almost guarantee that any skill "learned" at home is not with the proper form required for JO compulsory gymnastics. These supposed "learned" skills will just have to be un-learned and practiced correctly when it is time for them at the appropriate level in the gym.

You need to understand the USAG JO program - the lower levels do not learn big skills; they focus on the building blocks, strength, and form. If that isn't for your daughter (or you), then the USAG JO program may not be for you.

Lastly, you need to understand that your daughter is 6 and that there are many years to come if she stays in this sport. Please don't take this the wrong way, but you need to learn to relax and not push her to do skills that it is not time for. You need to trust her coaches.

Good Luck.

learning sequential gymnastics= success later

doing it the way she is doing it= hot mess later

 

[Deleted member D3987]

And despite how "basic" it seems, the ROBHS has to be excellent to get the rest of tumbling going. Level 10's, who have been to nationals, in DD's gym still do drills for RO and BHS.

LIKE 500 times

 

[skschlag]

I sincerely appreciate your desire to understand my perspective. In fairness, I don't think that is precisely what I advocated. Instead, I proposed, "If you are coaching effectively and your coaching is optimal for your situation, then you know what to do. Take responsibility..."


Also, you and I might be defining "coach" differently.

IT is hard, because I know lots of coaches have kids. Those that I know do not coach their kiddos at home. They keep it separate. But at home, kids need to be kids. Playing games, hanging with friends, away from the stress of the gym. I know when DS was younger, it wasn't as big a deal, but now that he is in optionals, he definitely needs his break and a safe zone at home.

Now, I do encourage him to do his conditioning from his coach. I will even do it with him (not nearly as much or as good ) Even if he asks me to watch something, I do not critique, or give advice. I am there for the moral support, the coach is there to coach.

I have seen kids doing lots of questionable things at home. One of D's former teammates had a set of rings in his entryway, over the tile. YOu can buy all kinds of equipment for home, which seems to encourage coaching at home. But the truth is, the coach knows what the progression is, why they are working something, and where to go next.

 

[MeetDirector]

Also, you and I might be defining "coach" differently.

I think we would define many things differently ...

Again, YIKES! (to quote @dunno)

 

[Alyssa S.]

Yikes.

Definitely phones work the same at home or at the gym. But, coaching at home is going to lead to so many more calls than properly coached skills with appropriate equipment and safety precautions.

Between school and gym, these kids need time to just be kids rather than mom or dad trying to rush new skills at home.

Honestly, my main goal for my DD is that she stays safe while she learns and enjoys her sport. I can't imagine having the expectation that she may as well throw skills at home because I can call 911.

How can anyone possibly know that banning gymnastics from the home will result in safer alternates?

Many kids "play" relatively safely by tumbling, jumping, etc. I propose that every situation and every person is so different and unique that there are few adequate short cuts (e.g., black-and-white "rules") to learning and developing good judgment.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

uh oh...

 

[Iwannabemargo]

I must say that I am continually amazed at the number of people posting about how hard it is to stop their children doing gym at home, maybe I'm just odd, awkward, old-fashioned, I just tell them they are not allowed to do more than cartwheels and handstands, end of conversation - I am, after all, the parent.

 

[Alyssa S.]

uh oh...

"Uh oh" means what?

 

[cbifoja]

It's kind of like art.....everyone interprets it differently. LOL

 

[bogwoppit]

"Uh oh" means what?

I fixed your flag, You are definitely not Canadian.

I think we all know what Uh Oh means.

 

[Alyssa S.]

I think we would define many things differently ...

Again, YIKES! (to quote @dunno)

Indeed. After substantial effort at understanding, you might find that we do not disagree at all.

 

[Alyssa S.]

I fixed your flag, You are definitely not Canadian.

I think we all know what Uh Oh means.

Test your theory? Does everyone know what you mean every time you say, "uh oh"? Without knowing more, it conveys (to the parents sitting in this waiting room with me) a superficial disagreement or disapproval without adding any value except perhaps to self satisfaction? Is that what you intended?

 

[bogwoppit]

Test your theory? Does everyone know what you mean every time you say, "uh oh"? Without knowing more, it conveys (to the parents sitting in this waiting room with me) a superficial disagreement or disapproval without adding any value except perhaps to self satisfaction? Is that what you intended?

What? Is this a pop quiz where people have to answer your questions?

 

[Alyssa S.]

It's kind of like art.....everyone interprets it differently. LOL

Stronger people are able to suspend their agreement/disagreement and approval/disapproval in favor of understanding, which is almost always more valuable albeit often uncomfortable.

Some people have learned not to nurture jealousy, prejudice, and pride.

 

[Alyssa S.]

What? Is this a pop quiz where people have to answer your questions?

Is this an ego-driven forum where people have to agree with you?