Parents Intentional placement at lower level?

[Bluebird777]

Hello! I have a daughter at a gym facility where she is very happy. However, I am concerned because she was placed in a level below others who don’t have the skills she has. Her coaches were surprised by this too. When I asked why (as in, “what skills does she need to work on?”), the owner of the gym said to me and to the coaches, “It is my decision.” Everyone else has been supportive and encouraging of my daughter’s aspirations, but the owner has instructed the coaches not to let her use her upper-level skills. It’s confusing to me when I see others in the upper-level unable to do what she can already do. I can’t figure out why she’s being held back, and it’s frustrating no responses are provided as to what she needs to work on. I want her to be in an encouraging environment, not one that discourages her. I am hesitant to change gyms because she is already comfortable and happy where she is with those around her, but I feel she is being blocked from progressing and I don’t know why. Is this a common issue at gyms? Maybe I just don’t understand.

 

[BusyMomof2]

what level and how old is she?

 

[Bluebird777]

what level and how old is she?

She is in level 2 but seems to be able to do level 3 skills. She just turned 9.

 

[Bluebird777]

Also I will add that she has no issues with coachability / following instructions.

 

[GymDadWA]

Lot of reasons why they would do this but it is unfortunate that they aren't communicating well.

The most likely is that while she can do upper level stuff she isn't doing it correctly and is beginning to ingrain improper form that will hold her back in the future. Things like bent arms during tumbling, arching on handstands, etc. That or she might not be doing her shapes correctly which will also hold her back and needs more fundamental development before proceeding forward.

Long term 2 or 3 really doesn't matter as both levels are not mandatory and being a competent 4 is really the important part. Nothing wrong with having a great season and developing skills slowly while winning ribbons.

 

[Bluebird777]

Thank you for the feedback! If you don’t mind me asking, do you think I should be worried about her being an “older” level 2? She has expressed a lot of love for the sport and has ambitions of making it to the college level. I was worried that her age would interfere with those plans and that a higher level placement would help her reach them. Again, I appreciate your feedback!

 

[raenndrops]

Her coaches were surprised by this too. When I asked why (as in, “what skills does she need to work on?”), the owner of the gym said to me and to the coaches, “It is my decision.” Everyone else has been supportive and encouraging of my daughter’s aspirations, but the owner has instructed the coaches not to let her use her upper-level skills.

There seems to be an issue with the owner.
I'm not one to jump to conclusions without evidence, but ... the parts in BOLD are red flags to me.

Is there any way you could get her evaluated at another gym ... just to see where they would place her? If they would also place her at Level 2, then stay where you are. If they would place her at Level 3 or higher, you and your daughter would have a decision to make.

Good luck.

 

[Bluebird777]

There seems to be an issue with the owner.
I'm not one to jump to conclusions without evidence, but ... the parts in BOLD are red flags to me.

Is there any way you could get her evaluated at another gym ... just to see where they would place her? If they would also place her at Level 2, then stay where you are. If they would place her at Level 3 or higher, you and your daughter would have a decision to make.

Good luck.

Thank you! We will take your advice and it is much appreciated!

 

[Bluebird777]

Thank you for the feedback! If you don’t mind me asking, do you think I should be worried about her being an “older” level 2? She has expressed a lot of love for the sport and has ambitions of making it to the college level. I was worried that her age would interfere with those plans and that a higher level placement would help her reach them. Again, I appreciate your feedback!

Sorry, I meant to post this as a reply to @GymDadWA

 

[GymDadWA]

do you think I should be worried about her being an “older” level 2? She has expressed a lot of love for the sport and has ambitions of making it to the college level. I was worried that her age would interfere with those plans and that a higher level placement would help her reach them.

I would not worry about the level. Very common to just skip 3 anyways as it is not a required level. What is most important is that she likes her coaches and teammates. Both levels are an introduction to competition, they help new gymnast understand and feel comfortable with meets and how gymnastics work.

 

[IreneKa]

Has she competed before or will this be her first year competing?
When my daughter first joined team she was place at L2 although she had most of her L3 skills. The reasoning was to give her experience competing easier skills and be successful. The rest of the girls in her groups competed L2 the year before, and even though they had fewer skills than my daughter they were all moved up to L3. I also thought this was unfair, but I could see their point.
The fact that the owner does not communicate with you clearly is worrisome and a red flag. Not necessarily something that requires immediate move, but something to keep an eye on.

 

[BusyMomof2]

Yeah - the gym owner thing is weird. In terms of college aspirations - don't even think about it now. In general, girls who go D1 need to be level 10 by freshman year but there are a ton of things that can happen between now and then. Let her enjoy the sport!

 

[Bluebird777]

I would not worry about the level. Very common to just skip 3 anyways as it is not a required level. What is most important is that she likes her coaches and teammates. Both levels are an introduction to competition, they help new gymnast understand and feel comfortable with meets and how gymnastics work.

Thank you, GymDadWA!

 

[Bluebird777]

Has she competed before or will this be her first year competing?
When my daughter first joined team she was place at L2 although she had most of her L3 skills. The reasoning was to give her experience competing easier skills and be successful. The rest of the girls in her groups competed L2 the year before, and even though they had fewer skills than my daughter they were all moved up to L3. I also thought this was unfair, but I could see their point.
The fact that the owner does not communicate with you clearly is worrisome and a red flag. Not necessarily something that requires immediate move, but something to keep an eye on.

Hi! Thank you for this info! She had not competed before so this will be her first year.

 

[Bluebird777]

Yeah - the gym owner thing is weird. In terms of college aspirations - don't even think about it now. In general, girls who go D1 need to be level 10 by freshman year but there are a ton of things that can happen between now and then. Let her enjoy the sport!

Thank you for sharing this perspective!

 

[34gymcoach]

I agree there cops have been better communication. However- using the words “red flag” is a little much.
The best training/progression is to have skills in one level above where you are competing. That way the gymnastics is always working in a forward progression.. if kids compete in a level where they just have the skills for that level-most likely they get stuck at the mid/upper levels.
It’s hard to Be patient- but what level is being competed should always be secondary to looking at good training and a long term plan.

Maybe ask what she can do in workout (not just skills) to improve.

 

[RALG]

Hello! I have a daughter at a gym facility where she is very happy. However, I am concerned because she was placed in a level below others who don’t have the skills she has. Her coaches were surprised by this too. When I asked why (as in, “what skills does she need to work on?”), the owner of the gym said to me and to the coaches, “It is my decision.” Everyone else has been supportive and encouraging of my daughter’s aspirations, but the owner has instructed the coaches not to let her use her upper-level skills. It’s confusing to me when I see others in the upper-level unable to do what she can already do. I can’t figure out why she’s being held back, and it’s frustrating no responses are provided as to what she needs to work on. I want her to be in an encouraging environment, not one that discourages her. I am hesitant to change gyms because she is already comfortable and happy where she is with those around her, but I feel she is being blocked from progressing and I don’t know why. Is this a common issue at gyms? Maybe I just don’t understand.

Could it be that even though she can do Algerian skills she does not have the proper form yet? Form is everything in the lower levels to set them up for future success. She may be able to do a skill but not “right” with good form yet?

 

[Tmacs]

My daughter did L2 at 8, had a straight arm kip by the beginning of L3 and she still did every... single... level...2-8 and is now L9. It felt slow and methodical - but the focus on form and basics has proved to be a huge contributor to being successful in upper levels. The skills come quickly now because all the building blocks were so established. All that to say- slow can be good, and form focus is key.

 

[Bluebird777]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. I did take my daughter to another gym, and the coaches there invited her to join the team for the higher level. We decided to switch gyms, and we are grateful for the opportunity. I thanked the gym owner of the place where we were originally and said nothing else. She didn’t ask me why we were leaving. I am still puzzled by the whole thing. There have been a lot of times when I felt excluded from groups but didn’t understand why, and it hurts. To see my child excluded, especially when she loves a sport and works so hard to excel in it (and seemingly has more skills than others who were accepted into the group excluding her), is very painful. I don’t understand the reasoning behind it, and I know that even though I want an answer, I won’t receive one. I am grateful my daughter is in a new gym where people believe in her and see in her what I do. At 8-9 years old, she was able to put words to her feelings of being underestimated and overlooked, and she was able to navigate through a difficult situation to resolve it. I think she’s learned you can’t change other people but you can change your circumstances, and choosing those who believe in you is important, even if it means changing situations you are used to and trying something new.



At the new gym:

• She feels like she’s being taken seriously now
• She feels challenged in a good way, because not only is she in the higher level but the gym itself trains its athletes harder
• She sees how she can become a better gymnast, rather than just being ignored when she asks or being told to only do the lower-level skills. Regardless of why the other gym kept her behind, the fact they did was defeating to her rather than encouraging.
• There are other signs of more inclusion at the new gym, not just that she was invited to the higher-level team, but they seem more welcoming socially as well.

So overall, we’re happy with the outcome and thank everyone for their advice!