Off Topic Introductions Thread (2025 Version)

[Momofmany]

I am a mom with two gymnasts . One started out in Xcel Silver at 12 and just completed her first year of Xcel Platinum at 14 . I also have a level 1 as well likely moving to 3 .

 

[NYGymfamily]

Hi! I'm a former gymnast and coach, and now a gym mom to a junior in high school competing in Xcel.

 

[Dahlialover]

I’m the mom of a 9-year-old MAG gymnast who has been doing gymnastics for 2 years. He is currently finishing up his level 5 season and training for level 6 elite.

I have a background as a circus performer and gymnast. I was involved in gymnastics and gymnastics-adjacent activities for almost 20 years. During the pandemic lockdown, I entertained my hyperactive boys by teaching them circus and gymnastics tricks. I never planned to be a gym-mom and I actually discouraged my kids from pursuing gymnastics in favor of cheaper and safer sports. However, one of my kids was clearly a natural gymnast and he begged me to take him to gymnastics. I finally gave in and took him to our local gym where he started competing just 2 months later.

When my son first started gymnastics, he was in a hurry to catch up with the other boys, so we had fun practicing gymnastics together at home. He’s now graduated “Mom’s School of Living Room Gymnastics” and I’m enjoying my current role as normal spectator-parent.

 

[Coach Kate]

I’m the mom of a 9-year-old MAG gymnast who has been doing gymnastics for 2 years. He is currently finishing up his level 5 season and training for level 6 elite.

I have a background as a circus performer and gymnast. I was involved in gymnastics and gymnastics-adjacent activities for almost 20 years. During the pandemic lockdown, I entertained my hyperactive boys by teaching them circus and gymnastics tricks. I never planned to be a gym-mom and I actually discouraged my kids from pursuing gymnastics in favor of cheaper and safer sports. However, one of my kids was clearly a natural gymnast and he begged me to take him to gymnastics. I finally gave in and took him to our local gym where he started competing just 2 months later.

When my son first started gymnastics, he was in a hurry to catch up with the other boys, so we had fun practicing gymnastics together at home. He’s now graduated “Mom’s School of Living Room Gymnastics” and I’m enjoying my current role as normal spectator-parent.

So fun that you did circus! I got recruited into a contortion training group as an adult and performed a little on a very small scale. It was challenging but so fun! I also did some hand balancing and tried my hand at silks.

 

[bookworm]

I am a talented gymnast known for my impressive skills and dedication to the sport. With years of training and hard work, I have made a name for myself in the gymnastics world, showcasing both strength and grace in my performances. My passion for gymnastics and commitment to excellence have earned my recognition, and I continue to inspire others with my athleticism and perseverance. I am a 4 time Individual Invitational gymnast and 10 time team Invitationals for gymnast team.

What is going on here? On another thread (started by this Deleted member) , this person was inquiring about the levels but the person is actually famous in the sport?! A troll?

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

What is going on here? On another thread (started by this Deleted member) , this person was inquiring about the levels but the person is actually famous in the sport?! A troll?

Not sure, but definitely not who she claimed to be.

 

[Gymgirlsmomma]

I am a mom of two gymnasts. I didn't know anything about gymnastics before joining this site, but have learned so much. My oldest just finished her first season as a level 2 and is excited to move to level 3 next season. My youngest is on preteam and still deciding whether gymnastics is her thing or not.

 

[GYM0M]

Hello all! I am a long-time member of Chalkbucket, but have not been an active poster for a few years. I came here as an excited, yet clueless mom of a talented little one and found community and guidance throughout the younger years of her journey. She’s in college now and loves gymnastics as much as she did when she was 5, but the sport exhausted me and I distanced myself from it as much as I could by eliminating it from parts of my life, like discussion boards. I do not share the love of the sport that you will find from most of the long-time members, but I come back from time to time to read posts from newbie moms in hopes that their eagerness will help me rekindle some of those early years feelings so that’s why I’m here today!!!! I’m digging the site upgrades @JBS. Forgive me if they are old news.

 

[Dahlialover]

Hello all! I am a long-time member of Chalkbucket, but have not been an active poster for a few years. I came here as an excited, yet clueless mom of a talented little one and found community and guidance throughout the younger years of her journey. She’s in college now and loves gymnastics as much as she did when she was 5, but the sport exhausted me and I distanced myself from it as much as I could by eliminating it from parts of my life, like discussion boards. I do not share the love of the sport that you will find from most of the long-time members, but I come back from time to time to read posts from newbie moms in hopes that their eagerness will help me rekindle some of those early years feelings so that’s why I’m here today!!!! I’m digging the site upgrades @JBS. Forgive me if they are old news.

It’s really nice, as a newer gym parent, to hear from experienced gym parents, especially parents who don’t necessarily cherish all their gymnastics experiences. Thanks for posting.

 

[FrozenMode]

I am a 13, almost 14 year old gymnast with a decade of experience but is still about level 2.

I am looking to progress though all levels of the DP/JO program before fall of 2028 so I could go to college. I know my battle will be impossible, but I am going to do my absolute best to make my dreams come true, no matter how crazy I sound.

 

[gb070914]

My daughter is a L5 training L7 gymnast. She fell in love with this sport when she was 4. When she was 5 she told us her goal was to be a collegiate gymnast. She has been working towards that goal ever since. Her drive, focus and work ethic amazes me.

 

[littlegirlsdream]

Hello,
I’m a parent of a former gymnast (2008-2017) and a current gymnast (20015 to currently) I have belong to chalk bucket for a very long time now and I love the discussions and information here!

 

[Pointyourtoes]

Hi everyone!

Former JO gymnast, did level 5-8 in the early 2000’s (yes I started on level 5, wild way to start and I’ll tell that story one day).

Now I coach, mostly XCEL with some optionals experience. Never coached compulsory, only recently started coaching rec and I feel SO LOST, it’s definitely not my forte.


My goal growing up was always to just make level 10, elite would be great, Olympics of course, but it’s always bugged me that I never stayed long enough to “see it all the way through”. Life at the time was difficult, I have compassion for myself for that period of time, but my goal now with NAIGC being a thing, I would love to train myself back up and hit level 9 by the time I’m 40 (I’m 34 right now).

My background has some developmental psychology influence and it really guides the way I coach. I would love to see mental health therapy and sports come together one day. They have art therapy, and dance therapy… why not sports therapy? Maybe one day!

My goal here is to grow, learn, network and provide something positive in any form I can. My inbox is always open and I welcome everyone!

Cheers and all the best,
Coach Hailee
(Coach HaiHai the Chicken according to my level 2’s )

 

[notmyrealname]

Hello! Mom of 6. Kid #4 does competitive gymnastics, she's 6 and just finished her first year of xcel silver. Like every kid, she dreams of being just like the greats. Simone Biles, Katelyn Ohashi, and Suni Lee are a few of her favorites. I'm enjoying learning all kinds of new things though . Like how xcel and JO are different, and picking your wedgie instead of saluting at the end of your floor routine is a deduction? Oh and your leotard is $400 and you're only going to wear it 5 times? Besides gymnastics, my family is really into soccer. I do wish I had found the site sooner as I've already found such helpful topics and information that I definitely could have used when we started last year.

 

[traininghard]

Hi! XG gymnast here. I just finished up my second competitive season (at the ripe age of 17 at that), but have been doing gymnastics since I could walk. I spent more time dancing (ballet, contemporary, Irish dance, a smidge of tap) than in the gym until I joined my gym's Xcel team. Since then, I don't really have time for a regular dance class, but still take drop-in classes when I have a chance. Outside the gym, I'm a musician (I play the piano and the pipe organ), a student at my local community college (go, concurrent enrollment programs!), and an all around nerd.
I've been lurking around here for a while, but haven't really posted yet. i just wanted to say, thank you all so much for all your tips and tricks! Every time I log on, I find something useful/helpful. Thank you!

 

[fairylightsandroses]

Hi there, My 7yo is in developmental now and about to start pre-team. I've started coming to this site to understand the basics -- i.e. what xcel is, what developmental and pre-team, means, what's safe for her to do outside the gym and what's not, etc. I really appreciate everyone's perspective! It's so nice to see this supportive online community.

 

[RaisingSweetPeas]

Hi. I’m a parent of a 9 year old gymnast finishing up her first year competing with her NGA club. Here to learn as the gymnastics world is completely new to our family.

 

[SMRC]

Hello everyone! I’m mom to 2 young gymnasts who are just starting out in the levels before preteam (Xcel program). I’ve always loved the sport but never did it myself. I’m so glad to have found this community so that I can learn and support them.

 

[NYCMom]

Hi all! I am the mom of a 9 year old training L6. I knew nothing about gymnastics and signed my daughter up for a rec class in 2021 thinking she’d have fun because she loved the monkey bars - 2 weeks later I received a call from the team coach recommending that she try out for pre-team. 4 years later, she’s getting ready for her first year of optionals! I’m learning so much from the experienced parents and coaches on this board as we navigate this journey. We live in NYC and she’s our only child. Very thankful for this community!

 

[Beautifuldelusions]

Hi all! Im an ex competitive gymnast (level 9 JO before switching to USAIGC where I competed gold and platinum) and ex coach from prek up to team. Now im a mom of 2 in gymnastics a 6 year old boy who ive been told could look for a competitive program as his gym doesn't have one and a 4 year old girl who has been pulled from the prek program for preteam. My 6 year old just loves it and likely won't compete as he has other sports he prefers and is likely to be quite tall.
My daughter though has thrown me for a loop as I hadn't even planned to put her in the sport but gave in with the 2 of them because they were flipping in dangerous situations at home. Now its all she wants to do. Even at home shes constantly begging me to do gymnastics using one of those fort building couches as a mat. She has a 1 handed cartwheel and can do her cartwheel left and right, a decent handstand, forward and backward roll working on extension rolls. She is completely unafraid of the beam, but struggles with hurdling for vault (given her age its definitely a hard concept id expect) and is a bit scared of the bars. Its very strange being in the sport from the parents side of things but her coach is amazing with her.
Right now we are just fostering her love for the sport and having fun. I dont even know if the pre team shes joining feeds the xcel or JO program as the gym has both but they are separate. Im trying to avoid putting any pressure on her due to my own love of the sport.
I joined here just to try and navigate this as a parent as everything has changed so much since I competed. Very grateful to have found a place with others involved in the sport!