WAG Is college gymnastics just a dream?

[Happy mom]

My daughter will be a 13 year old USAG level 9 this year, and is entering 8th grade. Her dream is to pursue D 1 college gymnastics. I certainly don't want to bust her bubble, but for kids who may not reach level 10 until freshman or (even more likely), sophomore year of High School, but, is this even a possibility? Do all the teams recruit the young elites? Or do some coaches look at regular level 10s of high school age? BTW, I'm not necessarily talking scholarship, just being able to be on the team and compete would be fabulous.
I would love to hear from those of you who are familiar with the college gymnastics recruiting process.
Thanks!!

 

[gasrgoose]

To answer quickly yes. It is possible for a 13 year old level 9 to compete in college and even get a college scholarship. I'm not specifically speaking of your daughter but it does happen. Just because a coach is recruiting an 8th grade junior elite doesn't mean they won't consider a kid who doesn't make level 10 until 10th grade. The coaches simply want gymnasts that will win at the collegiate level. There are too many variables to list but anything is possible. Look at the competition record of some girls on college teams and you might be surprised when they made level 10 and repeated level 9, etc.

 

[Happy mom]

Thank you for the insight, gasrgoose.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

yes, it's certainly possible. don't listen to all that other crap that's out on the gymternet.

 

[htimcj]

My DD gym has had 3 of the last 4 Level 10 go on to D1 college and 2 of those didn't sign until their senior year and weren't level 10 until high school (9th grade) One has given a verbal commitment as a junior. And we are from a small gym is a small town in a small state

 

[Happy mom]

That's great to hear! We are also from a small gym, in a small, but competitive State.

 

[gymdog]

Very realistic goal for a 13 year old level 9, however keep other plans in mind like club gymnastics/NAIGC and what path of study she might want to follow.

 

[Happy mom]

What is NAIGC?

 

[Deleted member D3987]

national association independent gymnastics clubs. it's what is referred to as college club gymnastics.

 

[Aero]

@dunno | What is the difference between USAIGC and NAIGC, if any? Also, USAIGC is an alternative to USAG, right? It's another gymnastics body within the United States?

 

[Natasha]

We recently inquired at a D1 School regarding their process and we were told they do not start looking at girls until after Freshman year. This was not a top 20 school.

 

[Granny Smith]

No, college gymnastics is not just a dream, my dd is living proof. She did not do L10 until she was a Junior is HS (and she was basically out most of her comp season due to an injury), she just graduated HS and will be doing D1 gymnastics (not a top 20 gym program, but a Nationally known university, academic wise) in college, on scholarship too. She did compete L10 her Senior year and had a fabulous year, including making it to Nationals. I will say that what got her recruited is her bars. We have always been told that what gets you noticed & what most of the college coaches are looking for is bars and/or vault. So, if you dd has either or even both of these to offer, that will improve her chances of a scholarship. It will put her in a very good position for a walk on spot, for sure. When we went for an UV to the school that dd is now going to be attending, the coach told us he doesn't even want to look at girls until they have a driver's license - that should be very encouraging for the late bloomers of the gym world!

 

[Happy mom]

Granny Smith, that's wonderful to hear about your daughter!! Best of luck to her!!

 

[AlexsGymmyMom]

No, college gymnastics is not just a dream, my dd is living proof. She did not do L10 until she was a Junior is HS (and she was basically out most of her comp season due to an injury), she just graduated HS and will be doing D1 gymnastics (not a top 20 gym program, but a Nationally known university, academic wise) in college, on scholarship too. She did compete L10 her Senior year and had a fabulous year, including making it to Nationals. I will say that what got her recruited is her bars. We have always been told that what gets you noticed & what most of the college coaches are looking for is bars and/or vault. So, if you dd has either or even both of these to offer, that will improve her chances of a scholarship. It will put her in a very good position for a walk on spot, for sure. When we went for an UV to the school that dd is now going to be attending, the coach told us he doesn't even want to look at girls until they have a driver's license - that should be very encouraging for the late bloomers of the gym world!

Congrats Granny Smith!

 

[vagymmomma]

No, college gymnastics is not just a dream, my dd is living proof. She did not do L10 until she was a Junior is HS (and she was basically out most of her comp season due to an injury), she just graduated HS and will be doing D1 gymnastics (not a top 20 gym program, but a Nationally known university, academic wise) in college, on scholarship too. She did compete L10 her Senior year and had a fabulous year, including making it to Nationals. I will say that what got her recruited is her bars. We have always been told that what gets you noticed & what most of the college coaches are looking for is bars and/or vault. So, if you dd has either or even both of these to offer, that will improve her chances of a scholarship. It will put her in a very good position for a walk on spot, for sure. When we went for an UV to the school that dd is now going to be attending, the coach told us he doesn't even want to look at girls until they have a driver's license - that should be very encouraging for the late bloomers of the gym world!

I love this post. Can you give any more color in terms of what they're looking for on vault and bars (is it scores, type of vault, national showing, etc.)? I'm curious because I think DD may have what it takes for D1 vault and bars, but maybe not as an all arounder (she hates beam -- I hate beam ).

 

[bookworm]

I love this post. Can you give any more color in terms of what they're looking for on vault and bars (is it scores, type of vault, national showing, etc.)? I'm curious because I think DD may have what it takes for D1 vault and bars, but maybe not as an all arounder (she hates beam -- I hate beam ).

Here's a tip...colleges are looking for all arounders, don't let them kid you. Then when the kid gets there, THE COLLEGE decides if they're going to only do certain events. The only gymnasts that can really market themselves as specialists are those that win at big meets (i.e. Worlds or Olys) ...like when Kayla Williams won vault at Worlds ...everyone else should plan to market themselves as an all arounder....

 

[Deleted member D3987]

yes, bookworm...that's close. what gets them in the door is based on what their needs are for their team. it's usually bars and vault. bars because is the event is like boys pommel horse. most can't do it well and there are not enough coaches that don't know enough bars. vault is because you got the top 10...and then everyone else. it's very difficult to produce good vaulters for all the reasons you see posted on this site. lack of power, lack of speed, wrong body type, etc; so it's the perfect storm so to speak...if they need someone...it is more likely than not that it will be vaulters and bar workers.

after that, don't be fooled. they only have 12 scholarship athletes. maybe a couple of walk ons'. they compete almost every week end. sometimes twice on a week end. and all in 3 months. guaranteed...someone on all teams is always injured due to the grueling schedule. then there is illness, deaths in a family, etc;

bottom line? you better be ready to go on any event that you are asked when line up is made. and that might mean all around. the only time someone becomes a "specialist" is if they really suck (i mean that endearingly) compared to anyone else that week prior to competition when they prepare to make that line up. or because their bodies just won't allow them to compete certain events because they just can't do it anymore. it happens.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

No, college gymnastics is not just a dream, my dd is living proof. She did not do L10 until she was a Junior is HS (and she was basically out most of her comp season due to an injury), she just graduated HS and will be doing D1 gymnastics (not a top 20 gym program, but a Nationally known university, academic wise) in college, on scholarship too. She did compete L10 her Senior year and had a fabulous year, including making it to Nationals. I will say that what got her recruited is her bars. We have always been told that what gets you noticed & what most of the college coaches are looking for is bars and/or vault. So, if you dd has either or even both of these to offer, that will improve her chances of a scholarship. It will put her in a very good position for a walk on spot, for sure. When we went for an UV to the school that dd is now going to be attending, the coach told us he doesn't even want to look at girls until they have a driver's license - that should be very encouraging for the late bloomers of the gym world!

BOOYAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member D3987]

@dunno | What is the difference between USAIGC and NAIGC, if any? Also, USAIGC is an alternative to USAG, right? It's another gymnastics body within the United States?

Okay, Aero. as i said, NAIGC is for college club teams. this is college only.

USAIGC is United States America Independent Gymnastics Club. this is an organization/association just like USA Gymnastics (by the way folks, the USA part stands for United States of America also) that has a similar organization as far as being an organizing body for gymnastics and they have their own level systems and a different code and different age groups. they are more similar to AAU. and they don't have boys, rhythmic, acro, tumbling, trampoline, etc; these are Olympic Sports under USA Gymnastics and i'll explain why...

The legal difference, and based on a lawsuit by a group of my mentors back in the early 60's against the AAU, (i have posted the history of this in another thread) was to gain control from the AAU as the "official" governing body for gymnastics in the United States. my mentors prevailed. the AAU was not really interested in "Olympic" level of gymnastics, what it took to do it, committing the funds necessary to do it, and finally...chasing the eastern bloc countries that made it their mission at that time to dethrone the rest of the world in sports to show that communism was best and that this was how they were going to show us they were better for it.

so, the United States Olympic Committee accepted and assigned the charter of "Olympic Governing Body for Gymnastics" to a newly formed association (United States Gymnastics Federation) formed by mentors in 1964. the first Executive Director was the now deceased and venerable Frank Bare. very famous in our sport. you may recognize the name as his son, Frank Bare Jr. went on to become 1 of the first "aerial" skiers in the world. he was amazing and helped to form that sport. the first "national" office was in Arizona.

then around 1991 (i might be off give or take a year) the USOC had ALL the Olympic Governing Bodies change their acronym to "USA" and then whatever sport they were...gymnastics, track and field, swimming, etc:

so then, USA Gymnastics is still USGF by charter. now and today, if someone wants to do anything "Olympic Level" in one of the disciplines of our sport they will and must be USAG Member Athletes. you can't go to, or make a team to go to, the Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Championships, or any other FIG competition unless that gymnast is registered with USA Gymnastics. and in turn, no one from another country can attend an FIG licensed competition (the International Governing Body for Olympic level gymnastics or FIG) like a World Cup series and other international gymnastics competitions unless that governing body is an "Olympic Governing Body" assigned by their respective governments and that ALL are registered with FIG.

further questions? feel free to ask away.

 

[dynamicduo]

Interesting background Dunno, thanks for that information!!

It's also great to know that you don't have to be a 10 year old level 10 if you want to make it in the NCAA!! Glad to know some colleges aren't even looking at girls until they get to high school!!