Anon Is my level 10 really ready to quit?

[Anonymous (9c4b)]

My 10th grade, level 10 had been going back and forth about quiting. She just got a new coach and is one who doesn't get used to new situations very easily. She has really good days and then others she says I just am not having fun anymore. How can you tell if its simply a phase or if she is really done.

 

[Anonymous (29ec)]

I would just keep listening and being supportive either way. Does she want you to weigh in or just to listen to her vent? School gets so challenging for those last three years so she may be feeling very overwhelmed.

 

[Anonymous (0d5d)]

A few months ago, I almost quit. But I didn't and I'm grateful because I'm finally seeing all my work paying off. This isn't a decision to make lightly.

 

[Anonymous (cd3b)]

Personally I’d talk to the coaches about how she feels and see if she can cut down on training hours for a few weeks to get a bit of a break. If she still feels like she wants to quit after cutting hours then I’d let her.

 

[Anonymous (9c4b)]

I think it has to do with overload of school work plus new coach, plus increased training hours and pressure all wrapped into one. I can't blame her for saying this isn't as much fun as it was before. It's just hard to tell if it's a temporary feeling that will pass or if she truly has had enough.

I will definitely talk to the coach to see if fewer hours is a possibility, at least for a few weeks or so. Tough decisions

 

[Anonymous (29ec)]

If she does feel ready to move on, 10th grade is a good time for it. She still has three years to join a school sport or activity and enjoy that experience.

 

[Anonymous (ea62)]

Once they're even talking about quitting, they've been thinking about it for months...so it's not a rash decision. Let her lead, whatever that decision is....and be supportive if she does decide to retire from HER sport.

 

[Anonymous (903c)]

Quitting isn't irreversible. If we learned one thing during the various shutdowns that happened worldwide, it was that gymnasts of any level benefit from a bit of a rest for their bodies, and can make a comeback fairly easily if they choose to.

If she wants to take a break and see if she misses it, I'd encourage her to at least keep up with some conditioning (either at home, at a fitness gym, or in the form of another sport) while she decides what she wants to do.

 

[Anonymous (a22f)]

Once they're even talking about quitting, they've been thinking about it for months...so it's not a rash decision. Let her lead, whatever that decision is....and be supportive if she does decide to retire from HER sport.

THIS. By the time a kid decides to actually voice that they want to quit to their parents they've likely been thinking about it for months. I would let her quit, she can always come back. One of my daughters teammates competed 2 years of level 10, quit to do school sports in 10th grade, missed gymnastics and came back the following year. Only took her a couple months to get all her skills back (she had stayed active doing other sports over the year off)

 

[Anonymous (9c4b)]

So true! My dd quit once already for 1.5 months and then decided she was quiting for the wrong reason (wasn't happy with her then coach). She decided to come back and change gyms and did so well, and was very happy for 2 years. Now its coming up again, but this time she is more hesitant to quit because the stakes are higher, and she is still considering college gymnastics, (as a current level 10)

 

[Dahlialover]

Next time she starts talking about quitting, I’d ask her about what other activities she might like to try instead (after a reasonable break). You want her to be headed toward something otherwise the transition can be difficult.

 

[Milliex2]

Lots of good advice here already.
We live by the idea of “never quit on a bad day”. Next time she has a great day, ask her how she feels. If she still wants to quit when she’s had a good day, you know she’s done. I’d also say, if she’s having more hard days than good ones, it also may be time.

 

[Anonymous (9c4b)]

Lots of good advice here already.
We live by the idea of “never quit on a bad day”. Next time she has a great day, ask her how she feels. If she still wants to quit when she’s had a good day, you know she’s done. I’d also say, if she’s having more hard days than good ones, it also may be time.

Great advice!