level 6

[ccgmom]

My dd's level 6 year was hard for her. It really shook her confidence, especially on bars. Those tap swings on high bar can get you a deduction on each swing if they are not high enough. Also the flyaway has to be a certain height and a lot of girls have trouble getting it up high enough. On beam as many girls fell on the full turn as on bwo. Floor and vault are dd's strong events, but I remember many kids landing on their bottoms out of front tucks on floor. Scorewise, her score range was a full point below scores for all other levels, i.e 33-35 AA compared to 34-36 at levels 4,5,prep op, and 7. She survived and is happily getting ready for level 8! Good Luck, hope your dds have a good year.

 

[Sebastian12]

Tagging along here, what if the kiddo doesn't have her kip solid? What deductions will she have? Can she compete without it? She has cast to HS good, giants, clear hip, pullover, tuck/layout dismount, just is missing the consistency in kip...Thank you!

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

Level 6 is definitely the most difficult compulsory level. After all, it is the highest compulsory level. But I don't know if I would put it in the "very difficult" category. Many gyms skip out of L6 (or have their gymnasts score out--I don't know the rationale behind this). If you go with this alone, it would seem, some gyms feel it is an unnecessary level. Hence, giving me the perception that it is an uneventful (I did not want to say easy because there is nothing easy when it comes to gymnastics) level.

In our gym/team, the skills our L6 had most difficulty is the squat on and connecting on bars. Also, if you don't have your kip, you can get killed on scores. On beam, the backwalkover and the full turn make our girls very nervous. Our girls do well on floor, but in the beginning we took many deductions for not landing the tumbling passes, proper form on tucks and for wobbles. The scoring on vault is different as the judges now look at blocking, repulsion and the hallow form of the body. All in all, I don't think it is a difficult level. It is not a huge jump from L5 but actually a good progression from L5.

I think we are always afraid of new things, fear of the unknown. L6 definitely has more difficult skills than L5. And it should because it is a level higher. But by no means a huge jump from L5. I also don't think the judging is anymore difficult than any other level. Difficulty is a point of view. A new or aspiring level 6 may say L6 is difficult but for a gymnast who has passed it may say, it is a piece of cake (at least compared to the level they are currently in). Don't be afraid of this level. And don't worry too much about getting high scores. Getting high scores are great. I also wish them for my DD. But I've also learned that how our DDs do at a meet is not a true measure of their progress. I am saying this now, because my DD just finished L7 states. Her coach had high hopes for her and thought she had a shot at winning States. But she fell on beam and although normally very stable on beam, she had a huge wobbled. The fall on beam and the major wobble, got her 8.9 on beam while her competitors were getting 9.8. This was a major setback that got her 6th AA. This L7 State meet was her worst L7 meet to date. She was moved to L7 in mid February this year after competing 3 meets as a L6. She placed 1st AA on two of the 3 L7 meets s she competed and 4th AA on her first L7 meet. Though I am sad for my DD as she wanted to do so well at States, her placing at this meet is no measure of how she has done in her L7 season. Her coach said she did not perform at all at her peak, nerves, her mom not being there, her rather proactive father and being only 9. She cried but not for her but probably she felt she let her coach down. How do you console a child who wants so desperately to please?

Anyway, sorry for getting sidetracked. Your DD will learn the skills and if she ever has a bad meet, there will be other meets she can prove herself. Good luck in the L6 season. It is a great level. Although I do believe every level is a great level.

Are you in the US? Level 6 isn't compulsory, it's the first optional level. In USAG DP level 6 the gymnast should have been doing a squat on and jump to high bar for level 4 & 5... that shouldn't be that difficult.

I just saw this is a very old post! Never mind!