Parents Long term goal setting

[Gymmomtoa]

Hello parents,

This is a very broad question, but is it a bad sign if there is no satisfactory response from your head coach when you ask if there is a long-term plan for your gymnast? My daughter is a 11 year old L7, and we articulated to her coaches several times that she has D1 goals in mind (so do a few other girls in her training group who are similar age and level) but there has been no detailed discussion about what is the "path" to get there and whether she is on the right track. Part of the problem might be that the club has no history of gymnasts going to college nor any L10s since it's a relatively new gym, and I understand that a lot can happen between now and then and that there are no guarantees, but I'd like a more concrete discussion along the lines of "yes, the plan is for her to move up a level a year and she should be L10 in 9th grade which would be great timing for college recruiting" or "usually our gymnasts repeat L8 and L9 for two years each" or even "no, from what we've seen she doesn't have what it takes". Another parent mentioned to me (to put it bluntly) that if her daughter doesn't have the potential to make it to college, she'd like to know NOW so that she can save all her time and money. It's clear that management has poor communication with parents, but is this normal? If gymnasts were on the elite track, I'm assuming there is a clear path to get there and you have to be deliberate about each step along the way and be on the same page with parents about what it takes, but is this not true for college? Do you really just NOT KNOW until you get to L10 and see how you score at meets? What am I missing here?

 

[raenndrops]

This is a fairly new gym, according to you. They may not have a long-term plan since it will all depend on how quickly she gets the skills needed for each level.
If she scores well in Level 7 and has the skills for Level 8, she could move up to Level 8 in a year (12 years old). If she doesn't have the skills in time, she may need another season (or partial season) to get to Level 8 (13 years old).
Level 8 could take 1-2 years because it's kinda a big jump to Level 9 (13-15 years old).
Level 9 could take 1-2 years, again, because of a big jump to Level 10 (14-17 years old).

Good luck.

 

[Dahlialover]

It sounds like you are trying to order a hamburger at Taco Bell. They don’t have a plan to get you that burger because they don’t actually make burgers there and they don’t plan on starting.

If your child has D1 ambitions, then you need to get your child to a gym that is set up to support those goals. Go find a gym with a strong optionals program and coaches that have experience preparing athletes to go on to the NCAA.

 

[NutterButter]

Lack of communication is a common frustration among gym parents. I think your situation can also be frustrating because your gym is newer and you don’t have the ability to ‘look ahead’ and see how gymnasts are typically progressed.

Usually it’s one level/year but a lot of gyms skip L5 or L6. It’s harder to predict advancement after L7 because skills get more difficult, injuries, mental blocks, puberty, etc. Some kids will continue to coast along with one level per year till L10 but in my experience most will need to repeat a level at least once (and some opt to quit rather than repeat, attrition is high around L8).

 

[RTT2]

Lack of communication is a common frustration among gym parents. I think your situation can also be frustrating because your gym is newer and you don’t have the ability to ‘look ahead’ and see how gymnasts are typically progressed.

Usually it’s one level/year but a lot of gyms skip L5 or L6. It’s harder to predict advancement after L7 because skills get more difficult, injuries, mental blocks, puberty, etc. Some kids will continue to coast along with one level per year till L10 but in my experience most will need to repeat a level at least once (and some opt to quit rather than repeat, attrition is high around L8).

Yeah, I think it must be nearly impossible to predict given that even super talented kids can hit the upper levels and develop fears, major injuries, or just decide they'd like to spend their time on something else. Rather than having an individual path the coaches plan for each kid, I'd want to know that they have a strong understanding of how to get a hardworking gymnast to level 10, and hopefully onto a college team. Are they training the skills- or at this point starting to do drills, that will develop skills college coaches are looking for?

 

[mom2newgymnast]

I know it's different because my daughter's gym did already have a history of getting kids to level 10/college, but I know we didn't discuss a plan nearly as early as level 7. I believe it was after she had competed level 8 and was training for 9, that the coaches even mentioned level 10/college. Honestly the attrition after level 7 and especially after level 8 is so high, and so many gymnasts never make it even to 9 that I can see why they didn't bring it up sooner.. I do agree that the gym being newer is reason can be a bit of a worry, but I don't think it is at all surprising that they don't have a plan yet for a level 7. You mentioned no level 10s, but do they have level 9s? How are they doing? Do the coaches have experience from coaching other gyms? I think it's worth thinking about whether the gym can get your daughter where she wants to be, but I wouldn't automatically write them off just based on the lack of a plan.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

I do agree that the gym being newer is reason can be a bit of a worry, but I don't think it is at all surprising that they don't have a plan yet for a level 7. You mentioned no level 10s, but do they have level 9s? How are they doing? Do the coaches have experience from coaching other gyms? I think it's worth thinking about whether the gym can get your daughter where she wants to be, but I wouldn't automatically write them off just based on the lack of a plan.

This! To be fair to the gym, no real response is better than ambitious coaches with no true experience promising the world to you and not being able to deliver.

 

[Gymmomtoa]

Yes we have several current or training L9s. They do seem to repeat levels at the higher optional levels, but this group was also disproportionately affected by COVID (gym closures) being at the same time as when they hit puberty, which set them back. Since this group is mostly in high school, it will be interesting to see how they turn out, whether they make it to college, etc. Within my daughter's lower optional group, some skipped L5, some skipped L6. It makes sense that she might still be too young to have an individual plan, but as a parent I want to make sure she's on the right path since she has college goals and dreams. Time seems to be flying, and before I know it she will be in high school - when we get there I want to be fully prepared.

 

[gym_dad32608]

It is not unusual for them to not speak to you about a "path". I do think it is reasonable for them to tell you if based upon where she is now, it is a realistic goal. But as several have already pointed out, looking back, there is such a chasm between L7 and L10 even that so much can change. I felt the same way when I was in your position. And her coaches never brought it up or spoke to us about it other than "yes she can". Upon reflection, the path is really up to her and how she can move up to higher levels, and adjust to new more difficult skills and competition results. (yes coaches help in skill development but that is a different question) Unlike in the elite world where the pool is much smaller and has fewer competitions, there is no path to make. For example in elite it might be reasonable to discuss a path to get to Olympics like, get to an invitational camp, then elite qualification, national team selection, international assignment, olympic trials, etc. In the DP world its just gain the skills, do the competitions that club signs up for, get your scores. I am sure they might talk to her about skill upgrades for the next level but I wouldn't call that a plan or path in the traditional sense.

Now all that being said, (and this is my personal opinion based upon my experience), being at a gym with coaches that have placed L10 athletes in colleges is worth a move if possible. The benefits are tangible (I can enumerate them if you want), just don't expect them to talk to you about a "plan" either. They will be honest and tell you if she has the potential to make it. Ultimately, its about how she performs, if she is a L10 by 9th grade and is scoring in the 38+ she will make it to D1.

 

[GymDadWA]

If that is the only reason that you'd do gymnastics than quit now, if the journey isn't part of the reward than you are setting them up for a lifetime of failure. Don't try anything you might love if you can't make it to the top! Don't do things for the love of it if you aren't the best! What an awful way of living life. I'm sure it was said as a joke of sorts but kids hear it and internalize it in ways that are mentally very damaging.

Another parent mentioned to me (to put it bluntly) that if her daughter doesn't have the potential to make it to college, she'd like to know NOW so that she can save all her time and money.

A lose plan is better than a strict plan, there is just not a good way to know how puberty and mental blocks will slow down progress, growth spurts just need time to adjust for and putting additional stress on a child going through puberty is not a good idea.

 

[Chocolate_Chip]

If that is the only reason that you'd do gymnastics than quit now, if the journey isn't part of the reward than you are setting them up for a lifetime of failure. Don't try anything you might love if you can't make it to the top! Don't do things for the love of it if you aren't the best! What an awful way of living life. I'm sure it was said as a joke of sorts but kids hear it and internalize it in ways that are mentally very damaging.



A lose plan is better than a strict plan, there is just not a good way to know how puberty and mental blocks will slow down progress, growth spurts just need time to adjust for and putting additional stress on a child going through puberty is not a good idea.

I agree on the whole - gymnastics doesn't have to lead to D1/Elite to be worthwhile.

With that said, as a parent who is spending quite a lot of $ on the sport, I would want to know what a realistic path for my child looks like. Some parents have little knowledge of the sport and think their 13 year old level 4 has a strong chance of making D1. If realistic expectations are set it gives the family the option of pursuing XCEL, saving some $, or freeing up their schedule to pursue other activities.

Providing parents with a high level outline of what bench marks are typically hit and when, what levels hours start to increase, ect. is super helpful. My daughter is progressing quickly in basketball and will have to decide if she wants to cut back/quit either gymnastics or basketball if she wants to pursue D1. There aren't enough hours in the week for both, so knowing what the commitment looks like as the kids get into more advanced levels can help families plan what road they want to go down.

 

[RTT2]

What type of background do the coaches have? Did they coach at other gyms with a history of sending girls on to college teams? Were they NCAA/Elite level/Olympic level gymnasts themselves (not necessary to be a great coach, but if they don't have a lot of coaching experience and weren't high level gymnasts I would have some concerns). Are they training the gymnasts toward having the skills colleges want? Watch some college meets and see what the 9s at your gym are training. I understand wanting some info on what the right path is, but the coaches don't have a crystal ball. Just way too many factors to predict if an 11 L7 is on track for D1 gymnastics.

I also see so many posts from parents who insist their kids want to compete in college while the kid is currently in elementary school. To them college gymnastics is watching the big girls on TV do amazing tricks in a sparkly leo. Or it's seeing a signing ceremony at their gym where the girl gets a cake, and there are balloons, and everyone says nice things about her. An elementary school kid doesn't have a realistic idea of what the actual demands of an NCAA sport are or of the sacrifices it will take along the way to get there. I always take those parents' assertions that their kid's goal won't change with a big grain of salt.

 

[duyetanh]

It is not unusual for them to not speak to you about a "path". I do think it is reasonable for them to tell you if based upon where she is now, it is a realistic goal. But as several have already pointed out, looking back, there is such a chasm between L7 and L10 even that so much can change. I felt the same way when I was in your position. And her coaches never brought it up or spoke to us about it other than "yes she can". Upon reflection, the path is really up to her and how she can move up to higher levels, and adjust to new more difficult skills and competition results. (yes coaches help in skill development but that is a different question) Unlike in the elite world where the pool is much smaller and has fewer competitions, there is no path to make. For example in elite it might be reasonable to discuss a path to get to Olympics like, get to an invitational camp, then elite qualification, national team selection, international assignment, olympic trials, etc. In the DP world its just gain the skills, do the competitions that club signs up for, get your scores. I am sure they might talk to her about skill upgrades for the next level but I wouldn't call that a plan or path in the traditional sense.

Now all that being said, (and this is my personal opinion based upon my experience), being at a gym with coaches that have placed L10 athletes in colleges is worth a move if possible. The benefits are tangible (I can enumerate them if you want), just don't expect them to talk to you about a "plan" either. They will be honest and tell you if she has the potential to make it. Ultimately, its about how she performs, if she is a L10 by 9th grade and is scoring in the 38+ she will make it to D1.

Agreed it's about how she performs, but she doesn't need a 38+ to make D1...many make D1 rosters as specialists or with 36-37 scores... and yes, it would be nice to be on a team where there were those gymnasts getting to college, so there could be this experience on the part of the coaches and athletes, but if the path at the current gym is there, it's not a deal breaker (especially if the nearest gym is not so near, and the girls are thriving and making strides)...but based on where she is now, I agree with you that they really can't tell her anything. An 11 year old level 7 is right at the crux of....everything. Puberty, harder skills (level 8 is a make it or break it one, as many know), other interests? Those are just a few. I understand wanting to know the gyms plans in terms of are they prepared to get level 10 (for ex, can they teach single bar release moves?), but in all reality, there are many girls who excel at 7 that don't make it past level 8. And once you get to level 10, you are essentially starting all over again in a bizarre way, because level 10 is a very bizarre, different beast, and the goal becomes survival as well as a potential spot on a college team. So my advice would be to find out what the plan is for the team and the future, not my child specifically, because there are just too many unknowns, and it would be hard for a coach to say "this child can go all the way" at that age and level. I haven't read all the responses, but if the gym as a team meeting, that might be an ideal time to ask what the plan is for the gym moving forward in terms of goals for their optional gymnasts.