New to this site AND gymnastics :)

[Luvmygymgirl]

Just wanted to say hi... I have a 5, almost 6 yr old who has been doing gymnastics for about a year now. She just started competing this fall in level 3, and she just finally got her Mill Circle (which for the longest time I thought was called a Middle Circle. That goes to show how much I know!). Well, her coaches want to move her up to Level 4 for the Spring, and my husband and I are at odds about it. She only has 2 months to learn this new floor routine which includes a back handspring, which she hasn't learned yet. For all you gym pros out there, am I pushing her too early? She picks up on skills pretty easily, but I don't know if she'll get all these routines down in time for her first meet in January, and I want to make sure she knows that having fun is the most important thing. Can anyone give me advice? Thanks!

 

[MaryA]

I had to comment because I remember a group of us rookie moms standing outside the gym discussing whether it's a "mill circle" or a "middle circle."

I don't have any advice for you as far as the level 3/4 decision. My husband and I have had heated "discussions" about the pros/cons of moving our daughter to a more serious gym (she's on the YMCA team) so I understand the marital end of it too.

Everybody here at Chalk Bucket has been very helpful whenever I've had a question (and I have many) so I'm sure you'll get lots of useful comments.

Welcome, and good luck!

 

[NotAMom]

By being moved up, do you mean to "training" 4? Or, are they expecting her to compete right away at L4? Different gyms have different ways of handling mobility. If the intention is to have her train with the L4 group regardless of whether she will compete at that level, then I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[Shelovesthebars]

Will she be competing level 4 in January? Is she training level 4 now? Your post isn't clear. If she is ready and she wants to do it, I say go for it. I have a 5 year competing level 3 this fall too. She loves it. She is having a blast. She will go onto the level 4 team as a five year old and compete after her birthday but she has all of her level 4 skills already and most of her level 5 too.

 

[lilgymmie7]

I'd say, listen to her coaches. I would hope that they are looking for her best interest. If your DD is up to it, let her try it. She will tell you if it becomes too much, or you will see some signs of frustration. Good luck to her and you!

 

[AlexsGymmyMom]

Here we call the mill circle a stride circle. I think we may be the only area to call it this. If she has all the skills and is 6 years old by the first meet I would let her! 2 months is time enough to learn the routines.

 

[Luvmygymgirl]

Thank you so much for responding! Yes, she's currently on the Level 3 team and they want to move her and 2 other girls up to Level 4 team. I guess there is a level 4 prep team but she will actually be competing starting January 14th. She loves it, and her coaches think she'll be ready, but she only has 2 months to learn all of the routines. My husband says we're pushing her too fast. He thinks it'll just be disappointing for her when she most likely won't medal at all in Level 4 when she's been medaling at every meet in Level 3 (or getting to "stand on the box" as my daughter calls it. I just think it will help get her ready for competing Level 4 in the fall.
Again, I love reading all your posts, I'm so new to all of this! I still am the biggest stress case at every meet!

 

[NotAMom]

Focus on fun and progress. Everything else is secondary and will fall in place.

 

[Mariainlv]

Hello and welcome! From your siggy I see we are in the same locale. There is a pretty strong L3 program in the area so I think she will be ready if she has competed locally for L3. Its pretty common to see L3's go to L4 in the spring and then do L4 again the fall, only to move to L5 in the spring. Good luck with your decision and hope she enjoys it!

 

[Gymnasticgrandkids]

First of all, I must congratulate you that you are questioning them moving her up and you thinking maybe not...most parents want their children moved up even when they are not ready to be moved. If you trust the coaches at your gym, that they are not just rushing her and that they truly believe that she is ready, then I'd say go for it...if it is not a "quality" gym, then maybe you should consider that she may not have the strength needed for a safe move. What my daughter uses to regulate how well they are doing and what level they need to be at is whatever the state score is that is needed to move up, add 2 or 3 points to that and that will tell you whether or not she "really" should move to the next level. In Florida I believe scoreout is 31 or 32...my L5 grandaughter (before she broke her foot) was getting 36.525 after only 2 meets...that says she is pretty much ready (but another factor is the skills)...if she is so far off from skills needed for the next level, she is not ready. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Kiwi]

My husband says we're pushing her too fast. He thinks it'll just be disappointing for her when she most likely won't medal at all in Level 4 when she's been medaling at every meet in Level 3 (or getting to "stand on the box" as my daughter calls it. I just think it will help get her ready for competing Level 4 in the fall.

I think it might be a good thing to learn to compete without always getting medals. My DD was disappointed when she first competed and didn't place. I felt it was a good opportunity for her to learn that competing is not just about getting medals. There are a lot of gymnasts in every competition and not all of them are going to win medals. We switched her focus to trying her best, doing the best routines she could, and to see if she could improve her scores.