Parents of Future Elites?

[Future Elite Mom]

Hi. I am new to the board. I've been spending too much time in the gym to get on the computer! DD is 8 and in the "Fast Trackers" program which requires a big commitment from gymnasts and parents. She doesn't care, though, because all she wants to do is gym! Right now she is practicing 25 hours per weeks and is working Level 6-8 skills. Her coach is still deciding what level she will compete this year. They say she has so much natural talent that she should be able to skip some levels.

Good to meet everyone.

 

[gymjourneymom]

Welcome to CB Future Elite Mom!

My DD is 15yrs old & training L8. It's been a long road for her in this sport that's for sure! I never could have imagined all the twists & turns that her gymnastics journey has taken her on already! She constantly battles the "fear beast". But she still loves gymnastics & keeps on pluggin' away! So I keep on supporting her however I can! She'll never be elite. She will be the best gymnast she can be! And she will stay in the sport as long as it makes her happy & she is healthy! And that's about as much of a plan as she has layed out,LOL!

Your DD sounds very talented & determine! I look forward to following her progress. There are quite a few parents on here who's DD do TOPS & are fast tracked. I don't know much about either personally, but I do enjoy learning about this route of training from other people's posts. As long as your DD is happy & enjoying her training & time in the gym I think that is what really matters!

Please don't take offence, but I feel I must caution you about applying too much pressure & stress on your DD. Stress & pressure can be the undoing of even the most talented gymnast. I know there is power in positive thinking...but to plan for an 8yr old to be an elite seems like a lot of pressure to me. JMHO. Please keep us posted on her progress. Again, welcome to our CB community! And good luck to your DD!

 

[Future Elite Mom]

Thank you. I try not to pressure her at all. She really wants to do this, so who am I to stand in her way? I know that it will be hard for her to achieve her goals, but is it wrong for me to stand behind her? Should I tell her she isn't capable of doing it? I am her #1 cheerleader. I do appreciate any words of advice, though. Thanks.

 

[sportzmomov3]

Right now she is practicing 25 hours per weeks and is working Level 6-8 skills. Her coach is still deciding what level she will compete this year. They say she has so much natural talent that she should be able to skip some levels.

Well if I'm not mistaken, she's still going to have to "score out" of every level regardless. I'm sure dunno or one of the coaches can confirm, but my understanding has always been that a gymnast must compete every level with a minimum USAG specified score, at least once.

As for being an elite - at age 8, even the most mature child cannot possibly understand what that means. Yes, they can see the cool tricks and competition excitement, but the wear and tear on your body over many years is what tells the tale at the end. Practicing 25 hrs at 8 yo is going to wear you down a lot faster than most 8 yo who are on a fast track and only training 12-16 hrs (or less). And as for the argument that it's better getting all your tricks at a young age, I've seen several gymnasts "re-learn" those very tricks when they grew and had to make adjustments.

Our gym has many elites, and quite frankly, the emphasis is on safety first. The coaches' philosophy is that there is plenty of time to achieve whatever goal you have, and you won't get there if you're injured.

Good luck!

 

[MdGymMom01]

Well if I'm not mistaken, she's still going to have to "score out" of every level regardless. I'm sure dunno or one of the coaches can confirm, but my understanding has always been that a gymnast must compete every level with a minimum USAG specified score, at least once.

As for being an elite - at age 8, even the most mature child cannot possibly understand what that means. Yes, they can see the cool tricks and competition excitement, but the wear and tear on your body over many years is what tells the tale at the end. Practicing 25 hrs at 8 yo is going to wear you down a lot faster than most 8 yo who are on a fast track and only training 12-16 hrs (or less). And as for the argument that it's better getting all your tricks at a young age, I've seen several gymnasts "re-learn" those very tricks when they grew and had to make adjustments.

Our gym has many elites, and quite frankly, the emphasis is on safety first. The coaches' philosophy is that there is plenty of time to achieve whatever goal you have, and you won't get there if you're injured.

Good luck!

I know for a fact that there are a few parents of 8 year olds on the CB that are a Level 7 or even 8, and have very focused and determined gymmies that totally DO understand what it means to be Elite and what it entails. Maybe they will speak up soon and give their insight on what their dd's have gone through in their gym years so far.

 

[bookworm]

Until your kid has experienced it, you can't really conceive of what it all entails for you or your child...

 

[drivingmom]

Did she compete level 4 and 5? If so, at least you know alittle of what you may be in for. Gymnastics is a marathon not a sprint.

I know mine would live in the gym if she could, but her little body needs a break. You can see it in the little pains she gets. These little bodies are growing and need rest.

Most level 8,9 & 10 don't even do 25 hours. Shawn Johnson only trained for 20 hours aweek while she was training for the Olympics. It seem a bit much to me. Don't mean to be negative at all, just my opionion which is what CB dishes out.


Good luck to her and you. It's al ot on the parent as well as our girls.

 

[sportzmomov3]

I know for a fact that there are a few parents of 8 year olds on the CB that are a Level 7 or even 8, and have very focused and determined gymmies that totally DO understand what it means to be Elite and what it entails. Maybe they will speak up soon and give their insight on what their dd's have gone through in their gym years so far.

I mean no offense to anyone - I might just be really adamant about my opinions but it's based on our gymnastics journey and I respect that someone else might have a different experience. We've just learned so much about the elite path and so much has been written on CB about it that it was finally time I decided to pipe in with my thoughts.

That said, no one will be able to convince me that an 8 yo understands the elite training. Having will and determination at 8 to train is one thing, but the body isn't meant to maintain that level (25 hrs!) for all the years that lie ahead for a young elite. Just my humble opinion. But as previous poster said, that's why we are all here - to voice our own opinions and thoughts.

A follow-up question to this thread would be: what's the rush to get to elite earlier vs. later? What do you do other than pound your body for years before you are eligible for NCAA or Olympics? There is an interesting article online that looked at the peak age of Olympic champions. The avg age was around 15/16. It wasn't scientific but quite interesting, and was done in light of the current group of amazing junior elites, some of whom will be 2012 eligible. (Someone here might have posted the link in the past on another thread; it's on one of the major gymnastics websites - of course I don't remember which one...).

As an aside, my DD was one of those fast-tracked kids. She made the TOPs qualifier in her first partial year of training for it (and it wasn't anywhere near 25 hrs.) We heard all the hype about her talent and getting her to elite by the time she turned 11/12 or whatever. We decided to take a "normal" path instead (and switched gyms.) She's competing every level and will still have time to test elite if SHE chooses - and she'll still have a few years to spare before college (or Olympics) The ultimate priority for her coaches, DD and us is her health and long-term well-being so she CAN continue in this sport that she loves, and be the best gymnast she can be.

 

[kevchriswilli]

Hi and welcome to the boards. My DD is 11 and level 9/10 right now. Competed 8 this past season) We hope to test Jr elite next year if all goes well. Sounds like you have a very talented little gymmie. What state are you guys in? Good luck to you guys this season in what ever level she does!

 

[NotAMom]

Future Elite Mom (that's a bold name!),
I hate to be blunt... We all want the best for our children. But, I hope you have a plan B for your daughter just in case it takes the wrong turn in her journey. 25 hours of training at this age leaves very little time for anything else, friends and school included -- not mentioning her body will need time to recuperate.

 

[gymmomof1]

Welcome to the CB Future Elite Mom . As you can see this is a place of good resources and a place to share experiences--and there are many paths on this gymnastic journey! Your gymmie sounds talented and wish her the best on her exciting journey. My gymmie is also 8 yrs. and is a L6 this year and excited to have her 1st L6 competition this year at her gym. Not sure from your post if your DD has competed yet but that is also exciting to see them do their thing on the floor, beam, bars and vault . As one CB posted, she will need to compete at least one meet to have a mobility score of 31.00 for I think 5,6 & 7 and 34.00 for the upper levels to test out of each level. Some of the girls on my DD team will be doing that to score out of L6 to since they are trainging L7. You can find the chart on the USAG website under rules and regs.

 

[thnkGd4kds]

Welcome, FEM! May you find wise answers and support here . . .
Good luck with your dd! I also have a talented dd-- I believe we all do, really ; she's a 10 yo level 8. However, as her gym has a very holistic, physical-and-psychological-health-first approach, she trains a "mere" 20 hours a week, sometimes a few more right now as she's training for TOPs nationals.

 

[fishchimes]

First of all, welcome to chalk bucket. And I hope you won't take offense at what I have to say below

25 hours is a lot, twice as much as most girls her age. She's only 8 and probably won't need to train that many hours for level 6-8. If she must train 25 hours, it's more reasonable for her to wait to train that many hours when she's older and about to test for elite. Of course, that's just my opinion.