Anon Pre-team class too...relaxed? for daughter

[Anonymous (cd9f)]

My 7.5yo daughter moved from rec to pre-team in June; she thinks she wants to go up to level 10, but of course she's 7 so who knows. Anyway, there was a coach who was filling in for summer and the training seemed good overall; at times a little slow, but it sounded like the intensity was intentionally lower because it was summer break. Unfortunately, the fall semester classes have been slower (and let me take a second to say that there is a lot we love about the gym, but maybe now we are there for the loyalty and this particular pre-team class may just not be the best fit). There's not much conditioning. There is a lot of sitting and talking about technique, which is important of course, but then they aren't given much chance to actually try the skills. She attended both 2-hour practices this week and they never did beam at all. And instead of stations to rotate through, now they often have the teacher helping one kid at a time with a skill while the others sit and watch. They are at the rope for 10 minutes and each kid takes just one turn. Whereas in the summer classes, the rope climbing would be one station out of several, so the girls were always doing something. Anyway, we are moving out of the area in a few months, so we don't want to cause problems or ruin a good relationship with the gym (and we will be back to visit as have family here). So I'm wondering if there is anything we can do to help her make progress until our move. (And luckily, we now understand better what we're looking for in a gym for the next city we move to.) Ideas I am considering (but please suggest others):
- private lessons focused on specific skills she wants to get and is stuck on?
- add back an advanced rec class she used to do at another gym, which was faster paced, more conditioning, and included some skills she hasn't mastered yet?
- go to open gym more and maybe have my daughter make a plan ahead of time of what she wants to do?
- talk to the coach about our concerns? (I'm leaning against this though; it's a small gym and this is a veteran coach who helps run the place, we like her a lot as a human being, and I just don't think the teaching style is a problem for the other girls in the class...)
- ask if my daughter can practice with the gym's lowest level team (xcel bronze), even if she can't compete yet? (guessing that's gonna be a no, since she was passed over for this in the spring and hasn't made a big leap since then or anything)
Thanks so much for any advice, especially if anyone has ever been in our shoes!!

 

[Anonymous (eb44)]

I think asking about the goals for pre team and what to expect from the class would be ok. I know sometimes our preteam class seemed a bit slow just because we did a lot of drills and not as many things that looked like big skills - we did do plenty of conditioning and stations though.

Open gym also sounds like a good idea and honestly if you can afford it, this might be a good case for privates, especially because you're moving anyway and she'll have to trial at other gyms. Definitely don't ask about practicing with the bronze team.

Alternatively, instead of adding back the advanced rec class at the other gym in addition to the pre team, why not just fully switch to that other gym? If you're moving anyway, she won't be on team at your current gym and it sounds like the other class is a better use of time. A lot of gyms don't like when people take classes at multiple gyms.

 

[Anonymous (1fb8)]

My daughter was placed on preteam after one rec class when she was 7, almost 8. She was originally THRILLED but became very bored, for similar reasons to what you described. We ended up having her try another gym and they put her on Xcel Silver. She loved it and has continued to love it and is now 5 years later is training level 8. I understand the value of preteam but in our case it wasn't a fit. I feel like Bronze is basically preteam at many gyms so hopefully you'll have better luck in your new area!

 

[Anonymous (cd9f)]

I think asking about the goals for pre team and what to expect from the class would be ok. I know sometimes our preteam class seemed a bit slow just because we did a lot of drills and not as many things that looked like big skills - we did do plenty of conditioning and stations though.

Open gym also sounds like a good idea and honestly if you can afford it, this might be a good case for privates, especially because you're moving anyway and she'll have to trial at other gyms. Definitely don't ask about practicing with the bronze team.

Alternatively, instead of adding back the advanced rec class at the other gym in addition to the pre team, why not just fully switch to that other gym? If you're moving anyway, she won't be on team at your current gym and it sounds like the other class is a better use of time. A lot of gyms don't like when people take classes at multiple gyms.

Thanks for these thoughts! Yes, I think it'd be okay if they were doing lots of drills. We had to go out of town for a few weeks this summer and the local gym was so accommodating to let my daughter work out with their pre team and it was night and day. A solid 20 min of conditioning to start and then lots of drills for each event; skills themselves weren't any different, but they were constantly moving and getting stronger, no sitting around bored. So maybe then I started to question the preteam class here at home! Anyway, you're totally right, I should have clarified when we signed up. I've since asked and sounds like the expectation is that kids do a full year of pre team and then start xcel bronze. Whereas the gym where my daughter did the extra rec class had pulled my daughter aside a few months ago and said if we wanted to switch, they would probably have her compete Level 2 this year, so kind of seems like a full year on pre-team wouldn't be necessary if it was faster-paced. Back at that time, my daughter had a lot of friends at the current gym and was also afraid to switch as loves all her coaches (they are all super nice people), plus I didn't understand what the pre-team would be and thought it would be faster-paced (I should have paid more attention!). As for switching now, the other gym does ask for a year commitment to the team so I think that probably wouldn't work. I think at this point, since she will be going to a new gym in new city soon anyways, I just want to find strategies to help her be less bored and also prepare her to be able to keep up when she gets to the new gym. I'm going to try your ideas of doing some open gyms (I just need to put it on my calendar as if it's a class), and I'll ask about a few privates centered around specific goals. We probably can't afford a lot of them, but I feel like even 2-3 sessions of that one-on-one attention might help her with the areas she's stuck and give her some more ideas for what to do during open gym. Thanks again!

 

[Anonymous (cd9f)]

My daughter was placed on preteam after one rec class when she was 7, almost 8. She was originally THRILLED but became very bored, for similar reasons to what you described. We ended up having her try another gym and they put her on Xcel Silver. She loved it and has continued to love it and is now 5 years later is training level 8. I understand the value of preteam but in our case it wasn't a fit. I feel like Bronze is basically preteam at many gyms so hopefully you'll have better luck in your new area!

Yes, this is similar to my daughter! So much excitement at first, but a little sad now to see her get bored. Although she is trying to make the best of it; sometimes she has started "coaching" the younger girls in the class when the coach is busy and she would otherwise be sitting bored. The younger girls seem to love it and I'm glad they are forming those friendships. I appreciate your encouragement that she may take off at the next gym if it's a better fit.