My daughter, 11 almost 12, is in Prep-Op Rookie. This is her second year at that level. This is our first experience as parents with gymnastics as a sport. She does enjoy other activities so prep-op seems a good place for her as far as time commitment.
My questions are about expectations from the gym and whether we need to look elsewhere:
The positives:
Gym uses mostly adult coaches and they seem attentive. One other gym I investigated used high school kids for the prep-op program and they seemed not to care about the program. The gym we are at does seem to value the program.
The question marks:
There is little to no working on new skills or even focusing on areas of weaknesses. My daughter really wants to get new skills like her back handspring. She has done little to no work on that in the two years she has been there. Is this the norm? Should I expect that they learn new skills while working on their routines for competition? If so, what's a good balance of new skills/current routine training?
I'm wondering whether this is the best place for her? Will other gyms be even less attentive? Is Prep-Op less valued as a program in the gymnastics community (i.e. is it a dumping ground for those that can't 'make it' in levels?) I don't think so, but would appreciate some other perspectives, especially from parents in MA. From what I can tell, Prep-Op is not standardized across the country.
Thanks!
B
My questions are about expectations from the gym and whether we need to look elsewhere:
The positives:
Gym uses mostly adult coaches and they seem attentive. One other gym I investigated used high school kids for the prep-op program and they seemed not to care about the program. The gym we are at does seem to value the program.
The question marks:
There is little to no working on new skills or even focusing on areas of weaknesses. My daughter really wants to get new skills like her back handspring. She has done little to no work on that in the two years she has been there. Is this the norm? Should I expect that they learn new skills while working on their routines for competition? If so, what's a good balance of new skills/current routine training?
I'm wondering whether this is the best place for her? Will other gyms be even less attentive? Is Prep-Op less valued as a program in the gymnastics community (i.e. is it a dumping ground for those that can't 'make it' in levels?) I don't think so, but would appreciate some other perspectives, especially from parents in MA. From what I can tell, Prep-Op is not standardized across the country.
Thanks!
B