Anon Putting age caps for DP levels

[Anonymous (55ff)]

I got bored and snooped.
It's not a 'State championship' for level 2 &3 it's called State cup.

The reason all the athletes are in one group is due to all awards being individual score based. Gold medal for any 9's and overall medal colour based on total. One of their athletes looked to have bombed an apparatus and didn't even make a 32AA.

They never competed against 12 year olds they competed alongside them for personal achievement.

If we are arguing that these levels should be for very young kids- then this award system is perfect.

Wow this is really interesting. Sounds like a good system for young kids.

 

[Anonymous (5140)]

There’s just something about all of this particular gyms posts that give me the ick. I can’t quite put my finger on why or what it is. It’s odd for someone with no upper optionals claim to be training all these girls for elite… and yet the girls they showcase always seem to disappear after a few months or year.

 

[Anonymous (0e64)]

Seems like this whole issue revolves around awards and someone not getting a medal.

Seriously!

 

[Anonymous (2fd6)]

So above you will see what they have posted on the FB page. They are basically saying if your child does not have "high performance" potential, you should move to xcel and leave DP for the "uniquely gifted athletes".

There’s just something about all of this particular gyms posts that give me the ick. I can’t quite put my finger on why or what it is. It’s odd for someone with no upper optionals claim to be training all these girls for elite… and yet the girls they showcase always seem to disappear after a few months or year.

It is weird. I have no insider knowledge, but being the chosen one working alone with coaches has to be lonely. Gymnasts thrive on friendships with teammates. It seems like a system that could have a very high rate of burnout.

 

[Anonymous (55ff)]

There’s just something about all of this particular gyms posts that give me the ick. I can’t quite put my finger on why or what it is. It’s odd for someone with no upper optionals claim to be training all these girls for elite… and yet the girls they showcase always seem to disappear after a few months or year.

There is so much ick. The constant posting of this one young girl, throwing her around, acting like that equates to her being on the elite path, the suspension from the Romanian Federation, the leo their gymnasts wear (sorry, but putting a 6-year old in a leo that resembles a corset that accentuates their chest...I would flat out refuse to have my child wear that). Add in the fact that he can't seem keep any optional gymnasts at his gym, petitioning USAG to put age caps on lower levels (seems like he wants USAG to be run like the Romanian system...there's no room for girls that just want to do this for fun). And he has the audacity to call for "Integrity" when he himself sandbags his xcel gymnasts. Pretty ironic.

 

[Anonymous (2f93)]

There has been an interesting discussion that one of region 6 gyms is advocating for putting age caps on DP levels and xcel is for older girls. “Older” means 8 is too old for level 2, 10 is too old for level 4, with “low or no potential”to “make it”. DP is only for elite or NCAA kids.

As a parent with a kiddo starting in xcel bronze at 6, who is now doing well as an optional gymnast and who didn’t even know what “college”’really means at age 6, I want to hear what your take on this.

Background info:
Region 6 has scarce and unevenly distributed gymnastics resources where most families have limited access or knowledge to “good gyms”. There is no elite gym in many of the region 6 states.

Post Covid we didn’t have the choice of going one or another. My kid had some natural talent but retrospectively thinking lacked maturity for repetitions and couldn’t get the darn front hip circle, she would’ve quit. And no, she still doesn’t have Olympic dreams and is only mentioning NCAA casually.

I am glad that she started off in xcel. She also had teammates who started at 9+ in rec and soared through to optionals within 3 years - who would’ve been deemed “no potential” according to this gym. I personally feel that age shouldn’t be the only consideration for triaging kids early on.

the gym is calling for “integrity” from USAG member gyms - meaning putting older kids in DP is deemed integral.

Of course there were comments on their Instagram but the gym blocks any opposing thoughts. So I Want to hear your thoughts on this!

The gym this is coming from is notorious for complaining about things. Their thought process on this is just ridiculous. They are advocating that levels are made for "ages" rather than "skill level." Because they went to a meet with very little Level 2 entries, so all the kids in the level were in one age group. Its really rather insulting to say that compulsory levels are only for those going elite or on the college track, and that the levels should be limited to certain ages,

He really thinks that Level 2 is for 6 year olds. But some kids start late, and they are older, like the ripe old age of 8, and should be forced to go to Xcel because they are too old for the college or elite track (not). The level routines are made for skill level, and just because a kid is 8 or 9, it doesn't mean that their skill level is level 4 or 5.

USAG will never put age limits on levels, because first it's not fair, and 2nd, it's just ridiculous. They would not spend the time and energy to make up those routines for the very small majority of kids that are on the elite or college track. And who even knows that's in their future at age 6? So many young, talented gymnasts quit because of burn out, growth spurts, loss of interest, loss of financial ability, changing their minds, injury, mental blocks, etc. And conversely, so many that end up elite or even college gymnasts didn't even start on that path until they were high level DP gymnasts.

 

[Anonymous (2fd6)]

The gym this is coming from is notorious for complaining about things. Their thought process on this is just ridiculous. They are advocating that levels are made for "ages" rather than "skill level." Because they went to a meet with very little Level 2 entries, so all the kids in the level were in one age group. Its really rather insulting to say that compulsory levels are only for those going elite or on the college track, and that the levels should be limited to certain ages,

He really thinks that Level 2 is for 6 year olds. But some kids start late, and they are older, like the ripe old age of 8, and should be forced to go to Xcel because they are too old for the college or elite track (not). The level routines are made for skill level, and just because a kid is 8 or 9, it doesn't mean that their skill level is level 4 or 5.

USAG will never put age limits on levels, because first it's not fair, and 2nd, it's just ridiculous. They would not spend the time and energy to make up those routines for the very small majority of kids that are on the elite or college track. And who even knows that's in their future at age 6? So many young, talented gymnasts quit because of burn out, growth spurts, loss of interest, loss of financial ability, changing their minds, injury, mental blocks, etc. And conversely, so many that end up elite or even college gymnasts didn't even start on that path until they were high level DP gymnasts.

I think he clarified that he believes levels 1-3 are specifically made for kids too young to compete levels 4+. I think a lot of people on this thread are taking his words to mean level 4 is only for 7-8 year olds, but he specifically says that there are exceptions and some girls over 11 should compete USAG level 4.

I personally think his instagram is offputting and that it's notable that he has no successful optional gymnasts, but people on this thread are arguing against things he never said.