Parents Quitting due to bar skills?

[Ncgymnastmom]

My daughter is almost 10. She competed level 4 last year and it was her second year. She is amazing at floor,beam and vault(she can do level 7-8 skills for all 3) but she can’t for the life of her figure out bars and she is about to give up. She was getting her kips on both high and low bar everytime with a connect but not great cast from october-March(scores around 8.5) then state came and she lost her high bar kip(got a 8) . Now she can’t hardly do kips at all(she misses about half of them and if she makes it she’s super bent arms and just sloppy) she is suppose to be working on level 5 but since she can’t make kips. She also can’t even begin to figure out how a clear hip works(she keeps just doing a regular old back hip circle). Honestly I don’t know what to do anymore. This is what happened her first year level 4 and why she repeated it’s like upgrade season comes and she forgets all her bar skills. Do we make her quit at this point because she will never move out of level 4 due to bars? Move to xcel? I just don’t know what to do anymore.

 

[raenndrops]

I would suggest a move to Xcel (hopefully temporary, unless she loves it). She could compete Xcel Gold while still working on her kip,and not have to put it in her routine on competition day if it isn't there. She could also do some of her higher-level skills on Beam and Floor.

It might just be the change that allows her skills to return sooner than later.

Good luck.

 

[GymnastPotterhead]

Xcel sounds like a great option if she still enjoys gymnastics. Xcel allows a greater flexibility of skills within each level so she could keep working her level 7-8 skills on other events while spending time to catch up on bars. And she could always move back to DP in the future if that's a good choice. Bars in general is usually the hardest for most gymnasts to get skills on so don't be discouraged!

I'm just a gymnast (well retired gymnast now) so take that as you will. Others here could probably give you more advice. Good luck!

 

[Dahlialover]

I’d switch to Xcel or Trampoline and Tumbling.

 

[rd7]

What does your daughter want to do? Would she be happier in DP competing the lower level skills again whilst she works on her bars or would moving to Xcel be better for her so that she can compete her harder skills on floor, beam and vault? What do her coaches say? Are they suggesting that she quit?
Also bars problems are usually due to lack of strength. Is your daughter willing to put in the strength work at home that she needs (and will continue to need) to stay in DP?

 

[Milomom]

Move to Xcel - it will help her confidence so much! My daughter switched because of flexibility issues and being able to work around that has helped her really enjoy the sport so much more.

 

[Ncgymnastmom]

I’d switch to Xcel or Trampoline and Tumbling.

She actually did t and t when she was 5-7 and was very good at it(she was level 5 on all events working toward 6). With that said she quit because she was bored of it but maybe we can revisit it!

 

[Ncgymnastmom]

What does your daughter want to do? Would she be happier in DP competing the lower level skills again whilst she works on her bars or would moving to Xcel be better for her so that she can compete her harder skills on floor, beam and vault? What do her coaches say? Are they suggesting that she quit?
Also bars problems are usually due to lack of strength. Is your daughter willing to put in the strength work at home that she needs (and will continue to need) to stay in DP?

She is extremely strong(she’s built like Simone bulky muscles) she’s actually the most muscular on the team and works out everyday. The coaches think she’s got issues with timing because she keeps growing so that’s why she keeps going back. They said they suggest she working level 5/6 over summer and if she’s still struggling she can do either level 4 a third year, so level 5 but scratch bars or switch to xcel. She’s honestly considering xcel because she’s stressing out a lot about bars and having to not compete an event or repeat level 4. Also it she doesn’t compete bars this year at 5 chances are she will have to repeat that level anyways. So not sure what to do at this point. Maybe I can just have her try xcel for a few weeks.

 

[Dahlialover]

They said they suggest she working level 5/6 over summer and if she’s still struggling she can do either level 4 a third year, so level 5 but scratch bars or switch to xcel.

I think that the coach’s plan is a perfectly good one. Keep training 5/6 and figure out what competition level makes sense in the fall. I would stay out of it other than to reassure your daughter that it’s perfectly normal and okay for powerful gymnasts to lag on bars development and that she has plenty of options for next year that will allow her to continue progressing. I always tell my kid that, as far as I am concerned, he could skip competition entirely! As long as she is having fun and progressing, everything is good.

One thing to consider about level 5 is that she can get her mobility score to level 6 or 7 with 3 9s and a 5 on bars. A 5 is an obtainable goal. Everyone does not need to be a strong all-arounder, especially in optionals. You can be a floor and vault star while just scrapping by on bars and it’s okay.

 

[Ncgymnastmom]

I think that the coach’s plan is a perfectly good one. Keep training 5/6 and figure out what competition level makes sense in the fall. I would stay out of it other than to reassure your daughter that it’s perfectly normal and okay for powerful gymnasts to lag on bars development and that she has plenty of options for next year that will allow her to continue progressing. I always tell my kid that, as far as I am concerned, he could skip competition entirely! As long as she is having fun and progressing, everything is good.

One thing to consider about level 5 is that she can get her mobility score to level 6 or 7 with 3 9s and a 5 on bars. A 5 is an obtainable goal. Everyone does not need to be a strong all-arounder, especially in optionals. You can be a floor and vault star while just scrapping by on bars and it’s okay.

They told me regardless of her hitting the 32 to move up she won’t be allowed to do level 6 without a cast handstand and straight arm kip unfortunately(she totally could get 9.5 on beam,vault and floor currently but probably around a 6 on bars in level 5). But they did say she could do level 5 and scratch bars just not level 6. So that’s why I’m conflicted on what to do I don’t wang her to be stuck at 5 for a 2-3 years.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

Wait and see - you are very lucky to have coaches who have an open mind and a program that can allow your child the time and options to best suit her.

It almost sounds like your child has been using strength to compensate for technique and good quality swing on bars which is why she is struggling through the growth spurts.

Remain positive and supportive, it sounds like she just needs time - so managing the mental side of the struggle is key - Resilience is one of the most important skill for high level gymnastics in my opinion.

 

[Dahlialover]

So that’s why I’m conflicted on what to do I don’t wang her to be stuck at 5 for a 2-3 years.

Given everything you have said about your daughter, there is absolutely no reason to assume that this problem will persist for years. Heck, it may not last the summer. Relax and give it time.

 

[Coach Kate]

It's just now the beginning of May! I would take all pressure off and just tell your daughter to go to gym, have fun, and work hard.

This is also a rare case of when I think a private lesson or two might be in order, since most of the athletes in her group won't really be doing a lot of kip drills, and it sounds like it's more timing than anything else. I don't rush to privates as a solution, but when an athlete is putting in the effort and the group is moving on, I find it beneficial (I had one who was struggling with jump to high bar for example. Everyone else in the group was solid so I wasn't setting up the mats and progressions for that anymore which made it hard for her to learn. We did one private and it caught her up!).

Also, just out of curiosity, did she get two 36s at level 4? So if she could get that kip cast handstand, would she go to 6? It sounds like there are so many options for her and that her coaches are trying to find the best solution.

Upgrade season was such a breath of fresh air for me as a coach, especially after compulsory season so I hope your daughter has fun this spring and summer and really nails that kip down!

 

[raenndrops]

She is extremely strong(she’s built like Simone bulky muscles) she’s actually the most muscular on the team and works out everyday. The coaches think she’s got issues with timing because she keeps growing so that’s why she keeps going back. They said they suggest she working level 5/6 over summer and if she’s still struggling she can do either level 4 a third year, so level 5 but scratch bars or switch to xcel. She’s honestly considering xcel because she’s stressing out a lot about bars and having to not compete an event or repeat level 4. Also it she doesn’t compete bars this year at 5 chances are she will have to repeat that level anyways. So not sure what to do at this point. Maybe I can just have her try xcel for a few weeks.

I was going to ask if she had hit a growth spurt. That does mess up timing. All 3 of mine lost kips due to growth spurts. around the ages of 9-12. OG lost hers completely for 3 weeks and was hit or miss for 4-5 weeks after that. YG had just gotten her kip (successful in her last 10/10 attempts in practice) and had a growth spurt over the weekend. The kip was gone for a little over a month and was hit or miss for another 2 months. LSS lost her kip 3 meets into her Level 4 season. The next meet wasn't until 7 weeks later. By then, it was back to hit or miss for the rest of the season. She went to Xcel Gold for the next season.

I agree with giving her the time to continue training 5/6 and if she is still struggling then, make the switch to Xcel.

 

[Katie]

If the kip is upsetting her, she might like Xcel gold. No kip required, and she can do harder skills on the other events if she wants

 

[cmg]

Why would you make her quit gymnastics because she can't complete a skill and won't be good enough? What if she did compete L4 again? I understand gymnastics is expensive but the untold pressure you are putting on her to me would contribute to her issues. It sounds like you will only support her if she is successful and not getting her kip means she has to quit. Lots of leg strength gymnasts have struggles on bars. Give it time she will get there. Remember even the great Simone Biles struggled with bars.