- Mar 1, 2011
- 22
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My daughter, who is 7,competed Xcel Gold (in our part of region 8 Xcel is just as competitive, if notmore so than compulsory). I believe thisis equivalent to Level 5. She startedoff the year scoring in the low 35’s but by the end of the season, at her last3 or 4 meets, she was scoring in the mid 37’s. She made incredible progress throughout the year and was often times theyoungest in the entire Gold level at meets. The beginning birthday for the Gold level at the Regional meet actuallyfell on her birthday. At Regionals, sheactually won bars. Her gym is hoping hergroup will score out of the old level 6 sometime this summer before the newroutines are required. This summer shewill be training level 7 skills with the possibility of competing the new level6 or even level 7 (although that seems to be a far reaching goal) this comingwinter. I am super proud of her, as shehas battled some fear for the first time this year. Just thinking back to where she was a yearago compared to where she is now seems incredible!! Now onto my annoying Texas question. It appears that my husband’s job will berelocating us to the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. Although my husband willhave to move almost immediately, my daughter and I will stay home until ourhouse sells. I have searched andsearched the Internet and have done a good deal of research on not only placesto live, but also gyms in the DFW area. We will more than likely end up in the Grapevine/Flower Mound/Coppellarea; however, there is a possibility we could end up in the Planoor Richardsonarea. DFW area has entirely too many choices And, I can only do so much research on gyms inthe area online. I think so much of choosinga gym actually comes from being in the gym, meeting the kids, parents and coaches,just being there and getting a feel for the gym in general. That being said, I would love some personalexperience and information from my fellow chalk buckets users. Whenever I mention the names of gyms in theDFW area to parents here, I am always answered with terrible things they haveheard here, there and yonder haha! So Iwould love actual experience and/or knowledge. I do not expect my daughter to go to the Olympics; however, I do knowshe has true natural talent and a genuine love for the sport that consumes her days. Although not important now, I would like to be at a gym that she could go the elite route if she so chooses without having to change gyms again. Moving and this change of gyms is going to break her heart. She has been at this same gym since she startedat age 3. It’s between a small andmedium size gym so she knows all the gymnasts from the lower and upper levels. It’s a true family and I really would like to pick the “right” gym in Dallas so that she can establish the same type of relationships there and does not have to change gyms again. Where we are now has established themselves as a great gym in our area and consistently sends girls to college on scholarships. The owners have stated they don’t really have the desire to coach elite due to the time it takes-they love coaching girls to get to the college level though. So, my daughter does come from agym with a very good coaching background. She does not do well with the “task master” kind of coaching. Instead, she flourishes with positive coaching and praise where she can still have fun and enjoy this sport she loves so much. After all, she is still only 7. If helpful, we will be either homeschooling or looking into alternative half dayschooling options. I would love any information, opinions, and/or experiences anyone can offer about any gyms in the DFW area. And, are there any that we should definitely stay away from? Wow, I did not expectthis post to be so long. My apologies and if you have made it this far, my thanks!
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