Parents Should we switch gyms?

[Ncgymnastmom]

I pretty much think you have answered your own question. Try out some other gyms and find a good well rounded Xcel program, that fits what your looking for. Just because she does Xcel this coming season, does not mean she can't do optionals in the future.

Thank you this is what we are leaning towards! She actually has a tryout at another gym this weekend and we will see how it goes!

 

[Gymnastics15]

Thank you this is what we are leaning towards! She actually has a tryout at another gym this weekend and we will see how it goes!

Best of luck!

 

[Lil' Punky Toots]

And AFTER you have left, in a polite email. Mum’s the word until you’re out the door … BTDT

This post had me thinking -- is it better to email the gym or speak to the coach directly?

We have had absolutely no problems in the 6+ years that we have been going to our current gym and will always see it as having been a positive experience.

However, both of our girls are ready to move on, and will be going to another gym much closer to home. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies

 

[raenndrops]

This post had me thinking -- is it better to email the gym or speak to the coach directly?

We have had absolutely no problems in the 6+ years that we have been going to our current gym and will always see it as having been a positive experience.

However, both of our girls are ready to move on, and will be going to another gym much closer to home. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies

Make sure you are paid up. Email after you have left. Make sure you also cancel any automatic payments, too.

 

[Lil' Punky Toots]

Hi raenndrops,

Thank you for responding to my post. I respect your experience and what you have to say on a wide variety of gymnastics-related topics, and although my older daughter has been doing this for a while, I still consider myself a newbie, especially when dealing with the staff at her current gym.

In your experience/opinion, why do think it is better for me or my wife to email the coaches rather than asking to speak with them in person? I know that I can thank them for everything that they have done for our girls (from a developmental standpoint not just in gymnastics but in life skills) in an email, but I just thought it would be more genuine if I did it in person.

Thanks again for your thoughts

 

[txgymfan]

Most Chalk Bucket members, including me, recommend sending an email after you leave because many of us have had experience with “ good, nice” coaches/ bosses/ teammates / colleagues quickly becoming not nice when they find out that you’re leaving, especially for another gym. Your gym may be the exception. They could wish you all well cheer for your gymnasts at future meets and understand your reasoning. Unfortunately, that is often not the case.

 

[raenndrops]

Hi raenndrops,

Thank you for responding to my post. I respect your experience and what you have to say on a wide variety of gymnastics-related topics, and although my older daughter has been doing this for a while, I still consider myself a newbie, especially when dealing with the staff at her current gym.

In your experience/opinion, why do think it is better for me or my wife to email the coaches rather than asking to speak with them in person? I know that I can thank them for everything that they have done for our girls (from a developmental standpoint not just in gymnastics but in life skills) in an email, but I just thought it would be more genuine if I did it in person.

Thanks again for your thoughts

Talking to the coaches is for when there is a chance that you will stay at the gym.
You have to be very careful how you word things, just in case you cross paths with the coaches down the road at your new gym or at a meet. The gym world is small and people can be petty.
@txgymfan explained it well.

 

[Carly]

My dd and I spoke with the head coach, who is also the owner, when she was switching gyms. My dd didn't really want to leave the gym but they couldn't offer her the type of program she was looking for after deciding that a high hours DP program was not for her anymore. The coach was very understanding and said that she was welcome back if she ever changed her mind. So, I think it really depends on your reason for switching to determine if an in-person vs and email is the best option.

 

[Lil' Punky Toots]

Thank you so much for your thoughts, everyone!

 

[Lil' Punky Toots]

My dd and I spoke with the head coach, who is also the owner, when she was switching gyms. My dd didn't really want to leave the gym but they couldn't offer her the type of program she was looking for after deciding that a high hours DP program was not for her anymore. The coach was very understanding and said that she was welcome back if she ever changed her mind. So, I think it really depends on your reason for switching to determine if an in-person vs and email is the best option.

Hi Carly,

Our situation is much different from yours. It has more to do with geography and our older daughter’s desire to return to her old school

 

[#BGymnast]

I have felt like this before with my coach. I would say that it mostly depends on whether she is enjoying gym or not. If not moving up is making her feel like she's not good enough, which I imagine it would, then moving would probably be a good idea if u want to continue gym. But if she has good friends at the gym, and she wants to stay, let her. Mostly I think just do what she wants to.
The only other thing is that you have to be firm with her that she doesn't just get to move gyms whenever things don't go her way. If you move to a new gym and she ends up with a bad coach, so you move again, then she doesn't move up so you move again, then she will never get better. So if you decide to move, make the decision final.
I wish you both the best of luck, and make sure that she knows that she is NOT bad at gymnastics, she is AMAZING and always will be!

 

[RALG]

Hi, my daughter is 9(almost 10) and just completed her second year of level 4. At her gym they have to score 2 34s to move up to level 5. My daughter scored 34.5-35.5 consistently this season(they had 9 meets). Her highest scores on events were 8.9-vault, 8.7 bar, 9.6 beam and 9.3 floor. We just had a parent meeting and we are being told that she can’t do level 5 due to bars(apparently she only gets a straight arm kip 70% of the time at practice is what they are saying) and they want her to go to xcel gold(which is 6 hours a week vs 12 hours she does now and the xcel team is awful at our gym they are always last place at every meet). Other girls on the team scored lower than her on bars and aren’t being told this and it feels like they are trying to push us out and I don’t understand why because she works hard and never complains or misses practice. Our whole level 4 team of 18 girls besides my daughter and 2 others(who scored around the same as my daughter this season) scored 7’s on bars all season! So I think it’s a coaching issue since they all are doing poor on bars. My daughter is completely devastated because she was promised if she completed a second year of 4 and got those 34’s she would get level 5(last season she was getting 33.5 and bars were week she was getting on average a 7.5 so I get the repeat that year). Also I was never told her bars were an issue until this week at move up time. Anyways should we find a new gym who will allow her to move up? We have 3 with in 20 mins of us but one does xcel until level 6 instead of levels 1-5.

Level 5 will chew you up and spit you out if you’re not strong on bars
Especially in terms of scorings. It’s just a harsh level. There is nothing wrong with Xcel gold so she can work higher skills on her other events while dealing with that straight arm kip. My daughter is in a similar position. My only concern would be with the Xcel gold at your current gym in terms of hours and maybe quality. Are there alternatives?

 

[Ncgymnastmom]

Level 5 will chew you up and spit you out if you’re not strong on bars
Especially in terms of scorings. It’s just a harsh level. There is nothing wrong with Xcel gold so she can work higher skills on her other events while dealing with that straight arm kip. My daughter is in a similar position. My only concern would be with the Xcel gold at your current gym in terms of hours and maybe quality. Are there alternatives?

Thanks for the reply, we actually found a gym that does xcel until level 6. She has been there for 2 months now and is doing so well and actual has improved a ton on her bars! They allowed her to test out of level 5 last week and she did get a 32 but has decided to give xcel gold a try this year and really strengthen her bars to compete level 6(or even 7) next year! I am so glad we stitch gyms.