Women Switching from Xcel to JO

[#mango12345]

I have been very successful as a xcel diamond getting 37s but I don’t feel like my coaches actually coach, we never do drills, especially for the higher levels. I see my teammates in Sapphire and they just aren’t ready and don’t have their skills at all, I have also always dreamed of getting higher skills like level 10 but I just feel like that isn’t possible in the gym that I am at right now, My gym also only has Xcel. I was wondering if I could switch to JO but I am relatively old for gymnastics, I’m a freshman. Do you think I could still be successful in JO, also is it really as much as a difference like I hear? I practice 3 times a week for 4 hours. These are the skills that I have:

Floor: Back full, front layout, ft ft, working front lay front tuck, double turn and front fulls on tumble track

Bars: Giants, layout flyaway, working clear hip hands

Vault: Half on full off, working tsuks into the pit

Beam: Cartwheel roundoff, switch leap, working back tucks on low beam

Also, what level would I be?

 

[Ncgymnastmom]

I would say with those skills around level 7 but your best bet would be to call around and see if you can get into an evaluation at a gym that offers Jo. They would be able to give you a better idea of where you’re at.

 

[#mango12345]

I would say with those skills around level 7 but your best bet would be to call around and see if you can get into an evaluation at a gym that offers Jo. They would be able to give you a better idea of where you’re at.

What do you think of the switch? Would most gyms support it? Would it be too much of a change? Especially with practice hours.

 

[Ncgymnastmom]

Most gyms would be supportive if you are willing to put in the work and show up to practice consistently. The hours would be more than you’re used to many gyms train around 16-20 hours a week at level 7+ so that’s up to you if you can handle that many hours. Also Jo tends to be a lot more expensive due to more hours, usually more private lessons, more meets with a few travel meets so keep that in mind to when switching . Some gyms may also require some dance classes too on top of gymnastics. Also your training will most likely have alot more conditioning than you are use to at the xcel level. If level 10 is your goal I would say you have nothing to lose by looking into some other gyms and seeing your options.

 

[Coach Kate]

Just for clarity for everyone involved, it is no longer called JO, but developmental program. Especially if you're making inquiries at other gyms, using the correct terms can be helpful.

I do agree that you could look into some other gyms if your parents are supportive of a potential switch, but I would wait until after meet season. Our gym never did anything about inquiries until the end of the gym year except for unusual situations like a sudden move or someone we knew personally.

 

[raenndrops]

I agree that you should wait until the end of the current season. Call around to other gyms asking for an evaluation for their DP program. You could also ask about training hours (some teams train 16-20+ hours a week at Level 7+).

At your age, a gym could petition you into L7 with a video showing your skills. They could even use video of your Xcel Diamond routines. If your current gym is supportive of your wanting to move to a gym to compete DP, they might even be willing to file the petition for you so you can move to a new gym as a Level 7. Then, depending on how your skills progress through the rest of this season, the new gym might let you score out of L7 and move to L8.

 

[#mango12345]

I agree that you should wait until the end of the current season. Call around to other gyms asking for an evaluation for their DP program. You could also ask about training hours (some teams train 16-20+ hours a week at Level 7+).

At your age, a gym could petition you into L7 with a video showing your skills. They could even use video of your Xcel Diamond routines. If your current gym is supportive of your wanting to move to a gym to compete DP, they might even be willing to file the petition for you so you can move to a new gym as a Level 7. Then, depending on how your skills progress through the rest of this season, the new gym might let you score out of L7 and move to L8.

Is it possible to do level 8+ without a backhandspring on beam?