Parents Time to check out other gyms?

[iwannacoach]

...... If she has gymnastics in her blood and this is her passion, to the exclusion of everything else, and she sees herself sticking out the sport to level 10, then it is time to make a change. For a long-term future you need a better situation than you have......

Meet director, I'm totally in the same car as you.

Repeat level 3?? Here's a short and incomplete list of the reasons for a child to repeat L3. Some are reasons you can embrace, and others are far less embraceable.

1. The first year of L3 was preceded by a very brief span of time in the rec program and pre team. This could happen when a child with lots of potential walks through the door 6 months before the L3 season is to begin, or when a club uses L3 as a pre team.

2. The purpose of repeating is to keep their competitive training to a minimum to allow time for substantial skillwork for the future. In this context the goal is to help them move through L4 and L5 in the year following their L3 repeat.

3. When a child has fear issues and needs a little mental space.

Those are the "good" reasons. Now for the not so good reasons......

4. The criteria to select team members is too forgiving and places kids on team that are neither committed nor physically fit. Level 3 is a deceptive level and looks like anyone can do it. While in a sense that's true, there's a big difference between being able to struggle through skills and competing those skills in a complete routine.

5. The kids repeat L3 because the "club" isn't committed to their competitive program and needs to keep the kids at the lower levels to give the kids a sense of accomplishment in their second year. Sure, kids should feel successful but not at the cost of losing a year of progress toward the next level and the levels beyond.

6. The kid has to repeat because their love for the sport does not include any sense of desire to become more than they already are. There's nothing wrong with that, but kids need to need progress to get progress.

If you realistically view your child as the opposite of reasons 4, 5, and 6...... and she really is passionate to the extent you feel she supports the sport with sacrifices greater than you're immediately comfortable with, then you have to find a different gym..... unless reasons 1, 2, and 3 are very true and the club is working the system to each child's benefit.

 

[mommyof1]

I would like her to move but I would also like her to take some ownership of the whole thing.

Her ownership = clearly communicating her goals to you, committing to the program that you the parent select as best tailored to her goals, and working hard every day at practice.

 

[Eagleperson]

Thanks again everybody!
She is going to workout at the new gym again tonight and then the decision needs to be made.

 

[Eagleperson]

Her ownership = clearly communicating her goals to you, committing to the program that you the parent select as best tailored to her goals, and working hard every day at practice.

Yes. I told her she needed to decide if she wanted to be more competitive and was willing to work longer hours or if she was, when all is said and done, happy with a more casual gym. Her final answer to that will factor in to the decision. On the one hand the new gym is actually cheaper, on the other hand it will require our family really re-arranging our schedule (and she is not an only child).

 

[Eagleperson]

Meet director, I'm totally in the same car as you.

Repeat level 3?? Here's a short and incomplete list of the reasons for a child to repeat L3. Some are reasons you can embrace, and others are far less embraceable.

1. The first year of L3 was preceded by a very brief span of time in the rec program and pre team. This could happen when a child with lots of potential walks through the door 6 months before the L3 season is to begin, or when a club uses L3 as a pre team.

2. The purpose of repeating is to keep their competitive training to a minimum to allow time for substantial skillwork for the future. In this context the goal is to help them move through L4 and L5 in the year following their L3 repeat.

3. When a child has fear issues and needs a little mental space.

Those are the "good" reasons. Now for the not so good reasons......

4. The criteria to select team members is too forgiving and places kids on team that are neither committed nor physically fit. Level 3 is a deceptive level and looks like anyone can do it. While in a sense that's true, there's a big difference between being able to struggle through skills and competing those skills in a complete routine.

5. The kids repeat L3 because the "club" isn't committed to their competitive program and needs to keep the kids at the lower levels to give the kids a sense of accomplishment in their second year. Sure, kids should feel successful but not at the cost of losing a year of progress toward the next level and the levels beyond.

6. The kid has to repeat because their love for the sport does not include any sense of desire to become more than they already are. There's nothing wrong with that, but kids need to need progress to get progress.

If you realistically view your child as the opposite of reasons 4, 5, and 6...... and she really is passionate to the extent you feel she supports the sport with sacrifices greater than you're immediately comfortable with, then you have to find a different gym..... unless reasons 1, 2, and 3 are very true and the club is working the system to each child's benefit.

This gave me a lot to think about. The main reason she wasn't moved to level 4 was because she still struggles with her back handspring (and this is where I have seen the coaches drop the ball a bit) and so couldn't get the two back handsprings in the level 4 routine (also she was close to the kip and cartwheel on the beam but they wanted her to have it before moving up). I think skill-wise level 3 is where she should be. I think with different coaching she would've been ready. But, who knows!?

 

[Eagleperson]

We decided to switch gyms and my kid is so excited. She worked out with her new team this week and liked the girls, the facility and the gym. The practices are longer and more difficult and the coach already has a plan in place for improving some of her weaker skills but was also complimentary of my daughter's abilities etc. Seems like a good fit!
Thanks all!

 

[gymmomtoo]

Just read this thread and glad to see the happy ending! Hope all goes well for her this year.

 

[Becauseisaid]

We decided to switch gyms and my kid is so excited. She worked out with her new team this week and liked the girls, the facility and the gym. The practices are longer and more difficult and the coach already has a plan in place for improving some of her weaker skills but was also complimentary of my daughter's abilities etc. Seems like a good fit!
Thanks all!

Good for her for making the switch! No one LIKES change, but it IS how we grow. In a year, your DD will probably look back and wonder why she was nervous to make the switch.

 

[iagymmom]

Good for your dd, it takes bravery to leave the familiar best of luck for her upcoming season.

 

[Eagleperson]

Good for your dd, it takes bravery to leave the familiar best of luck for her upcoming season.

Thanks!
She starts at the new gym in a week or so and is really excited.

 

[sevenatenine2]

I'm glad your daughter is happy with the change and I'm glad it worked out for the best for your family!

This has nothing to do with your daughter, but I'm interested in one of the above responses that said that a negative reason to repeat 3 is that the gym is too forgiving with team selection. As a coach, I've invited kids that are interested in competitive gymnastics to our Level 2 and 3 teams knowing that while they have the means to be successful (at least competent) at whatever level I've placed them, some of them are likely not moving up much higher because of circumstances that have nothing to do with coaching. These are kids that wouldn't make a team at many gyms, but are able to have one or two good years of competition at a low compulsory level before moving on. I've always seen it as a positive thing to have given them the opportunity to compete, but now I'm curious as to of other parents see it as a negative if they do repeat a low level once they reach the maximum of their ability level.

 

[Seeker]

I've always seen it as a positive thing to have given them the opportunity to compete, but now I'm curious as to of other parents see it as a negative if they do repeat a low level once they reach the maximum of their ability level.

I definitely think it is a positive thing. I think that where it becomes challenging/difficult is that many parents have no knowledge of gymnastics or an understanding of the skills at the current level and the next level up. The 2 gyms that we have been at haven't been good at communicating this info or offering Gymnastics 101 for parents, so I think that a lot of frustration at the lower levels comes from just a lack of understanding all the way around. And many new parents don't have a good sense of their child's skills. Of course we're biased -- we see them working hard and improving, but on meet day when they're judged and compared to others it can be a rude awakening, especially if you don't have a good set of expectations going in.

There is also a marked difference in programs that approach it in the way you stated versus those that are very competitive and have the goal to get as many girls to L10 as possible. Very different approaches, philosophies and goals. Neither is bad or wrong -- they're just different. Each gymnast/family has to find the right fit for them or it could be very frustrating.

 

[emorymom]

Those are the "good" reasons. Now for the not so good reasons......

4. The criteria to select team members is too forgiving and places kids on team that are neither committed nor physically fit. Level 3 is a deceptive level and looks like anyone can do it. While in a sense that's true, there's a big difference between being able to struggle through skills and competing those skills in a complete routine.

There is a place in gymnastics for kids who need more than 1 year at L3 and might be 17 year old L7s. It's not wrong for some teams to offer them that place. There's a group of kids who are committed and physically fit but will struggle with a skill or two in the first year of L3 because they aren't shiny at gymnastics.

This gave me a lot to think about. The main reason she wasn't moved to level 4 was because she still struggles with her back handspring (and this is where I have seen the coaches drop the ball a bit) and so couldn't get the two back handsprings in the level 4 routine (also she was close to the kip and cartwheel on the beam but they wanted her to have it before moving up). I think skill-wise level 3 is where she should be. I think with different coaching she would've been ready. But, who knows!?

My 10yo DD is repeating L3 because she also struggled with doing her ROBHS unspotted and never got the FHS and was also in a 6 hour program (convenient, cheap, good, pick any two) where she was not the only one having ROBHS trouble through the end of the season. But she's at a gym now that will go about 8 hours a week in possibly a smaller group, so she's more likely to be ready for L4 this time next year. HOWEVER, in her first year of L3 she grew a lot as a gymnast. She was there because it was convenient and cheap, and while it's her first love and she's committed, I would have preferred to keep it low key and have her do another year of L3 (at 6 hours/week) and then two years of L4 (at 6 hours/week) and evaluate at that time. She's also a very committed swimmer and that's really where my heart is for her as soon as she is ready to move on.

But her gym decided to discontinue L4 and encourage the 2nd year L3s to move to gyms where it would be easier to be successful. And really it's better for tumble on a spring floor at her age and size.

 

[gracyomalley]

As a parent of three very different gymnasts, I think its a shame if a kid is involved in a program that WOULDN'T allow for the slower learning, likely to peak at a low level kid to get a chance to compete if they wish and are safe. Some of those kids will actually surprise you and at least make it to mid-level optionals and be real contributing members of a team...some will leave after a few years in compulsories but have gained a lot from gymnastics.

We live in the rural west. Although there are Level 10s around here off and on, and a few college athletes, by and large to get to L8-9 is a feat - even with good coaching....this goes for both boys and girls. The challenge is to have a program that can get that one in a hundred kid trained well enough to "get out of here" successfully, while keeping gymnastics viable and enjoyable for others. Several smaller gyms are floundering locally right now because of this balance. There is no excel.

What I think as a parent is important is that parents realize the reality of their child's skill level...I won't say "talent" because that word is so undefinable. I have had a self proclaimed "terrible" older boy gymnast who never wanted to quit even with repeating L5 3 times - who now with a new coaching team and puberty is learning L8 skills on certain events, L7 overall and is really quite lovely to watch...may make event specialist as a high school level 10 in a few years....likely would have been "encouraged" to do something else in certain top notch programs....and he works hard and loves it. My DD was one of the "top dogs" at her small gym, top 10% at state all age groups as a L7, but is realizing that she needs to find her confidence within herself now with new, kind but more matter of fact, coaching...and in larger gym with tons of optionals, in order to continue to succeed at L8.

I think there are coaches who bring kids on to team for the right reasons without explaining to kid and parents that some team level kids are likely to succeed at much higher levels than others...and the 10 year old L3 who struggles with form and strength is unlikely to sky-rocket to L10 in high school....even with hard work. Unlikely, but not impossible .

Any parent that pays attention at meets can see the difference between their own child and others - both in positive and negative ways. (Just like a realistic parent doesn't really think that every kid deserves As at school in every subject...) The kid who continues to slowly improve with hard work is likely to continue to do so...the kid who after multiple years of gym still can't point his/her toes or hasn't gained the strength to move on either doesn't want it bad enough to work at it, has a coach who clearly doesn't correct these critical things, or simply isn't cut out to WIN at gymnastics - but may be cut out to enjoy it. Frankly, confident coaches should be fine with competing both the kid who can wow and score high, and the kid whose success is measured simply in "not falling on pommel", or "making it to state", or improving from year to year. That's what the teaching part of it is all about.

 

[tooootsie]

I have already been told my 5y/o DD JO3 will likely repeat 3, I am OK with that

 

[emorymom]

I have already been told my 5y/o DD JO3 will likely repeat 3, I am OK with that

Well they can't compete USAG L3 until they're 6 ...

 

[tooootsie]

Well they can't compete USAG L3 until they're 6 ...

She turns 6 when they start competing in fall. She will be turning 7 repeating jo3

 

[emorymom]

She turns 6 when they start competing in fall. She will be turning 7 repeating jo3

Oh LOL I didn't understand ... they're doing that long range prediction thing.

 

[tooootsie]

Oh LOL I didn't understand ... they're doing that long range prediction thing.

yes.. im.hoping she prooves them wrong