Leave it up to the coach because although there are many reasons already stated the reason that should be respected most, if you like the program, is it's the coach's call.
Another point of concern is when you work with kids there are some, or perhaps many, who will seek to keep company with the lowest common denominator. They will use one child's "free pass" into a meet as evidence they themselves can go into meets without proper preparation. Some folks will say there's nothing like that taking place, or see no harm if it does take place, as it's a valid opinion that it's a kids sport and should be there for the kids to enjoy.
Sure, I get that, but what happens is the team wide work ethic slowly erodes to the point that an alarming percentage of the kids are ill prepared for competitions because the adults around them were so focused on making everything positive. Well, there's two sides to the positive coin. To keep kids moving toward *their goals* they need to experience not having what they want. It's that or living in a fairy tale where everything goes just right..... until it all caves in like a house of cards.
Not having what you want is the first step toward earning it, and the most positive thing you can do for most kids is to let them know exactly that.
I know this may sound like a rant, but it's an important issue in sports because if your priority is participation the result will be participation. Nothing wrong with that, as long as dd knows the deck is stacked against her in the context she won't have the benefit of expectations placed before her.
Parenting...... it one heckofa balancing act.
