I think that this kind of move can work out well and sometimes not. It really depends on the kid and the coach and especially the coach's ability to train her through this and really understand how she ticks along with the experience and knowledge to lay down foundation for upper level gymnastics without the structure of the compulsory levels.
My dd made this same move when she was 9. It was a pretty rough year of competitions, but by the end of the season she was scoring mid 35s. But this was very intentional. Very little time was spent on routines and the focus was on training toward the future in the gym. Level six is such a great place for this type of thing. I love level six for so many reasons.
She then went on to very successful level seven and eight seasons and finished level eight with almost all of her level nine skills. It worked for her and she is still building momentum going into post season and spring training.
I think the biggest key to this working so well was that her coach was patient and waited until she was mentally ready for the big push. He has also helped her through the frustrations and fears as they popped up, slowed down and backed off when she needed it and built her up to believe she can accomplish anything. The focus is on building foundation and acquiring new skills when she is ready for them, not just because she is physically capable of them.
I feel very lucky that we have had such quality coaching and leadership up to this point.
This sport is so entirely mental the further you get along. I think a move like this can also go the other way pretty easily if it is done too soon when the child isn't mentally ready or because a coach has stars in their eyes, especially if they don't have a lot of experience developing young talent. The mental toll of a move like this can't be underestimated.
I have seen kids rushed through very young and burn right out sometimes quickly and sometimes years later. But, also this happens in this sport. Kids go out hot and then burn out, kids start slow and then explode onto the scene later, many kids do just fine and then decide they just don't want to any more at some point and some of the best gymnasts early on will have bodies that simply betray them either by injury or puberty or physical limits. As a parent looking from the perspective of a very young and relatively new gymnast it is scary and ultimately impossible to see what will come. You have to give over to the process and trust your mom gut and watch and listen to your child and do what you can to help her form a good trusting relationship with her coach. It is really an unsettling amount that is out of our control.
If she is happy in the gym and still progressing well and wanting to go work out and excited about what comes next but just frustrated about this years meet results then I would say there isn't much to worry about. I would focus just on what is happening in the gym and downplay competitions as just for experience. In the larger scheme of things her level six results mean very little.
If the move is causing her to stress and not want to go to gym or she is getting injured frequently or just feels not herself to you, then maybe a quick conversation with her coach to see if slowing down a bit is in order.
Good luck to you and your dd. Strap in for the roller coaster ride
