Parents Training hours and missing school

[owwibfma]

Hi!
My daughter is level 7 and trains 18 hours per week:
3:30-5:30pm
12:30-4:30pm W, Th, F
8:30-12:30 Sun

Curious to know how many other gyms have comp training during the day where the athlete is required to miss school?
Or do most gyms have training after school?
Thanks!

 

[Lurker]

This is going to vary greatly depending on where you live and what you personally prioritize. I'm fortunate to live where there are really good public schools this model for a gym would not be sustainable.

 

[skschlag]

My son was very fortunate to have an amazing school and district that worked with him to achieve academically and athletically. He did 1/2 day school in the morning and then trained after that. It allowed him to be home in the evening and complete work and be with family.

He graduated HS with honors, got into an amazing school, and is a D1 gymnast. He is still doing well.

I know many will say school comes first, and we agreed. However, school can look different for different situations.

 

[NutterButter]

My daughter never had daytime training hours however she was in a 'late release' school that didn't end until 4:30pm. The school was good about letting her leave around 3:30 for practice. They also worked with her schedule so that she didn't have a demanding class like math last hour. In high school they allowed her to have a study period as a Freshman and Sophomore to relieve the homework burden at night. We are in a big, urban district where it's not unusual for kids to have extenuating circumstances (whether they are academic or personal).

 

[mezzamare]

Hi!
My daughter is level 7 and trains 18 hours per week:
3:30-5:30pm
12:30-4:30pm W, Th, F
8:30-12:30 Sun

Curious to know how many other gyms have comp training during the day where the athlete is required to miss school?
Or do most gyms have training after school?
Thanks!

 

[mom2newgymnast]

My daughter’s gym offers both day and evening groups now. It used to be evening only until levels 9/10, but they grew and saw more demand for day training for lower levels and evening training through level 10. My daughter is in public school and has never had any school accommodation. But even in her evening group, there are some that go to a flex school or have other arrangements for schooling.

 

[Dahlialover]

Aside from homeschoolers, I don’t think that there would be many parents in our area who would accept the schedule you describe.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

I understand why gyms do this - I'd love to be home earlier in the evening and yes it is a great option for some - but at times it feels like parents are coerced into doing this, sometimes with the 'elite' word thrown around. Overall it generally makes sense - however that is just not viable for some families and I hope gyms have options like @mom2newgymnast situation for those who can't make it work.

 

[GymnastMomX2]

Our gym has daytime and evening training groups. Girls in the daytime don’t go to traditional school, they do either online school, homeschool or there is one district that offers a hybrid option with mornings in person and evenings online school.

I can’t see how traditional school would work with the schedule you posted if they need to miss 3 1/2 days a week?!

We’ve been doing online public school since 2020 and it’s been a great experience.

 

[owwibfma]

This is going to vary greatly depending on where you live and what you personally prioritize. I'm fortunate to live where there are really good public schools this model for a gym would not be sustainable.

So are you saying your gym has training after school? Would you mind sharing your training schedule?

 

[owwibfma]

Aside from homeschoolers, I don’t think that there would be many parents in our area who would accept the schedule you describe.

Would you mind sharing the schedule your gymnast has? Thanks!

 

[GymnastPotterhead]

I'm a level 6 gymnast and I train 12h/week. (Mon, Tues, Thursday 4hrs)
The level 7s and 8s at my gym train 16h/week (Mon Tue Thurs Friday 4hours)
Our times are 4:30 to 8:30pm on all days, so it doesn't clash with school, although some have to leave school 30 mins or so early to get to practice on time. My parents and lots of other parents would not agree to missing school that much, we already don't like Friday meets.

 

[Dahlialover]

Would you mind sharing the schedule your gymnast has? Thanks!

Most DP groups train 4pm-8pm or 3:30-7:30. Depending on the level, kids train 2 to 5 days per week.

 

[Carly]

Both of the gyms where my kid went have day and night training groups for DP only. At one gym, the day group is invite only. At the other gym anyone can join the day group when they are level 6 and up.

 

[Gym_momma]

My daughter will be level 4 next season doing 16hours. 4 of those hours will be daytime. I don't feel great about her missing school, but it seems to be the norm around here.

 

[HopefulGymnast]

I know many will say school comes first, and we agreed. However, school can look different for different situations.

My gymnastics has never gotten in the way of school (university in my case). However, I have a funny memory where my coach said "well school comes first" and I said "actually for me it doesn't". I'd put school first for most of my life, and I've been through some bad depressions. Now for me it's become "what makes me happy with my life comes first". So when that is gymnastics, for me gymnastics comes first. I still managed to graduate with honours even though (or more likely because) school didn't come first for me.

That being said, I'm not saying people should start shoving school aside for gym. Just don't put school above other things so much that it seeps the happiness out of your life. Sometimes it's okay for school to make some place for hobbies and socialising, they're part of self care. A healthy balance is important.

Apologies for the sidetrack, I just see "school first" so many times here and thought I'd give my POV on it.

 

[skschlag]

My gymnastics has never gotten in the way of school (university in my case). However, I have a funny memory where my coach said "well school comes first" and I said "actually for me it doesn't". I'd put school first for most of my life, and I've been through some bad depressions. Now for me it's become "what makes me happy with my life comes first". So when that is gymnastics, for me gymnastics comes first. I still managed to graduate with honours even though (or more likely because) school didn't come first for me.

That being said, I'm not saying people should start shoving school aside for gym. Just don't put school above other things so much that it seeps the happiness out of your life. Sometimes it's okay for school to make some place for hobbies and socialising, they're part of self care. A healthy balance is important.

Apologies for the sidetrack, I just see "school first" so many times here and thought I'd give my POV on it.

I agree 100%. School can look different for different people. Gym made school successful for my son. Without that, I am not sure he would have been as successful at school and be where he is now. It is important to know what you need!

 

[Aussie_coach]

This is absolutely unheard of around here.

But, aside from the issues of missing school. How do the kids get to gym? Don’t most parents have to work?

 

[owwibfma]

This is absolutely unheard of around here.

But, aside from the issues of missing school. How do the kids get to gym? Don’t most parents have to work?

Ha! Yes, that is the biggest irony. Both parents MUST work to pay for youth sports, but youth sports expects parents do NOT work, in order to drive them to gym / practices, etc. We do carpools and my daughter also takes the bus often to gym. We somehow make it work...