After taking a break from CB, I posted at the start of this season that my DD (12 yo repeat L8) was having a very rough time in the gym. She was losing all of her skills. It probably started pre-quarantine with a lackluster first season of L8 (after a strong L7 season at age 10), but got considerably worse post-quarantine. The generally consensus at that time was that trouble at her age/level was common, and we should ride it out if she still liked going to the gym.
Unfortunately the situation has continued to get worse. My DD is quite literally unable to do anything in the gym right now (except floor). It has slowly become clear to me that it is mostly mental, not physical. This is not simply a growth spurt issue. But it's also not a classic fear/block issue. I'm not sure what it is, to be honest. Example: She has completely lost her cast to handstand even though bars was her best event through L7 (e.g., scored 9.9 at L7 and was regional bars champ). She literally cannot get herself up. She explained to me that she pushes away from the bar, rather than get her shoulders over the bar. Weeks go by in practice where she can't do anything because she can't get anywhere close to handstand (so no pirouettes, no giants, etc.). But she can do all the cast to handstand drills. She can press to handstand. She can do a full L8 routine in meets (scored mostly low 9's all season). And she is not afraid to cast to handstand.
Her anxiety is getting worse across all settings (sleep, school, gym). In the gym, she avoids everything. Skips stations. Only works on "new" skills where she is not expected to have mastery (e.g., bail stations on bars or floor work for beam), or just as often doesn't work at all.
To make matters worse, we have not had a full coaching staff for at least two months due to medical/health/quarantine issues. Some practices have been woefully understaffed, with the girls in large groups with fill-in coaches. The coach who has been filling in the most has become very negative with my DD ("You used to be good at bars, what happened?" or "Your [insert skill] is terrible"). He attributes her lack of effort to laziness or even insubordination. When I approached him about keeping his comments constructive, he said OK but then immediately said she was lazy. Most of my DD's main coaches are not like this, but (as I said) they've been out. And, although the main coaches are not unkind to her, there doesn't appear to be much of a plan for getting her over this hump. There was a glimmer of improvement mid-season (casting, flipping vault, etc.), but that has long past.
Sorry this was so long. But that's where we are at. DD continues to insist that she does not want to quit right now. She does not want to move to Xcel. She does not want to change gyms (and at this point, I don't think anyone would take her). She says she wants to try for "one more year" -- But honestly, after nearly two years of this, I'm not sure one more year will change things. Thoughts? Ideas? Has anyone seen this before?
On a positive note, my DD has finally started to talk with me a little more about her anxiety, and has agreed to start therapy again. She also said that she needs "strategies" for dealing with her anxiety (which sometimes tips into full blown panic) at the gym other than avoidance. Obviously that is something she can work on with a therapist, but I am looking for suggestions here while we try to get the ball rolling on
therapy.
If you made it this far -- thank you. Just venting has been helpful for me!!
Unfortunately the situation has continued to get worse. My DD is quite literally unable to do anything in the gym right now (except floor). It has slowly become clear to me that it is mostly mental, not physical. This is not simply a growth spurt issue. But it's also not a classic fear/block issue. I'm not sure what it is, to be honest. Example: She has completely lost her cast to handstand even though bars was her best event through L7 (e.g., scored 9.9 at L7 and was regional bars champ). She literally cannot get herself up. She explained to me that she pushes away from the bar, rather than get her shoulders over the bar. Weeks go by in practice where she can't do anything because she can't get anywhere close to handstand (so no pirouettes, no giants, etc.). But she can do all the cast to handstand drills. She can press to handstand. She can do a full L8 routine in meets (scored mostly low 9's all season). And she is not afraid to cast to handstand.
Her anxiety is getting worse across all settings (sleep, school, gym). In the gym, she avoids everything. Skips stations. Only works on "new" skills where she is not expected to have mastery (e.g., bail stations on bars or floor work for beam), or just as often doesn't work at all.
To make matters worse, we have not had a full coaching staff for at least two months due to medical/health/quarantine issues. Some practices have been woefully understaffed, with the girls in large groups with fill-in coaches. The coach who has been filling in the most has become very negative with my DD ("You used to be good at bars, what happened?" or "Your [insert skill] is terrible"). He attributes her lack of effort to laziness or even insubordination. When I approached him about keeping his comments constructive, he said OK but then immediately said she was lazy. Most of my DD's main coaches are not like this, but (as I said) they've been out. And, although the main coaches are not unkind to her, there doesn't appear to be much of a plan for getting her over this hump. There was a glimmer of improvement mid-season (casting, flipping vault, etc.), but that has long past.
Sorry this was so long. But that's where we are at. DD continues to insist that she does not want to quit right now. She does not want to move to Xcel. She does not want to change gyms (and at this point, I don't think anyone would take her). She says she wants to try for "one more year" -- But honestly, after nearly two years of this, I'm not sure one more year will change things. Thoughts? Ideas? Has anyone seen this before?
On a positive note, my DD has finally started to talk with me a little more about her anxiety, and has agreed to start therapy again. She also said that she needs "strategies" for dealing with her anxiety (which sometimes tips into full blown panic) at the gym other than avoidance. Obviously that is something she can work on with a therapist, but I am looking for suggestions here while we try to get the ball rolling on
therapy.
If you made it this far -- thank you. Just venting has been helpful for me!!