The Decision
Well it really ended up being a hard decision. Each gym had it's pros and cons. We were down to the first and the last gym we tried. and have been the last 3 days trying to see which would fit her best. In the end either gym would have worked for her program wise. In the end I told her either gym would be good and now she has to choose between either.
We sat down and made a list of the things she wants in her gym, coach, program and teammates. I was surprized by some of the things she came up with.
In the end she decided on .............................
With a beaming smile The first gym!!!
She liked the fact that the gymnasts were part of the decision making process for their individual goals and when they go to practice stations the coach and gymnast together decide on the skills they want to work on. that was a big selling point for me too.
She also liked that the gym space itself was larger than the 3rd gym. She said she didn't feel like she was dismounting on to any one.
She thought the 1st gym was cleaner than the 3rd (I would have to agree but I wouldn't say the 3rd gym was filthy) and she wants to work where she doesn't feel like she is walking in dirt.
Lastly all the gyms we went to all the L7 girls were around her age 12 - 14 instead of her being the granny gymnast - she is now one of the younger optional girls - She really likes that and she likes the fact that there are up to L10 girls in the optional program that are in High School. Our old gym only had up to L8 and only 1 girl at that level until this year where there might be now 3 L8 girls.
So we have called all the gyms she tried out for and let them know our decision and all the gyms we didn't pick still offered her a spot if the current gym doesn't work out. ALL said she was a very tallented girl and any team would benifit from her being part of their team. They wished us good luck in our decision and again said if things don't work out they would definitly have a spot for her on their team.
GOD I feel great - like a huge weight has been lifted!! She picked the team I was hoping she would go for
and I felt was the best fit for her. And the more time passes I wish we would have done this alot sooner - like 3 years ago whenthe first wave of coaches left the team.
DD is a little sad this week knowing she will be gone from her old gym I am letting her go on Friday to say good bye and practice one last time with her teammates. DD is crafty and has crocheted bun covers for all the girls to go with the competion leo.
She is also very excited to start at a new gym where she seemed to fit right in at the tryouts and there are actually 2 girls that are there she knows from our old gym. They moved there about 3 years ago so there will be some familure faces for her.