What do you think about age limits?

[justanothergymmom]

I understand that a talented kid can just train and when they are a certain age test out of levels. The point I've been trying to make is that the age limits were made to protect kids and what's the point if it doesn't prevent kids from training difficult skills? You might as well let a 6yo compete L5 if they are ready. I think it would actually slow them down training increasingly difficult skills because competing routines takes time to perfect. If they are ready to compete L5, but can't because they are too young they will probably just start training L6 and L7 skills because they don't have to spend the time on the routines.

I know this isn't the case, but I would hope parents wouldn't focus on whether their child places. I know most of you know this, but when you have a gymnast competing it's not about where they place. It's always about their individual accomplishments at that time, "Oh they made their vault, or they didn't fall on beam etc." Placement is just the afterthought. At least that's the way I see it.

It is not always the way the 6 year old will see it though...

My husband and I have never focused on placement or awards-EVER-but it didn't stop my 6 year old from hoping to get a medal and not having the maturity to handle herself when it didn't happen.

Just a quick story...My DD#2 competed her 1st meet 1 week after turning 6. She did well, but made a few mistakes and didn't score well enough to place on any event. We were so proud of her, but she watched her older teammates medal (some with lower scores) and she was soooo disappointed that she cried through the rest of awards.

At barely 6 years old she had all of her level 4 skills and some level 5, but she thought of herself as not being very good because of how she didn't place at that meet. No amount of convincing from her coaches or us made her feel better and we never could have predicted her response would be this way, because we had prepped her beforehand and though she understood.

 

[gymnut1]

Sorry should I have worded that a reduction in the age of seniors to 14.

Previously girls were senior at a younger age. Nadia was 14 when she won in 76.

 

[gymnut1]

It is not always the way the 6 year old will see it though...

My husband and I have never focused on placement or awards-EVER-but it didn't stop my 6 year old from hoping to get a medal and not having the maturity to handle herself when it didn't happen.

Just a quick story...My DD#2 competed her 1st meet 1 week after turning 6. She did well, but made a few mistakes and didn't score well enough to place on any event. We were so proud of her, but she watched her older teammates medal (some with lower scores) and she was soooo disappointed that she cried through the rest of awards.

At barely 6 years old she had all of her level 4 skills and some level 5, but she thought of herself as not being very good because of how she didn't place at that meet. No amount of convincing from her coaches or us made her feel better and we never could have predicted her response would be this way, because we had prepped her beforehand and though she understood.

to me this is a good reason to wait until children are a little older - you did everything to prepare her and she obviously was very talented at a very young age but couldn't help getting upset. I hope she regained her belief in herself afterwards. It is such a difficult one.

 

[justanothergymmom]

@gymnut1--

She did regain her self-confidence, but it certainly was a blow She was more than ready skill-wise, and proved that over and over again at practice, but that didn't stop her from making a few mistakes at that meet...It is definitely not how I wanted her 1st competition experience to be, but luckily she did bounce back

 

[Granny Smith]

Sometimes there are mental reasons to hold back too. Just like 4nsmom described.

Also it is not just for young talented kids and low levels. After my dd's first level 8 season, she did very well. She had very successful meets, placing very well. Vault was tough for her, but she managed. After her season was over, she uptrained and was actually pretty well off for L9. She had her bar skills, which is usually what hold up some kids, had her beam skills, vault was vault - she was doing a pike yurchenko, not a HS. Floor was her tough event, but she would of managed. She was going into 8th grade and HC suggested that she do another season of L8.

I was quite taken myself, as I could see she had the same skills as the of L9 girls, she seemed ready to me. HC said to me, she's wasn't mentally ready for 9. She didn't want to feed her to the sharks. I had parents of other girls in the observation room asking me why dd was doing 8 and not 9 because she was ready. I accepted what the HC had to say and said that I was fine with her doing 8 again (deep down I don't know if I was honestly, but this is what the HC wanted and I had blind faith in her.)

I watched my dd compete again this past season as a L8. What a huge difference I saw in my child. She was relaxed, she was talking to the other girls in her rotation squad, whether it was her team or another and smiling. If she fell, she shrugged it off and carried on, not bringing the fall to her next event. She was definitely a leader on her team. She was having a great season and easily would of qualfied for Regionals had she not been injured. She had broke her foot after her 4th meet of the season & it took 4 months to heal so obviously her season was over.

My point is that my child so looked ready for L9, but there is much more to it than the skills they have. There is a mental aspect to this sport and it is so easy to forget that piece of the puzzle. So while a young child is in the gym and training skills and maybe learning routines, they are not actually competing, the mental aspect of the sport is not in full play. I would never underestimate the mental aspect of this sport.... sometimes the young talents are just not a 100% ready. Their bodies are 100%, but not their minds!

 

[Ingwe]

Granny Smith,

Thanks for a great post. You have helped me out a lot.

My DD is 11 and is training to compete L8. She had a very good L7 year, scoring in the 36's and qualified to regionals (yes, we compete L7 regionals in our region) BUT, the HC is not sure whether or not she will compete L8 or do another year at L7. She has her L8 skills (except flipping that Yuerchenko) and I was surprised when they told me at the begining of the summer that they were on the fence about moving her up.

After reading what you said, it is making sense to me. She is still the kid who when she has a fall or makes a mistake will carry it over to all events. She hangs her head and basically can't get past it. She does need to mature without a doubt. So, thanks for opening my eyes to the other side of things

 

[Granny Smith]

Glad I could help! ^^^^^

If she does 7 again, sit back and take it all in. Can I just say I saw a total transformation in my child. I ended up being so thankful for her doing 8 again.

Funny thing is most of the girls who went on to do 9 while my dd did 8 are still doing 9 again this yr. It's not like she lost anything. She is now stronger and a tad bigger than last yr and it's really helping her for her upcoming season. I just hope that mentally she continues with her stress-free style she took on last season - time will tell!

 

[gymnastgets10]

I agree with the JO age limits. In reality there aren't very many 5 year olds ready to compete level 4/5 and they probably would profit from another year.

I'm not sure what I think about the FIG age limits. I don't think it should be raised because if girls have been traning since they were little and have all their skills and then suddenly go through puberty at 16/17 gymnastics gets a lot harder and they have to relearn almost everything. There would also be less senior elites, at least in the US because most would opt for college gymnastics instead of elite. I also don't think the age limit should be lowered because young girls would just be pushed harder earlier. It could be dangerous and girls might go into a harder path not knowing if they really want it or not, and then realize in their teens that they really don't love gymnastics and that they missed their childhood for nothing. I also don't know if it should stay at 16 (but they should definately bring back the 15 the year before the Olympics rule), but then again I don't think any of this matters if certain countries *cough* ignore the age limit anyway.

 

[NGL780309]

It is not always the way the 6 year old will see it though...

My husband and I have never focused on placement or awards-EVER-but it didn't stop my 6 year old from hoping to get a medal and not having the maturity to handle herself when it didn't happen.

Just a quick story...My DD#2 competed her 1st meet 1 week after turning 6. She did well, but made a few mistakes and didn't score well enough to place on any event. We were so proud of her, but she watched her older teammates medal (some with lower scores) and she was soooo disappointed that she cried through the rest of awards.

At barely 6 years old she had all of her level 4 skills and some level 5, but she thought of herself as not being very good because of how she didn't place at that meet. No amount of convincing from her coaches or us made her feel better and we never could have predicted her response would be this way, because we had prepped her beforehand and though she understood.

The post I was replying to was talking about parents complaining about their young child having to compete against older kids. Of course kids will be sad about not winning, but my point was that parents ought to know better.

 

[Ingwe]

I am trying my hardest to convince her that doing 7 again is not the end of the world. She is just so against it. I think that for her it would be the best thing. I would love to watch at meet and have her not look like a stone. She is so intense and looks like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. If she does 8 that wouldn't change, but if she does 7 again then she will be able to have fun with it this year.

She will find out in about 2 weeks.................

 

[NGL780309]

Sorry should I have worded that a reduction in the age of seniors to 14.

Previously girls were senior at a younger age. Nadia was 14 when she won in 76.

The age limit was 15 when Nadia competed, but you only have to be 15 by the end of the year. So yes you might be 14 on the day of the competition as long as you would turn 15 that year. It's the same way Moceanu competed in Atlanta at 14 and gymnasts under the current 16 year age limit can be 15 the day of the meet, but 16 by the end of the year.

 

[gymjourneymom]

It is not always the way the 6 year old will see it though...

My husband and I have never focused on placement or awards-EVER-but it didn't stop my 6 year old from hoping to get a medal and not having the maturity to handle herself when it didn't happen.

Just a quick story...My DD#2 competed her 1st meet 1 week after turning 6. She did well, but made a few mistakes and didn't score well enough to place on any event. We were so proud of her, but she watched her older teammates medal (some with lower scores) and she was soooo disappointed that she cried through the rest of awards.

At barely 6 years old she had all of her level 4 skills and some level 5, but she thought of herself as not being very good because of how she didn't place at that meet. No amount of convincing from her coaches or us made her feel better and we never could have predicted her response would be this way, because we had prepped her beforehand and though she understood.

Thanks for sharing your story with us & giving us a view from your DD's eyes! Your story shows that no matter how extemely talented they are & how much you think you have prepared them...they are still children 1st & foremost. Glad to hear she was able to bounce back! Good luck to your DD!!! She sounds very talented!

 

[NGL780309]

to me this is a good reason to wait until children are a little older - you did everything to prepare her and she obviously was very talented at a very young age but couldn't help getting upset. I hope she regained her belief in herself afterwards. It is such a difficult one.

It could also just be personality too. Maybe this child would have felt the same way at 7 or even 10. I know some kids who competed L3 at age 5 and they weren't even aware that they won or lost. It didn't bother them in the least and they had a great time and positive experience.

My DD hasn't competed in gymnastics, but in softball. They won every game and then lost in the city championships. She wasn't sad. She said, "Well we won a little bit."

I think it's a great reason to have kids compete Achievement. They get the fun of competing, but don't have to worry about winning or losing.

 

[fishchimes]

In my opinion, coaches should spend lots of time conditioning and less time doing skills that pound on the body. Strength is really a big part of gymnastics, and while I realize that some skills require timing that can only be achieved with practice, it seems more practical to develop strength exceeding the amount needed to perform the skill then to do it again and again, placing strain on the gymnast.

 

[justanothergymmom]

It could also just be personality too. Maybe this child would have felt the same way at 7 or even 10. I know some kids who competed L3 at age 5 and they weren't even aware that they won or lost. It didn't bother them in the least and they had a great time and positive experience.

My DD hasn't competed in gymnastics, but in softball. They won every game and then lost in the city championships. She wasn't sad. She said, "Well we won a little bit."

I think it's a great reason to have kids compete Achievement. They get the fun of competing, but don't have to worry about winning or losing.

"Well we won a little bit."--that is so cute-I love the way kids phrase things

When DD1 and DD2 played soccer and lost a game, it was a little different--it wasn't like at a gymnastics meet where some of the team may get a medal and some may not. Just like in softball, everyone won or lost together and both of my girls at 4, 5 and 6yrs old handled those situations tear-free.

It may have been personality, but she really wasn't the type to cry...even when she messed up.

I am not sure what Achievement is-I don't think I have ever seen that at a meet.

 

[NGL780309]

"Well we won a little bit."--that is so cute-I love the way kids phrase things

When DD1 and DD2 played soccer and lost a game, it was a little different--it wasn't like at a gymnastics meet where some of the team may get a medal and some may not. Just like in softball, everyone won or lost together and both of my girls at 4, 5 and 6yrs old handled those situations tear-free.

It may have been personality, but she really wasn't the type to cry...even when she messed up.

I am not sure what Achievement is-I don't think I have ever seen that at a meet.

Achievement is an option in L4 and L5 here in region 3. You compete, but there are no placements. Everyone gets a ribbon. I really like the idea because it gives the girls a chance to compete and see what it's like to be out there in front of the judges, but there's no hurt feelings. You can just really focus on making your routine and compete against yourself. They still get scored by the judges so the coaches still get that feedback. Some gyms in the area will start the season achievement and then move to placement. Others will do an entire season achievement and then do placement the next year. DD's team did achievement last year and this year they are doing placement.

 

[Mack_the_Ripper]

I think increasing the age limit would be the way to go to discourage earling training in addition to early competing. If, in an extreme example, you couldn't be an elite until age 20, no one would think about training 5-year-olds to do L5 skills! That 5-year-old would be doing at least L8 by age 10, and by age 13...what? 7 more years maintaining a L10/elite skill level? I don't think so! No one would do that for risk of burnout, inury, sheer unsustainability, and so coaches would be reluctant to train children until they were older, and thus better able to physically and mentally take the life of a professional athlete.

Of course that's unrealistic - there's a reason you don't see many 20-year-old elite-level gymnasts. Just a thought.

 

[DbacksMom75]

1st...it's ridiculous to teach a 2.5 year old a back handspring! Does she have PERFECT form on all the skills before that? Probably not. What makes me cringe with these "infant" tumbling videos is 95% of the time their arms are so far out they are basically doing back headsprings, these kids could do a lot of damage to their bodies right out of the gate. For what? So mom and dad can post it to their Youtube?
2nd... in regards to repeating levels. My middle daughter was lucky enough to meet Courtney Kupets at Amanda Borden's gym a few years ago. She told all the kids that she had to repeat Level 5 for 2 years because she couldn't get her kip and she went to the Olympics. Another gymnast for the Atlanta team shared that she didn't even start gymnastics until she was 8!

BTW I am not meaning to insult anyone on the board who has one of these tiny tumblers. You are the parent and do what's best for them but don't get caught up in the "olympic" dream because more then likely they will decide in 2 years they want to do something else. My dd loved gymnastics, was being fast tracked, training TOPS, and I really got caught up in it. Then she quit....now I have to be a psycho cheer mom...lol

 

[Brandon]

First of all, it doesn't keep anyone from training higher level skills. It keeps them from competing with them. I don't like the limits, but it makes sence in a way.

Suppose you had a 13 year old at nationals or something, and he messes up and breaks his neck, and barely lives. Every gym in the nation would be under attack by parents and the government or something.

I think what the age limits are impying is that you must be mature enough to realize that these are some big risks, and that nobody but you is responsible for taking them. Thing is, no one seems to realize that age doesn't equal maturity.

 

[BCGgymnast17]

Yeah i have a really strict rule in my gym for some reason about having to be a certain age for everything.I had the problem of my coach not knowing that he could tell the head of the gym that he thought i was ready for team because he's kind of a scatterbrain sometimes.Anyway he thought now that i was too old for a team because he had never sent a request in letting the team coaches know that he thought i was ready.So now i am stuck just training with pre-team which isa huge step in from going to rec classes and going to a team that is right before you go into Level 4.I could've been in Developmental which is the level before pe-team but a lot of people think i'm too old for it.And i really don't like it.So age limits i do have a very big problem with.I think that people of all ages should be able to get on a team no matter how old they are.I really don't like them.Only if they are for girls being too young for a team do i really understand and that makes sense.But being too old for aa team i really don't like.