Parents what makes a phenom?

[Dr Maleficent]

The question was "what makes a phenom". "What makes a successful gymnast" is an entirely different question with an entirely different answer.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

i can tell you from experience...with crap coaching and crap parenting...if the biology is there they can/will become great at any sport they touch.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

for reasons that you will all understand, i just can't mention any names.

 

[MILgymFAM]

i can tell you from experience...with crap coaching and crap parenting...if the biology is there they can/will become great at any sport they touch.

I meant insofar as crap parenting/home situation they may never get a chance to play a sport and know their own potential. Sports, especially for younger kids, require parental approval and funding. I know plenty of adults who never got the chance to play anything more organized than stickball on a city street. Good point though.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

gotcha ^^^

 

[Iwannabemargo]

Is this another nature/nurture conundrum? I would posit that genetics has to be paired with the right parents and the right gym. That's if you tie personality entirely to genetics, which I don't do- I think environment plays a part of that also.

I think your innate personality is purely genetics, however your socialisation will temper that personality and so change it subtly. Having an adopted sister we have certain mannerisms in common and certain social norms in common, but we are very, very different people

 

[Faith]

The question was "what makes a phenom". "What makes a successful gymnast" is an entirely different question with an entirely different answer.

This. As I said upthread, you know a phenom when you see one. They just can. And they can beautifully, naturally, instinctively, with very little coaching, as Dunno says.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they will be successful. At some point they will need to work, and sometimes those phenoms become unstuck as it is no longer easy and instinctive, it's hard and scary, so they think they can't do it and quit.

If a child is not a phenom it doesn't mean they're not immensely talented, some take a little longer to mature physically. Sometimes though coaches pick the phenoms to work with because, well, they're just so easy, and little suzy who is packed with power and ability, but maybe hasn't the control at 6 years old gets left on the club path....

 

[bogwoppit]

for reasons that you will all understand, i just can't mention any names.

Oh hahahahaha!!! I know exactly what you mean. Yikes.

 

[gymbeam]

Totally off topic here but your avatar is hilarious!

Why thank you for saying that- but can you also tell me when my Suzie is going to get her kip?

 

[ladybird]

Your Suzie will kip when she is good and ready, it's just that she's hardly ever at practice. And it's not that I don't like her

 

[skschlag]

Why thank you for saying that- but can you also tell me when my Suzie is going to get her kip?

LOL, no, but I do think it is time for taht video to make a reappearance

 

[COz]

Well I assume all 7 year olds in non rec programs are "working towards optionals" in the same way I am "working towards death".

Soooooo lucky I wasn't drinking anything just then!!

 

[Committed]

LOL, no, but I do think it is time for taht video to make a reappearance

Oh geez! Perhaps in a couple of months ..... I haven't seen too many kip references. OR are we trying to be preemptive?

 

[Deleted member 10727]

This kid is a phenom. 10 year old level 8, who is just plain amazing and never seems to have much trouble beyond a slight stumble here and there.

 

[Committed]

I don't know much about boys gym........ but that looked fantastic!

 

[dani4]

I thought it might be short for "phenomenally talented person" and that everyone was just really lazy.

Do you North American types use it ever outside of gymnastics?

We would probably use "freak" meant in an "in awe" kind of way. Which I guess is not so politically correct".

There was a short-lived tv show called "phenom" on in the 90s, about a tennis player. The only reason I remember it is that the star of the show was in my high school a year or two behind me.

 

[gymbeam]

wow, that 10 year old is awesome!

 

[munchkin3]

This kid is a phenom. 10 year old level 8, who is just plain amazing and never seems to have much trouble beyond a slight stumble here and there.
[/
This kid was first at FS nationals.....the number 2 kid is a phenom too.....I saw him start at 5 yo, and is the kid I was talking about in my first post.....DS trained with him for 4 years....impressive.

 

[kimkuzma2]

First, she should not be teaching herself skills at home. Some of what she will learn that way will have to be retaught correctly before she can move on to other skills that build on them. It sounds like she has some real natural aptitude for the sport, so with good coaching in a strong gym, she could go far!

As for your gym, what does your optional program look like? A decent number of L9s and L10s? Some girls placing well at regionals, going to nationals, possibly placing there? Some college scholarships? Some gyms do not perfect compulsory routines, focusing instead on building strong foundational skills, while others just don't produce the most competitive gymnasts at any level.

Our gym is small- only about 10 kids above level 6..... Not the greatest, but our options are so very limited.....

 

[Galadriel]

Why don't you pm someone like dunno with you location specifically and ask for suggestions of nearest gym with higher prospects?