MAG What to expect?

[Deleted member 10727]

Hi there, I'm new to this forum. I have 3 boys in gymnastics right now. They are ages 7, 5, 4. The two oldest started beginning gymnastics lessons in Oct of last year, so they are just coming up on 1 year. My 4 yr old is doing preschool gymnastics. We love the coach, but he's quite young (22). My 5 yr old is the one with the natural talent and super strength, but he's impulsive and "sloppy". He could do gymnastics almost every day of the week and he'd be happy. The coach has him learning level 4 routines, and he gets a private lesson each week, besides his regular 2 day/week class. My 7 yr old is not as strong, but he's has good form and really works to improve his skills.

Yesterday, we were informed they are making a new class for Intermediates, and my 2 boys are invited, which I kind of expected. It's basically a pre-team class for boys who aren't ready for the team, and even though my 5 yr old thinks he's ready for the team, he's not! The coach has had him work out with the team several times, and he does fine, and can keep up, but again, he's sloppy and extremely small, so he needs help to reach anything that isn't on the floor. He thinks the team boys are his friends, and he wistfully talks about joining the team. My 7 yr old is more of an attitude that he might want to join, someday, but he is thinking about it more and more seriously.

Since it looks like this might happen, what can I expect? How much money does it usually cost? The team boys train 9-16 hours per week, depending on level. That seems like a big time commitment, and what if they want to do things like baseball? I think we might have until next season (April?) before they are invited, which happens to be around the time baseball starts here. What about time off for vacations? This coach doesn't like them to miss more than a week. Also, this whole gymnastics thing is exciting, and it's fun watching them do cool things, but how do you maintain that balance between wanting them to succeed and yet keeping it reasonable? Thanks!

 

[gymmomntc2e6]

Lots of good questions. The answers unfortunately are gym specific. As for cost it can really differ from area to area. Some areas are just more expensive than others. Some more intense ( Texas comes to mind) than others. The coach or office mgr shoukd be able to give you an idea on costs associated with team. Some gyms will give a discount for add'l children. Obviously competition gear costs will double or eventually triole when you have 2-3 kids on team.

I think letting them continue to other things before the time & $ committment get to be too much is important. good luck

 

[skschlag]

With my son, he kind of made most of those decisions himself. When we started the pre-team process when he was 4, he was still doing baseball, basketball, wrestling, and soccer. As he moved to level 4 he dropped baseball and basketball. Now that he is a 5 training 6, he has dropped everythign else. I have let him take the lead on what he wants to do.

As for cost, it can vary. It is an expensive sport, but I know our gym has a booster club that you can join to help with some of the costs. NOt tuition, but the meet, uniform, and travel fees. We haven't done that yet, but probably will soon.

Good luck! This is a fun journey my son absolutely loves it, and does do gym nearly every day of the week. We do take vacations, usually missing 2 weeks in the summer. Other trips are planned around our travel meets (houston and disneyworld this year!)

Have fun!

 

[Deleted member 10727]

Thanks! I have no idea what the costs are and I'm hesitant to ask before it's an issue. I was hoping to get a roundabout figure.

They don't take boys on the team until they are 6 anyway, from what other parents have told me, so there's time. I think I will relax and not worry till the time comes. I'm just wondering how much the kids are expected to compete, how much travel there is, is there a lot of pressure to perform, etc...?

 

[gymmomntc2e6]

we don't have a boys team. However, our L3 girls practice 9 hours a week @ $150 I think. L5 & up 12 hours @ $175. I think our gym is on the low end. I have not checked out other gyms but we had a couple girls switch, and they are paying higher fees.

not sure if that helps. I think most are in the $200-$250 per month range right around here.

 

[skschlag]

Well, i can tell you what my son does

We have about 9 meets a year, 3 of which are optional travel meets. then we have state and regionals. Each meet runs about $100 for fees. LEvel 4s typically only do 3-5 meets, and they are all optional. Once you hit level 5, our coach expects you to compete at all local meets. THen state and regionals.

D works out between 10-13 hours a week and we pay $340 a month.

As far as pressure, I think that is coach dependent. Our coach is great about making the boys realize that they are to do their best, and not worry baout scores/places. In fact, he will tell boys "not to let scores and places ruin a perfectly good meet." Especially at the lower levels. Boys have so many years ahead of them in gymnastics. They don't need pressure early!

Hope some of this helps. Enjoy what your boys are learning and make sure they are having fun!!! I know that is the key for D!

 

[MyBoysFlip]

I have a 6 year old Level 4. H.e practices 6-9 hours a week and I pay $150/month tuition. We will go to 5 meets - hopefully no more than 4 hours away! Uniforms ran about $200 for everything and we pay $500 for meet fees. Our coach places more emphasis on working hard than on scores and their theme this year is about patience and hard work. My son still has time to wrestle (mostly tournaments and league meets) through some creative scheduling on my part and understanding by the wrestling coaches(aka Dad). I did not sign him up for bball this summer because I was worried - but after I got his brothers schedule I realized we could make it work. So we added him to the team. Given his choice would be to do nothing but gymnastics all day everyday - but there's plenty of time for that in the future if he still wants it.

 

[Mom2twingymnasts]

This sport is expensive - so be prepared. I have 9 year old twins (boy and girl). They started gymnastics when they were 6 1/2. They both were level 5 last year and will be competing level 7 this year. My son trains 18 hours a week and it cost us $341 per month for him. The assessments for my son's meets for this year will be $1160. The assessments includes cost of registration for the meets and coaches fees and coaches travel expenses. Additionally you will have to pay for your travel expenses for the meets, uniforms, and required gymnastics camps. Yes, I'm overwhelmed by how much this is costing us but my kids love this sport. Good luck!!

 

[emorymom]

Cost you can't predict from this board. Your gym might give 1/2 price for the second kid on team. Ours give I think a $10 discount for second kid. So ??? Plus if you are in an expensive area of the country it will be more. Fees can depend on how much fund raising you do. Base tuition for my L4 is $190 I think, $200 for the competition clothes, warmup & bag, then some misc registration and equipment fees. Then meet fees, but I fundraised those.

Boys can't compete USAG until the season after they are 6 on Sept 1, is my understanding. I think they can compete L4 the season after they turn 6, or maybe compete up one level but no more.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

you should be asking your club most of these questions. and i speak for the entire boys community...we modify practice schedules in the summer when the boys are young so that were not setting ourselves up to be 'competing' against baseball. talk to your program and give it a go.

 

[anniedoro]

Inspire them to always be responsible for their work but let them enjoy also the thing they want...

 

[Deleted member 10727]

My son went to his first "meet" last weekend. He's still not on a team, but it was some in-house thing where every kid received medals. They had a blast. Sorry for the quality of these videos. My video camera disappeared one day.

[video=youtube;4bktFxyxXxA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bktFxyxXxA[/video]

[video=youtube;MuNfz0Z7cDY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuNfz0Z7cDY[/video]

 

[emorymom]

He's Awesome! Wow.

My husband wants DS7 (will be 7 next month) to play baseball this year and I found that one of the local leagues that plays and practices mostly in June / July, which are months that our gym moves practice to the daytime. So it's all good.

 

[gymboymom]

He did great! He has a lot of upper body strength. I would guess he would be competing level 4 really soon.