proud-gym-mom
Proud Parent
I'm wondering if anyone knows, for USAG… when can you not go back a level? So dd did L4 last year and finished at states at 36.575 AA but didn't place in anything (first time she's not placed at states). She's done two meets at L5 Nov and Dec. She got 32.825 AA at the first and 34.05 at the other with some costly mistakes that were things that she really does know - botched back extension roll (arched but saved with readjusting one of her hands, really ugly) and missed her BWO on beam and forgot to reattempt. Anyway she really does have those skills and assuming she fixes them for the next meet she should be in the 35 AA range (assuming .3 for the back extension roll and .5 for the fall and then .6 for the missed element?).
My question is should I let her repeat L4 or continue with L5 (I posted after her first meet and everyone was so helpful…). Her bars are her weakness although somehow she pulled out an 8.2 this last meet (she's still touching the floor on her clear hip and not connecting the squat on consistently but her casts are now a solid horizontal, tap swings and fly away are pretty good)… she's a hard worker and competes well but isn't one of those superstars and tends to be cautious and take her time to perfect her skills. Once she gets something she is really consistent though and has good strength and decent lines/flexibility and dance etc.
So why repeat L4? Two of her friends are repeating L4 again this year (she tells me that's not the reason though). I think the idea of being at the top vs. always in the middle is appealing to her. She's not a prodigy or one of those kids that is going to place out of a level and this is really for fun, exercise and all the great discipline and lessons gymnastics has given her. I can see her getting to L7 maybe L8 but probably not beyond there or even switching to Xcel somewhere along the way.
So back to my question (sorry for all the background)… now that she's made states at L5 can she compete L4 again and do L4 states? Should she? At what point do they not let you "go back"? I thought if she could do next meet at L4 and see how she does, if she's in the 37 range and places well then maybe she just has a great rest of season and continues to work L5 so that next year instead of starting in the 33 range she's starting at 35 or 36. Or she does L4 again and she basically stays in the low 9s on each event which is where she was end of last season and then we know that that's where she's just going to tap out at a level. I would love to see her do L5 but I am trying really hard to not make this my thing and to make sure this is her thing. She's 10 years old so she definitely can make a decision at this age. Then I kind of feel guilty that if she repeats L4 is she taking away an opportunity for another kid who is doing L4 for the first year? We all know those kids that really should move on and don't and I don't want her to be that kid either. Her coach is great. She says she's ready for L5 but I think she'd understand and support L4 also assuming she can "go back" now that she's made state score for L5? Sorry for the long post… you guys always have great insight!
My question is should I let her repeat L4 or continue with L5 (I posted after her first meet and everyone was so helpful…). Her bars are her weakness although somehow she pulled out an 8.2 this last meet (she's still touching the floor on her clear hip and not connecting the squat on consistently but her casts are now a solid horizontal, tap swings and fly away are pretty good)… she's a hard worker and competes well but isn't one of those superstars and tends to be cautious and take her time to perfect her skills. Once she gets something she is really consistent though and has good strength and decent lines/flexibility and dance etc.
So why repeat L4? Two of her friends are repeating L4 again this year (she tells me that's not the reason though). I think the idea of being at the top vs. always in the middle is appealing to her. She's not a prodigy or one of those kids that is going to place out of a level and this is really for fun, exercise and all the great discipline and lessons gymnastics has given her. I can see her getting to L7 maybe L8 but probably not beyond there or even switching to Xcel somewhere along the way.
So back to my question (sorry for all the background)… now that she's made states at L5 can she compete L4 again and do L4 states? Should she? At what point do they not let you "go back"? I thought if she could do next meet at L4 and see how she does, if she's in the 37 range and places well then maybe she just has a great rest of season and continues to work L5 so that next year instead of starting in the 33 range she's starting at 35 or 36. Or she does L4 again and she basically stays in the low 9s on each event which is where she was end of last season and then we know that that's where she's just going to tap out at a level. I would love to see her do L5 but I am trying really hard to not make this my thing and to make sure this is her thing. She's 10 years old so she definitely can make a decision at this age. Then I kind of feel guilty that if she repeats L4 is she taking away an opportunity for another kid who is doing L4 for the first year? We all know those kids that really should move on and don't and I don't want her to be that kid either. Her coach is great. She says she's ready for L5 but I think she'd understand and support L4 also assuming she can "go back" now that she's made state score for L5? Sorry for the long post… you guys always have great insight!