- Aug 17, 2011
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Do you think they'll get rid of the challenge cup then? It does seem a little pointless, very few get the qualifying score, and I don't think anyone has made GB squad from junior/senior recently.
Perhaps a better idea would be to allow transfers over from NDP grades? Use those scores to qualify the following year, so anyone getting over that score in NDP 3 can compete compulsory 2 the year after...This would also mean that late starters or late bloomers would have more opportunities.
Lilysmum there are ways to get through the elite grades even starting older. Level 3 isn't impossible for a talented kid with good coaches, and you *can* compete two levels a year, she could do compulsory 3 in the spring of 2015, and the level 2 retake in age in the autumn. Or they could compete her in NDP grades for 2 years, ready for the espoir challenge in 2016 -which is how Ruby Harrold qualified elite having been deemed not compulsory material after not doing well at level 4 :lol:
I'm not sure what the point of increasing the out of age is for. I suppose it may allow for a small kid to get the power for vault, or for a less composed child to mature a bit for R+C. But to my mind, they still need to be doing those approximate skills at those approximate ages if they want a shot at national senior squad.
Flossyduck, if they have good coaches who know what they're doing, I don't think it would harm your DD's ultimate achievement in gymnastics to step down to NDP for a couple of years with the aim of re-qualifying at espoir level.
re. hours, my own feeling is if they need huge hours to keep up at this sort of age (under 13), it leaves them nowhere to go as they progress- the kids on lower hours will overtake as their hours increase. The talented kid on DD's squad was easily working Level 4 on 9 hours a week, and keeping up with the rest of the squad who were doing 15 hours for regional competition.
I have come across conversations online that suggest other viable options are competing regional voluntaries until espoir challenge- it does give them more flexibility on skills.
Perhaps a better idea would be to allow transfers over from NDP grades? Use those scores to qualify the following year, so anyone getting over that score in NDP 3 can compete compulsory 2 the year after...This would also mean that late starters or late bloomers would have more opportunities.
Lilysmum there are ways to get through the elite grades even starting older. Level 3 isn't impossible for a talented kid with good coaches, and you *can* compete two levels a year, she could do compulsory 3 in the spring of 2015, and the level 2 retake in age in the autumn. Or they could compete her in NDP grades for 2 years, ready for the espoir challenge in 2016 -which is how Ruby Harrold qualified elite having been deemed not compulsory material after not doing well at level 4 :lol:
I'm not sure what the point of increasing the out of age is for. I suppose it may allow for a small kid to get the power for vault, or for a less composed child to mature a bit for R+C. But to my mind, they still need to be doing those approximate skills at those approximate ages if they want a shot at national senior squad.
Flossyduck, if they have good coaches who know what they're doing, I don't think it would harm your DD's ultimate achievement in gymnastics to step down to NDP for a couple of years with the aim of re-qualifying at espoir level.
re. hours, my own feeling is if they need huge hours to keep up at this sort of age (under 13), it leaves them nowhere to go as they progress- the kids on lower hours will overtake as their hours increase. The talented kid on DD's squad was easily working Level 4 on 9 hours a week, and keeping up with the rest of the squad who were doing 15 hours for regional competition.
I have come across conversations online that suggest other viable options are competing regional voluntaries until espoir challenge- it does give them more flexibility on skills.