Women xcel to compulsory

[GymTwins]

Hi,

I know this has been discussed over and over again but I would really appreciate any feedback or thought because I really want to make the right decision for my daughter.

My daughter is 10 years old and is finishing up her competition season for xcel gold right now. She has recently expressed interest in wanting to do NCAA gymnastics. We are currently at a gym that offers only xcel for their girls program. She started there as a bronze did one year at each level so far.

We are a military family and we are forecasted to move next summer, leaving us one more competition season at our current location. I was planning on leaving her in xcel until our next location, and finding a compulsory gym for her wherever we end up, BUT.... Both of her main coaches are leaving our gym after regionals. The gym has hired replacements that apparently have 20+ years of coaching mainly in compulsory programs. But with change comes some disruption (in my opinion) and so far the gym's roll out of this change hasn't been stellar, causing my husband and I to lose some confidence in them. With all this going on, I am wondering if I should just make the switch now, being that it will be change no matter if she stays or goes.

These are her current skills:
Vault: competing FHS, she has been training a yurchenko into the pit it's not quite ready yet
Floor: currently competing, RO BHS BT, Front tuck, she hits her leaps, and a wolf jump. She can also do a front lay out. She can do a front handspring front tuck, and a front tuck to front tuck.
Beam: currently competing handstand to back walkover connection, a full turn. 120 leap, I think its called a switch jump, back tuck dismount.
Bars: currently competing straddle mount, kip, double back hip circle, cast to horizontal, squat on, tap swing, dismount with 180 turn. She can also do a pike on, a long hang kip, and a fly away, she has done clear hips in the past but its been a while.

Looking at the level 4 and level 5 compulsory routines, its looking like she mostly has what she needs for 5. I was worried that maybe being in xcel she would have some set backs making the switch but looking at the skills list I'm a bit more reassured. I guess I could also leave her where she is and let her do platinum there, have her focus on the skills she will be lacking (mainly bars and beam it looks like). She doesn't want to leave that gym, she has spent the last 3 year working with the same group of girls and those are her best friends. I don't blame her. I am worried that she won't be on track if I wait to move her. What do you all think?

Thanks

 

[Stella :)]

looking at her skill level it looks like level 5 would be best fit, as long as she gets the clear hip

 

[Coach Kate]

Do you have a good relationship with the coaches who are leaving,? They know your child, your situation, and her gymnastics a lot better than we do and could probably give you advice on the best course of action, as well as an idea of whether or not her goals are realistic.

Generally speaking, for D1 NCAA gymnastics, she'd want to be in level 10 by freshman year of highschool. Moving from Xcel gold to level 10 in four/five years is not impossible, but you have to be set up for it.

 

[GymTwins]

Do you have a good relationship with the coaches who are leaving,? They know your child, your situation, and her gymnastics a lot better than we do and could probably give you advice on the best course of action, as well as an idea of whether or not her goals are realistic.

Generally speaking, for D1 NCAA gymnastics, she'd want to be in level 10 by freshman year of highschool. Moving from Xcel gold to level 10 in four/five years is not impossible, but you have to be set up for it.

This is good feedback,and the reason I feel like the clock is ticking. I read a thread on here about who is really getting selected for these cut NCAA teams and saw that many years at level 10 is where the advantage lies.

Her main coach is a total fan of xcel, not so much of JO so I already know her answer. I did ask the other and he told me to switch her now if that is really what she wants.

I find this so challenging as a parent. The stakes are high. She is very focused on her gymnastics, no interest in any other sport at all. But shes 10, has the mind of a 10 year old. So telling her that she has to leave her friends to do something for her future, she doesn't get it because she doesn't have a mature enough mind to think of the long term.

 

[Coach Kate]

This is good feedback,and the reason I feel like the clock is ticking. I read a thread on here about who is really getting selected for these cut NCAA teams and saw that many years at level 10 is where the advantage lies.

Her main coach is a total fan of xcel, not so much of JO so I already know her answer. I did ask the other and he told me to switch her now if that is really what she wants.

I find this so challenging as a parent. The stakes are high. She is very focused on her gymnastics, no interest in any other sport at all. But shes 10, has the mind of a 10 year old. So telling her that she has to leave her friends to do something for her future, she doesn't get it because she doesn't have a mature enough mind to think of the long term.

It definitely is hard!

I was an average level 10 who ended up doing cross country (for the first time!) and track (pole vault/steeplechase/random middle distance events) at a division three school. I absolutely loved gymnastics and worked so hard but I honestly just didn't have a ton of natural ability - besides flexibility.

I ended up loving my more relaxed experience in college. I had put so much pressure on myself and given up a lot for gymnastics, which I don't regret, but it was all just night and day. I even got to study abroad for two semesters.

I think your daughter is old enough for you to be very open with her. "You are telling me your goal is to do NCAA gymnastics. That's a big goal and we're willing to support you, but it means you are going to have to move gyms and leave these friends. It's ok if you would rather stay with your friends, but it will probably make NCAA gymnastics less likely. Only a very small number of kids who do gymnastics ever end up competing in college, so if it's something you really want, you'll probably end up having to trade other things you might want. And the good news is that you can always change your mind. You might have to finish a month or even a season, but there are a lot of different ways to be a gymnast"

Something like that

 

[GymTwins]

Yes, I realize there is so much sacrifice gymnasts make. I am trying to find the parental balance of when to push and when to let her be, but I sense a clock is ticking on opportunity. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[GymCAMom]

Yes, I realize there is so much sacrifice gymnasts make. I am trying to find the parental balance of when to push and when to let her be, but I sense a clock is ticking on opportunity. Thanks for the feedback.

My daughter is in the same boat in terms of level, age, and skills. Fortunately for us, she does not desire college. If she did, I would certainly be pushing the move ASAP. We had two teammates leave last year before Gold (a bit older at 11) who left their familiar teammates to pursue their bigger dreams.

 

[raenndrops]

If you switch her now, see if the new gym would be willing to let her score out of Level 4 (and possibly Level 5 ... or Level 4 a second time if she gets at least 36.0 the first time) either before next season or very early in the season. It will mean learning multiple routines, but then she would be able to compete Level 6 for most of next season (or Level 7 if she gets her skills for it).

The other option is to let her do Platinum this year and work with the new coaches to have her competing Level 7 worthy skills. If she will be 11 all of next season, then the season you move, she would be 12. At 12, with videos of her skills (Level 7 worthy routines from Platinum competitions would definitely show that), she could be petitioned into Level 7 and not have to score out of L4 and L5.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

Am I correct that in another thread you were not thrilled about the extremely late finish times of her training?
That alone would have me looking elsewhere personally.

If the finish time was going to be part of new coach changes then I would see if you could have a meeting with new coaches.

Discuss the hypothetical options for your child long term based on their past experiences and limited knowledge of your child.

 

[GymTwins]

Yep that was me in another thread not happy with the gym end time for 10 yos

 

[Houseofgymnasts]

Sounds like she’s training for platinum, what she can do doesn’t always reflect the level she’s at and gyms are always teaching new skills. I think it’s better to jump in now and try out JO but that’s if a JO program will want to accept her.
Realistically not all gyms are super open putting an XG gymnast right in with JO, they’ll have her try out and there’s a possibility they’ll have her start training at the level below because Xcel skills and judging is definitely more lenient.

Gold reflects level 4/5 skills but there is a pretty significant difference as far as expectations go. After Nationals my daughter took a break from JO then decided to return to the sport through xcel and she said Xcel is generally just more fun, less serious and she gets to compete still and push herself but the pressure isn’t so intense. I have also noticed the scoring is different. So it’s really dependent on your daughter and what your family is comfortable with. Also being a military family is hard, it may limit her staying at the same gym which I think makes a world of a difference. I also think a big difference is finding a highly skilled gym.

Another commitment is time, usually JO is 16 hours a week starting at level 3 and climbs up, my other daughters gym has girls 32 hrs a week for 7/8 and tops and more for elite.

I would say have her try out and do it for a season especially if you’re moving, she won’t really know until she tries it out. Good luck!

 

[GymTwins]

Thank you. Your advice tracks very similar to what was said by the one coach I talked to.

I think we are going to reach out to other gyms and see if they will allow a meet and greet and her to watch first.

 

[twinmomma]

Remember too that college gymnastics is more than just artistic. Lots of artistic gymnasts are finding amazing D1-D3 opportunities in Acrobatics and Tumbling.