Anon Xcel to compulsory

[Anonymous (441b)]

My daughter has the opportunity to move from bronze to level 3 at the same gym. I'm not sure how to evaluate making this move. My daughter wants to do it, but I want to consider all angles.

I have asked all the obvious questions - hours, cost, competitions. What elae should I think about or ask the coaches?

 

[Anonymous (4cf0)]

• Does your daughter have to stop all other activities to do their compulsory program?
• Is there a future home school requirement in order to keep advancing?
• Is this the only way to do optionals at the gym?

Unless you already know you sort of want to feel out what you are getting into past L3, for a lot of families the early requirements/expectations aren't an issue, it's the future ones that are problematic.

 

[Anonymous (f5c2)]

Good questions so far! I'd also ask questions about the future after L3. Such as how many hours for each level. Approximate percentage of kids who have to repeat levels. How do they do move ups (additional criteria beside USAG min scores). Price increases associated with each level. Ask about the balance between family life/gymnastics. Do they encourage families to travel during the times the gym is closed and/or occasional missed practices for birthdays and other special events.

My opinion is that kids repeating L3-L6 should be the exception vs the norm. My other opinion is that family time and time with friends for special events should not be entirely sacrificed for gymnastics. Minimal absences is important but it's a balance too with 'life'. I didn't realize how quickly my DD would be a higher level optional. When you are a L4, L8 seems so far away but it goes quick! This sport has a way of sucking up family energy if you allow it which his why I suggest asking questions to make sure the gym's philosophy is aligned with your family values and attitudes with how children should be treated.

 

[Anonymous (441b)]

Good questions! We are already at this gym, so I know the answer to some of these since DP and Xcel have the same team handbook. But I didn't consider that there may be differences in attendance expectations for DP vs Xcel.

 

[Anonymous (3f6e)]

Good questions so far! I'd also ask questions about the future after L3. Such as how many hours for each level. Approximate percentage of kids who have to repeat levels. How do they do move ups (additional criteria beside USAG min scores). Price increases associated with each level. Ask about the balance between family life/gymnastics. Do they encourage families to travel during the times the gym is closed and/or occasional missed practices for birthdays and other special events.

My opinion is that kids repeating L3-L6 should be the exception vs the norm. My other opinion is that family time and time with friends for special events should not be entirely sacrificed for gymnastics. Minimal absences is important but it's a balance too with 'life'. I didn't realize how quickly my DD would be a higher level optional. When you are a L4, L8 seems so far away but it goes quick! This sport has a way of sucking up family energy if you allow it which his why I suggest asking questions to make sure the gym's philosophy is aligned with your family values and attitudes with how children should be treated.

In how many years did your DD move from L4-L8? Did she skip any Ls and were the coaches supportive?

 

[Anonymous (7c38)]

While I agree you need to be aware of what is potentially ahead. I would be assessing your own child's desires and the behaviours that back up what she is telling you.

She can always go back to Xcel -although that we be difficult if it's your decision and not hers.

Many kids don't stick with the sport, so ruling out a path she may enjoy, because of what might happen later is not always right. I'd weigh 80% of your decision on 'is this move the best fit for her over the next year?' My exception to this would be if you know in the next three years you couldn't financially cope with potential costs.

Will she enjoy the coaching? Will there be higher demands? Is extra effort expected? Will she have/make good friends? Will she ajust to any extra pressure well? Does she love the sport or just likes learning 'harder tricks'?

 

[Anonymous (cf62)]

I'm in the midst of dealing with my L8 suddenly "retiring" so take this with a grain of salt. KEEP IT FUN FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. You have no way of knowing at silver or L3 what your girl will want 5 years down the road. No matter how dedicated, or how much she adores it, or how big her dreams are....just keep her loving the sport and she'll progress how she progresses. If I had a crystal ball, I would have kept my daughter in xcel and never moved to optionals. I don't think she'd be quitting if she had stayed on the less-pressure track.

 

[Anonymous (441b)]

While I agree you need to be aware of what is potentially ahead. I would be assessing your own child's desires and the behaviours that back up what she is telling you.

She can always go back to Xcel -although that we be difficult if it's your decision and not hers.

Many kids don't stick with the sport, so ruling out a path she may enjoy, because of what might happen later is not always right. I'd weigh 80% of your decision on 'is this move the best fit for her over the next year?' My exception to this would be if you know in the next three years you couldn't financially cope with potential costs.

Will she enjoy the coaching? Will there be higher demands? Is extra effort expected? Will she have/make good friends? Will she ajust to any extra pressure well? Does she love the sport or just likes learning 'harder tricks'?

Thanks. We are just following her lead. She's told me before she wishes her practices were longer and seems to really enjoy the sport. She wants to get better and not just learn new tricks.

The friends part is the hardest for her. She loves the friends she has made this season.

 

[Anonymous (441b)]

I'm in the midst of dealing with my L8 suddenly "retiring" so take this with a grain of salt. KEEP IT FUN FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. You have no way of knowing at silver or L3 what your girl will want 5 years down the road. No matter how dedicated, or how much she adores it, or how big her dreams are....just keep her loving the sport and she'll progress how she progresses. If I had a crystal ball, I would have kept my daughter in xcel and never moved to optionals. I don't think she'd be quitting if she had stayed on the less-pressure track.

Yeah, I worry about the pressure and the long hours and how we will deal with homework and friends in the coming years if she stays in this. But, I also want to give her as much opportunity. It is hard!

 

[Anonymous (f5c2)]

In how many years did your DD move from L4-L8? Did she skip any Ls and were the coaches supportive?

My DD started in Xcel Silver for one year. Then she spent one year each in L4, L5, L7, L8. I loved her coaches until her junior year of high school. When she started in L4 I just kinda assumed she'd repeat a level a few times but if the program is run well the skill progressions are really designed to keep kids moving along to the next level. Some kids truly do need another year at a level for whatever reason but at my DD's gym most moved up every year until L8.

 

[HopefulGymnast]

I'm in the midst of dealing with my L8 suddenly "retiring" so take this with a grain of salt. KEEP IT FUN FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. You have no way of knowing at silver or L3 what your girl will want 5 years down the road. No matter how dedicated, or how much she adores it, or how big her dreams are....just keep her loving the sport and she'll progress how she progresses. If I had a crystal ball, I would have kept my daughter in xcel and never moved to optionals. I don't think she'd be quitting if she had stayed on the less-pressure track.

Speaking here as somebody whose parents were the opposite. Always "no pressure" on my hobbies, "don't expect to medal", "don't think we're gonna drive you to auditions far away" etc.

I wish I'd had a little more push and guidance from my parents. I've seen what others can achieve with that kind of support, and I am jealous of it. Every inch of motivation having to come from the kid themselves can be exhausting, really. And sometimes, if you wait too long, opportunities will also decrease.
And yes, you may not reach the highest levels in something, but to some degree it's better to have had the chance and see that it didn't work out, than to never have had the chance at all.

I do agree though, it should remain fun. I think it's a balance: I would say if it's practically feasible, give her the opportunities if she's eager, but always keep evaluating. If it turns from a blessing to a chore, it's time for a change. Of course, there can always be bad trainings, bad days, hard periods, but the overall picture gymnastics should bring joy.

That kind of turned into a slightly chaotic ramble, my apologies. But I thought I'd add my perspective.

 

[RTT2]

You will only ever know in hindsight if you made the right choices, and even when you think you did everything right to try to be deliberate and careful things can still go awry. I asked a similar question to yours years ago and my daughter did move to JO and dedicated years to it. If I could go back I’m not sure I’d have ever let her switch from Xcel. This sport is consuming in so many ways. I’d lean toward keeping it fun and letting her have time for other things, even if right now gymnastics is everything to her.