Anon Xcel to Level as Older gymnast

[Anonymous (8db0)]

If you are looking to go from xcel to level as an older (16) gymnast - do you begin at level 7 and then move up or score out?
Has anyone moved from xcel to level being an older gymnast? What was your experience?
What would be the advantages and disadvantages/challenges for moving over?

 

[Anonymous (6c99)]

Your coach can petition in to level 7 if you have the skills.

 

[Anonymous (a31e)]

If they are Xcel Diamond or Sapphire, it would be easier to transition smoothly.
Challenges/Disadvantages and Advantages will depend on how their gym handles Xcel versus DP, or how their current gym handles Xcel versus how the new gym handles Xcel and DP.

Challenges/Disadvantages (especially if transitioning from Platinum or below):
-> Cast angle deductions are bigger (and are taken on ALL casts except cast squat or pike on).
-> Split angle requirements are higher (180º) and deductions are taken if too low.
-> Level 7 Vault to the mat stack. This isn't as big a deal if they are just scoring out of L7 to move on to L8 from Diamond or Sapphire. Mine didn't petition into L6 because of the vault.
-> Potentially a big jump in hours while navigating high school
-> Potentially higher costs and more travel meets

Advantages (especially if transitioning from Diamond or Sapphire):
-> Potentially more competition
-> The possibility to advance (with the necessary skills) to DP Level 9 or 10 before graduating High School (and the possibility of attending L9 Easterns/Westerns or L10 Nationals).
-> Potentially more time in the gym
-> Potentially more travel meets

 

[Anonymous (3562)]

I don't think your age has much to do with it. Do you have the skills for level 7 or not? Aside from that, DP will be more hours/cost and at our gym is much more strict in terms of missing practice. We have little flexibility in optionals.

 

[Anonymous (266d)]

I would ask the gym. They may have her test out of level 4,5,6 at a in house meet or they can petition for her to score out of them since she’s older if she has the skills. My daughters gym also makes them do mock meet but they only offer levels 6-10 and have kids do xcel bronze, silver and gold then test out of level 4/5 at in gym meets and move straight to 6. This is highly dependent on the gym. Also you didn’t mention what level xcel she’s at and what skills she has. So it’s hard to say if she could do level 7. So personally I’d ask the gym and have her evaluated and ask what see needs to do to move over and what level they anticipate her to be. Also biggest difference will be way more practice hours(most gyms do 16+ hours at level 7) and the cost will be a lot more. Some gyms even require dance classes on top of gymnastics practice. They also travel more typically for meets. So I’d inquire about the cost also.