Your OPINION Please...BIG decision to make!

[GGranny]

What are the benefits and/or disadvantages of training at a TOPS/ELITE GYM? What age/level should a child be before transitioning to that type of gym? Our gym is more recreational and according to the owner 'will never offer a TOPS program nor an ELITE program'.

 

[bookworm]

You do not need TOPS or Elite to be a successful gym but you should see how their overall JO Program does...do they have regular qualifiers to JO Nationals and Easterns/Westerns or are kids at that level not making the cut for these meets? Do all of their optionals qualify for regionals? How do they do regularly at meets? I would look at these things first before worrying about TOPS and/or Elite because if they cannot produce a successful JO Program then they will never have a successful TOPS or Elite program (because Elite is beyond Level 10 not instead of it...)

 

[Deleted member D3987]

yep, what bookworm said. ^^^

 

[GGranny]

ALL OPINIONS PLEASE>>>BIG decision to make!

What are the benefits and/or disadvantages of training at a TOPS/ELITE GYM? What age/level should a child be before transitioning to that type of gym? Our gym is more recreational and according to the owner 'will never offer a TOPS program nor an ELITE program'.

 

[cher062]

Well I guess its going to depend on what you want to get out of gymnastics for your child. My goal is to make sure she is doing something she loves and has a ball doing it while being safe. (well as safe as you can be in this sport).

She did do Tops when she was younger and it gave her lots of conditioning and a stronger foundation in basic skills which I noticed did help her with her gymnastics but was it necessary... well No neither is Elite unless you want to hit the olympic dream track. Many who go hard into this when they are young with parents that are well lets say overly energetic about their child's gymnastics can burn a child out early. This sport really doesn't have that quick track. Its a sport that takes alot of time and paticence to master.

Lots of gym don't have either and they do very well at the competitions. Most of the kids they have enjoy what they do and have a ball.

If your child is happy where she is, you like the coaches and the program then I would say keep doing what you're doing. If she ever gets to the point where a move to elite would be needed I'm sure a coach will have that discussion with you as I don't know any coach that would want to hold back a child either.

Let the goal be for your kid to have fun and don't worry too much about the rest.

 

[bogwoppit]

Merged the two threads in order to keep all the answers together and therefore a better discussion.

 

[GGranny]

HOW? Do I merge?

 

[bogwoppit]

I merged them, you need to do nothing! It is just when two identical threads are started things often get very confused very quickly.

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

A downside to that TOPs/Elite gym environment is that sometimes, if it is perceived that your child will not be a "star," they will not get the same quality coaching that those supposed future elites get. Also, I've known girls who burn out in that high pressured environment too.

 

[gym law mom]

It might help the discussion and feedback if you could tell us what level/age your gymnast is at right now and where you see the need for a different type of gym.