Boy, was I ever wrong!!!

Shawn · #1 06-23-2008, 09:52 AM

I posted awhile back about grips and when to start using them. My DD got grips (coach ordered them for the whole team) when she started L4 on May 1st. She absolutely loves bars and is really good at them so I thought this would be no big deal. WRONG!!!!

DD has had the worst time using the grips. She lost all confidence on bars, struggled with the new skills, and to make matter worse, she peeled off the high bar a few weeks ago and landed on her back. Her coach broke her fall and there were mats so she wasn't hurt but it scared her half to death. Since then, she won't jump to the high bar.

Her HC says she doesn't have to use the grips but warns (strongly) that she's going to tear up her hands if she doesn't. DD is 6 years old and has never had a rip, ever. So this weekend she's been practicing bars (a lot!) at home (we have a training bar) and has been jumping to catch the bar. We measured and set up her mats to simulate the jump to the high bar (by distance and height of jump but the bar is not actually "high") and she's done great. She's even started teaching herself to do a baby-giant, all without the grips.

So, I've decided to let her skip the grips if she wants. I'm thinking that, even though she's training L4, she's still little and may not have the hand size or strength to manage the bar and the grip together. But, I'm worried that she'll have trouble at higher levels either a) not using grips and ripping up her hands, or b) getting used to the grips in conjunction with learning harder skills. So, am I doing the right thing letting her not use them now?

**bogwoppit** · #2 06-23-2008, 10:07 AM

Hey Shawn,

Grips really can wait. My oldest DD went through that your little just went through and she just cannot abide grips, most of the girls her level in the gym wear them and it's not big deal that she doesn't. She just hates not feeling the bar.

If she takes a month off and goes back her hands do get sore, but them she uses handy balm and sleeps with socks on! They very quickly toughen up again. She doesn't get more rips then the girls who do wear grips. She is working giant, does baby giants and flyaways etc, with no problem.

My younger DD is working on kips, does baby giants etc, no grips and she is not even remotely interested in them, big sis doesn't need them so why does she.

It might be easier for your little one to wait until she has her kips until she gets grips, confidence is important at this young age, if she develops a big fear of bars because of her grips, is it worth wearing them?

Search for Charlotte Mackie on YOUTUBE, she is a young Canadian Elite, non of the gymnasts at her club ever wear grips, I have seen their hands, no more rips than the grip wearing girls, no messing with velcro.

A lot usually depends on what the coaches say, if they don't care, then let her be for now, one day she might just wear them with no problems.

Shawn · #3 06-23-2008, 10:51 AM

Thanks, Bog. I did find those videos and showed them to my daughter. I'm glad I could show her that not being comfortable with grips doesn't mean the end of gymnastics for her. Thanks for that.

MoonKid · #4 06-23-2008, 11:29 AM


Quote:
Originally Posted by bogwoppit Search for Charlotte Mackie on YOUTUBE, she is a young Canadian Elite, non of the gymnasts at her club ever wear grips, I have seen their hands, no more rips than the grip wearing girls, no messing with velcro.

Just a little nitpick, Charlotte Mackie's sister Gael Mackie (a former Olympian and current college gymnast) does wear grips, but as far as I know she is the only one at her club that wears them.

Tumblequeensmom · #5 06-23-2008, 11:44 AM

Grips... ahhhh!! DD didn't wear them til she started Level 5. She had worn those basically useless palm guards all through Level 4, just b/c the higher level girls were wearing grips! The power of the more advanced girls! Anyway, she struggled and struggled w/the grips for the longest time. Her coach kept looking at them, said they were sized "just fine", etc. He was fired and then her new coach took over. She checked DD's grips the first day and said "You're wearing them wrong!" (evidently she had them too close to the bottom of her palm?!). Coach adjusted them correctly and DD was fine from then on out.

The OWNERS of our gym are conflicted about grips as well!!! They're from China, and "chinese girls don't wear grips" so why should our girls, is their philosophy. Oh well... I think once the girls DO begin to use them, they can't or don't want to go without. But at Level 4, it's really not necessary at all.

If she just started training Level 4, why is she jumping to the high bar anyway? Are they uptraining already?

Good luck!

-Lynn

gym law mom · #6 06-23-2008, 11:46 AM

My gymmie competed L5 and L6 before getting grips(gym policy). Yes, she got some rips, but grips will not eliminate those. Your dd's hands will toughen up without them and before you(and she) know it, swinging bars without grips will not be any big deal.

As for teaching bars skills at home, I would say this is a huge no. Too much chance of injury and developing poor technique that will have to be fixed later on.

Shawn · #7 06-23-2008, 12:02 PM


Quote:
Originally Posted by Tumblequeensmom If she just started training Level 4, why is she jumping to the high bar anyway? Are they uptraining already? Good luck! -Lynn

AAU in Georgia jumps to the high bar at level 4. The routine is:

Back hip pullover
Front hip circle
Cast
Cast Squat on
Jump to High bar
Long Hang Pullover
Under swing
Tap and Counter Swings
Straight drop dismount

gymdog · #8 06-23-2008, 12:10 PM

The best solution in my opinion if her coaches will allow it, is to do most or some of the bar workout without grips, and then put them on to do some simple swings to break them in and get used to them. But she doesn't "need" them, even to do higher levels technically. It is pretty standard in the US and most coaches do expect it.

**bogwoppit** · #9 06-23-2008, 12:12 PM


Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonKid Just a little nitpick, Charlotte Mackie's sister Gael Mackie (a former Olympian and current college gymnast) does wear grips, but as far as I know she is the only one at her club that wears them.

Yes, you're right, she began to wear them when she began her NCAA career, after she left Omega in BC.

**bogwoppit** · #10 06-23-2008, 12:15 PM


Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn Thanks, Bog. I did find those videos and showed them to my daughter. I'm glad I could show her that not being comfortable with grips doesn't mean the end of gymnastics for her. Thanks for that.

If you want to show her something really funny, look up Beaverjym on youtube, it is Brittany Rogers (Charlotte's team mate), she has training videos from her club, all with no grips, they are funny. There are also home videos of her and Charlotte, hysterical.