Grips or no Grips

[KBT]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachL I will allow kids to wear grips when the get their kip, but I don't allow them to get dowell grips until they are learning front giants.

Why is this? I'm assuming this has to do with proper technique on kips and giants. I've always been fine letting my girls use them for long hang kips. I did coach rec and high school gymnastics, so I often didn't have a lot of control over when they started using grips. Most of my kids came in using grips before they even had their glide kip so at that point I'm not going to make them stop using them.

[hammy]

KBT--If they're already using grips I wouldn't stop them. I don't think there's a "Perfect" or exact time that gymnasts should start using grips; I believe it's coach's and gymnast's personal preference.

[CoachL]

Yes if a kid comes to me from another gym using dowell grips I won't change them. But if a kid comes through my program they aren't allowed to use dowels until working front giants for a variety of reasons. I think dowel grips give kids a false sense of security and use the dowel to hang on the bar rather than their grip strength. I can't tell you how many kids in level 5-6 I've seen do some gigantic pings from the bar because of the way they grasp it and rely on the dowel. Its a personal preference that I learned while coaching w/ some elite coaches and it's something I've used since.

[Aussie_coach]

We get them into dowel grips straight away. Mainly because where I live thats all most places sell. I have never had, heard of or seen a child around here use any other grips but dowel.

We get them into grips fairly early, not so much based on level or skill but on the amount of time we want them on bars. Once the kids start training on bars 3-4 days a week and we want them there for a longer time we expect grips. The competitive kids may get them as early as level 3, usually around level 4 and they all have them by level 5. The recreational kids wait longer as they spend less time on bars.