Hopes pre-elite program

[krazykidzmom]

Because of the coaching situation at your gym, I am sure being in Texas around those coaches is very beneficial for your daughter. Level 7 is very different from level 8 and a world apart from the connections you have to have at level 9. Throwing level 10 skills, at her age few can do, but I am curious what exactly are her level 10 skills she is doing? Will she be able to score out of level 8 to level 9 after her first meet?

[LemonLime]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachL I don't really believe in the tops or hopes programs, it puts undue pressure on the children and their families. I still take my gymnasts the pre elite road. You do realize that if your daughter goes to level 9 regionals or nationals she can compete at the elite qualifiers.

Hopes is a form of "pre-elite" level. The requirements are marginally different with D dismounts (although most Hopes gymnasts compete D dismounts) and three bar releases (instead of 2) between Hopes and Pre-Elite.

Any child who competes at L8, L9, L10 or even L4 can compete at an elite qualifier. The qualifiers is open to any USAG member who meets the age requirements.

[LemonLime]

Quote:
Originally Posted by krazykidzmom Because of the coaching situation at your gym, I am sure being in Texas around those coaches is very beneficial for your daughter. Level 7 is very different from level 8 and a world apart from the connections you have to have at level 9. Throwing level 10 skills, at her age few can do, but I am curious what exactly are her level 10 skills she is doing? Will she be able to score out of level 8 to level 9 after her first meet?

I'm not speaking for Tuduri's dd whom I do not know, but Tops 11yo skills include - among other skills - a double on fx (e.g., double back), a front acro on beam (e.g., front aerial), a yurchenko vault, blind/front giant/pirouette on bars, etc.

Even though the 11yo tops gymnasts compete these skills at national testing, that does not mean that they are Level 10, Level 8, Level 5 or elite in JO. It depends on the gymnast and their gym, but the tops 11yo skills are well within those commonly competed at Level 10.

Hopes skills are another level above, but the 11yo tops skills correspond closely to the elite compulsory routines.

Among other gyms, the following elite gyms with current national team members participate in pre-elite (formerly child elite and national elite) and/or tops competitions or have in the past 3-5 years . . . the list is extensive . . . Hill's, Dreams, Colorado Aerials, SCEGA, All Olympia, Brestyan's, Excalibur, Orlando Metro, DeVeau's, Geddart's Twisters, Sharp's, Parkettes, CGA, Stars, etc.

[Tuduri]

I am just a dad and I can't comment on the issues Lemonlime has addressed.
Last season, we considered jumping dd from level seven to level eight. But I figured, why the rush. I wanted dd to experience the satisfaction of doing well at her skill level and age group. Yes, she could have performed quite well at level eight, but it would not have been at quite the level of success she'd enjoyed at level 7. I figure that the satisfaction of achievement is a great motivator to subsequent advancement in gymnastics and other aspects of life.

I do not anticipate that my dd will jump from level eight to level nine midseason. She will be capable of doing this, she is capable now, but I want her to be performing at a very high degree of success. I want her to learn and refine all the basic higher level skills before she competes at any higher level.

The nice thing about TOPs, Hopes, and similar programs is that a talented gymnast can develop her higher level skills in a program parallel to JO while at the same time competing with her teammates within a JO framework. This has tended to accelerate my daughter's gymnastic development while, at the same time, enabled her to enjoy the camaraderie of a team structure. The socialization found within the relationships of a team is an important part of growing up.

We prize the personal relationships developed at the team and JO level but also appreciate the opportunity to advance and develop through TOPs and Hopes programs.

Tuduri

[LemonLime]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuduri I am just a dad and I can't comment on the issues Lemonlime has addressed. Last season, we considered jumping dd from level seven to level eight. But I figured, why the rush. I wanted dd to experience the satisfaction of doing well at her skill level and age group. Yes, she could have performed quite well at level eight, but it would not have been at quite the level of success she'd enjoyed at level 7. I figure that the satisfaction of achievement is a great motivator to subsequent advancement in gymnastics and other aspects of life. I do not anticipate that my dd will jump from level eight to level nine midseason. She will be capable of doing this, she is capable now, but I want her to be performing at a very high degree of success. I want her to learn and refine all the basic higher level skills before she competes at any higher level. The nice thing about TOPs, Hopes, and similar programs is that a talented gymnast can develop her higher level skills in a program parallel to JO while at the same time competing with her teammates within a JO framework. This has tended to accelerate my daughter's gymnastic development while, at the same time, enabled her to enjoy the camaraderie of a team structure. The socialization found within the relationships of a team is an important part of growing up. We prize the personal relationships developed at the team and JO level but also appreciate the opportunity to advance and develop through TOPs and Hopes programs. Tuduri

Very well said, Tuduri. I'm sure your dd will do beautifully this year - hopefully at both Hopes and JO!