Replacement coach

[Ingymmom]

GREAT QUESTION!! LOL, to be honest I really am not sure but doubt the majority are like this.... I have talked to a few gym owners over the last week or so and they seem totally normal - we had warning signs from day 1 about our O... we did come from a rec gym where the owner had been in business for many, many years and she has a similar personality relating to power, (but still would never treat a customer poorly & cares about a complaint/question or concern whether it is valid or not) but she is brilliant and hired an incredible staff to manage and operate her business... our O did the same after a stint of bad transactions, but they left after only 2 months - gee wonder why?

[Carmansunshine]

Well good luck in your search!!! I think (and I mean that in the truest sense of the word) we found a good gym with an owner who cares more about the kids than anything else. My dd was nervous about going in to class last week because we were 5 minuts late(I am such a terrible mother) and after the few coaches we had she was not gong in .... Then the owner pulled up and started talking to her. My dd has seperation issues we are working on and I am supposed to have her go and do what she needs to do before I come to her rescue. So I told her if she goes in for 5 minutes I would be right behind her. The owner took her in and just sat with her talking about why she was nervous, I followed in 5 minutes and sat in the waiting area. My dd was already in the gym so she went to class with no further issues, the owner went about her other work and didn't even make it an issue for me. I went and thanked her about 15 minutes later, and she said it was no big deal and was glad she could help, she understands that all kids sometimes have stress that a parent can't deal with if no one else lends a hand, and if we need to keep working at she would be glad to help. The next class I made sure I was 10 minutes early and my dd had no issues about going in to class and I even left for about 1 hour. After my dds last class she said she was glad the last owner kicked us out, because they are so nice at the new gym and she thinks they like her here. I almost cried, I had no idea she was feeling like they didn't like her at the last gym.
Sorry to ramble on. Good luck hope you find some where great!!!!

[gym law mom]

Ingymom. Just my .02, but I would look for another gym. Sounds like this owner doesn't really care if she has a competitive team program or not and with all her poor decisions, may very well end up without one. Sounds like she shoves the coaches around as much as the parents and they will only take so much before they all leave.

This time it was the issue about the "sub" coach, but you know if you go back, it will be something else. Start looking around for a gym that has an established team program and even if it means dd would compete L4 rather than L5 next year, so be it. You want her in a place where there is not constant uproar---the kids sense this and after awhile they don't want to be there and their training etc. suffers.

As you know my daughter changed gyms. Now, its only the start of the 4th week, but what a change in her attitude. The old "I can't wait to get there" is back and she thanked us the other night for letting her make the change. She said " I do my skills at ____ because they build me up---not tear me down like at _____" Heck a few nights ago she said she was a little upset because they didn't do any beam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My kid missed not doing beam. My hubby claims they put something in the chalk Now with our situation the problem was with the coach, but it all filtered down from the top. The owner hired coaches who would coach HIS way. As this owner said once(he should listen to himself)--"nobody HAS to do gymnastics and they don't HAVE to do it here." That is very true.

[Ingymmom]

The gym owner does not care about the gymnastics team in the least (many incidents that show this). I honestly think (just me speculating) that she can not afford the coaches anymore and wants them to quit. Or wants all of the gymnasts to leave/quit so that she can say there is no team, no job and pull her little poor me act. However it turns out it will never be her fault... She has since implemented a no watch policy - very silly to me since we never had any issues with our ACTUAL coaches, just the temp coach hired that quit on the 3rd day because of parents rightfully complaining. How can strangers come in to watch the girls (parents from rec classes can still watch) but team parents that pay more (a car pymnt amount a month) are no longer allowed? Now, a lot of the parents rarely stayed to watch anymore anyway - maybe 10 or 15 minutes before/after. It is just the whole idea that now parents must wait in the lobby for the children to come out. Our coaches return this week, and we have yet to return to the gym since this incident, but the coaches (they were still in town when all of this occurred and were very upset) would like our dd to come back - I just don't know if I can deal with so much irrationality again - and you are correct it is always something else with her - different issue, different person, different day - I also found out she has a pretty bad rep w/USAG, even though I am not certain how that would affect us.... so anyway, we have looked around some - the closest decent gym is about an hour away... but 2 hours of travel 3 or 4 days a week seems such a waste, and dd misses her coaches so much. All of the gyms I have looked at of course want her to compete level 4 -all insisting it is necessary and they want her compete this year saying she is more then ready. We just don't have time to add competition to our schedule - I had counted on an entire year before competition, and just can't fit it in...On the other hand, I hate to have her sit it out for the next year, she has been crabby and complaining since we have been out for the last couple of weeks as it is - weather permitting, we go to the playground everyday to try and let out that extra energy, and I did get 1 open gym in to appease her, but it was not the same for her - while her coaches are really great, we had an "amount of hours" concern we would have to address with them and now I feel like a busy body mom for having all of these issues at one time. Not sure what we will do... I guess just weigh the pro's/con's - anyone have a magic wand to wave? LOL

GLM, sounds like your dd's new gym is a really great fit - you addressed and resolved your issue quickly, and it worked out well... it sounds like you guys tried hard to make the ex gym work, but they just made it too difficult to stay. Its too bad that power/pride etc plays such a strong role in some gyms - they really only hurt themselves. Watching your dd be excited about something she loves again is such a beautiful thing... can't wait to hear all about her meet season. - nic

[Carmansunshine]

I just want to say how sorry I am you and your dd are having so many issues with your gym at the same time. I have no easy answer or magic wand, but wanted to tell you I know the feeling. I hope it works out for you and your dd. I wish we had owners like the ones here at the chalk bucket(They seem so much more caring and understanding.)