Changing Gyms

[Tumblequeensmom]

I just have a general question.... WHEN is the best time to change gyms if you're not happy with the coaching? I know during the season is not ideal, but I"m concerned about a few things that have not changed over the last few months, and I have expressed my concern to the owners:

Basically a lot of goofing around time... sometimes DD stands around for 30 minutes!

No conditioning program to speak of, and it shows in the girls' skills...

Last summer it was more "play" time than "learning skills" time. I really think they need to be focusing on building their skills for the upcoming season during the summer months. Not deciding to try to learn those skills after September begins.

Sooo... when do you make a change?

Thanks for any and all responses!!!

[gym law mom]

You're right that changing gyms during the competitive season can be tough. The new gym already has their teams in place and the practice etc. might be very different from what your dd is doing now. When is her season over? Spend some time now, checking out other gyms and their programs. If everyone is competing its a great time to drop in when other gyms are having their teams practice and watch. That way you can see how other gyms "train" and if they would be a good fit for your dd.

You are so right about not waiting til Sept. to learn new skills. Many gyms are training the next level even during their meet season and then as soon as competition is over, they are working full time on the next level and even introducing skills above that. Also many gyms use the summer to put more time into strength and conditioning since they don't have to worry about school hours. My daughter does 20 hours/week in the summer and then 16 hours/week once school starts(Level 7/8). She still does strength during her school hour practices, just not as much.

You're also correct that if they don't get some strength/conditioning work, it does start to show up in their skills. One girl who moved to our gym did L7 last year at another gym(in another state). When she tried out at our gym, she couldn't do giants, vault was pretty weak and the coaches felt alot of it was lack of strength. She will do L7 again this year and finally got those giants. Her mom said her old gym didn't do much strength work at all.

Once you've found another gym where dd would be comfortable, I would make the change once meet season is over or sooner if they can make her feel comfortable. Remember, you're paying for all that standing around time, waiting til last minute to learn new skills and little conditioning. The drastic option would be to not compete this year and just switch as soon as possible and let her work at the new gym to develop strength/better skills.

[gymnomore]

I would say change gyms as soon as you know there is a problem. Go visit other gyms and talk to their coaches, and try to see if they will let your daughter work out with them for awhile. You'll know if it's a good fit, and so will she. Of course, the end of the season would be ideal, but if there is a lot of goofing off going on and lack of conditioning, then the sooner she gets out, the better. Last season, I knew we had a problem and I wanted my dd out of her gym. But, she wanted to stay with her friends so I let her stay, knowing she would leave at the end of the season. Meanwhile, she wasn't getting the strength and conditioning she needed and she was being ignored by an obnoxious coach while trying to learn big skills, thus causing a lot of falls and other problems. When push came to shove, she left the gym a week before Regionals. Not the best move, but it made a huge statement with her old coach, and the new coach was more than happy to have her. It was then that we realized she should have left a long time before that.

[hunde2]

My DD goes to gym 4 days a week,they do contitioning every time and also do alot of stretching.

[Tumblequeensmom]

I went to pick up DD yesterday and guess what?? they were actually doing some serious conditioning!! Pull ups on the bars, v-ups, candlesticks, handstand walks, "plans" with flexed feet and then pointed toes! I was SHOCKED!!! I appreciate everyone's advice and I will make the move maybe after the first sectional... one of the gyms I want to look at is actually where the first sectional is being held. But I need to find out their practice times to go observe their workouts!

You all have given me a lot to think about, and obviously if she's not getting the appropriate trainign, I need to move sooner rather than later... and yes, the "friend" issue keeps rearing it's head, but I'm not paying almost 300.00/month for social hour!

-Thanks!

[ZJsMom]

We changed gyms recently because of a move, so we didn't really chose the timing. My dd did come into the new team during the season and it worked out fine. She had some catching up to do as her old gym was a lot like what you're describing--lots of play, no conditioning plan. I think summer probably is the best time to change, but different times can definitely work. It probably depends too on the level and age of the gymnast.

[gym law mom]

One thing to really look at is how does your dd feel about moving to another gym? She is the one that will have to make a big change and leave gym buddies behind. If she not's really "on board" with the idea right now, then I wouldn't make the change during meet season. Talk with her about your concerns(too much standing around etc) and that at another gym she might get more practice, be more confident in her skills/routines etc. You don't want to change gyms only to find she's not happy about the whole idea and then you'll hear about how bad the new gym is and she's not enjoying it at all.

With my daughter, we came to a point where she asked to leave due to a situation similar to gymnomore's. For the longest time she thought she could make it work and still be happy at her former gym, but things got so out of control that she didn't even want to go in for practice. Overall, she is very happy at the present gym and has made friends easily. We didn't have the leave friends behind issue because most of them had already left the gym and gymnastics.

It's tough if she doesn't want to leave. You have raised some very concrete concerns about her current gym-----she may be too young to really see there is anything wrong.

[gymgirl0805's Mom]

My daughter just changed gyms in July. We are SOOOO much happier.. I still love the other gym, my youngest daughter is still there but I just think Chels does better at the new one. She changed right before I had to start paying for her to compete this year so that I didn't have to pay it to two different gyms..

[medic3188]

we switched gyms twice this season. The first time was because of the goofing around and no progress and the second just 3 weeks ago because of moving out of state. We were in a bit of culture shock each time. Gyms are very different even in the same state. The final gym that we are at is great. My dd is making friends and will compete for the first time in 5 weeks.

[melmonette]

We are switching gyms in April after competition season is over and Emily has her banquet. We have many reasons for switching but the first is ratios. I think our ratios are too high and the gym is too crowded that their time at the gym feels wasted by standing around and waiting in lines and or getting distracted while waiting in lines and using it to goof off and pretend it is open gym.