Private lessons

[Gymnasticsgirl521]

DD is on Preteam and I was listening to parents talk the other night. One girl was offered by one of the coaches to do Private lessons to help her. Another girl is having someone come to her and work privates outside of our gym. I am wondering should I approach our coach to see about getting some for my DD? I don't want her to be left in the dust. My DD is about 1/2 the age of these two but still. She was right with them and I don't want her to be left in the dust. I have noticed the one girl is getting more skills but her form is very sloppy and I see a lot of things that are going to need to be corrected down the road. DD has always been able to hold her own and is very concerned with doing things correct. So what would you do? Would you approach the coaches and see if we could work some privates in or would you just let things go as they are. Trust me I would LOVE to see my DD have an hour focused on bars to get her shoot through and her mill circle.

Currently I take my DD every other week for a 2+ hour open gym which I will spot her and work with her on things but I am wondering should I forget about my gym time with her and just approach the coaches to see if they could work her in for a few privates???

When I worked with her last she did her back handspring on the floor alone and got her back walkover alone. I am not trying to be a competitive mother but I just don't want my baby to fall behind.

[bogwoppit]

I would leave well alone. Your DD will progress just fine, as you say yourself she is half the age of these other girls and therefore has plenty of time to get the skills she needs.

I am assuming you are a coach, b'cos there is no way a gym should allow a parent to spot skills in open gym, or in fact any gym time. The insurance could be a nightmare. If you are a coach that is great, if not beware of poor form and treading on the coaches toes by teaching skills that she is not ready for (in the coaches eyes)

I think it really is rare for a child to really need privates, they can help if a child is really stuck, but I do think that kids really work better in a group and also working for an hour just on bars at her age would be exhausting with no break.

All this of course is just my opinion and can be disregarded as you see fit.

[Gymnasticsgirl521]

I used to coach many years ago before children. I only work on the skills that she is currently working on in the gym. I NEVER work on anything that is not being currently worked on. I don't want to step on any toes. I tend to watch her form and try to remind her of what she should be doing. I know how hard it is to correct those form problems down the road. Most of the time I am there for open gym with DD her coach is there doing classes too. I only work with her on the skills I know I can help her with. I know there will be a day that is not going to happen.

I just wanted to make sure DD wasn't going to be left way behind becuase Mommy wasn't getting her the same as the older girls. I know I am a sad sad woman.

[Monkeygirlsmom]

I would just leave it alone!! and enjoy that time you get with your dd!!
maybe the coaches think the others need some extra time! it sounds like your dd is doing just fine!!

[awposey1]

If she pays attention in class and keeps up, privates aren't necessary. Usually they are more for the parents anyway Our coach does not believe in privates at all.

[Marge Simpson]

DD has done privates, and benefited greatly from them. They've been primarily to work on what scares her at a pace that wouldn't be fair to the larger group at practice. For example, I'm budgeting some for that back walkover on the high beam. She has the technique and can do them all day long on a floor/low beam, but it's probably going to take the full attention of the coach, baby steps and the gentle rivalry of her privates partner for her to actually commit on the high beam.

[gym law mom]

ITA with the posters who said don't worrry about privates and at what rate your dd is progressing. If you start down that road now of trying to keep up with this girl and that one, soon gymnastics won't be any fun for either of you. Sounds like your dd is doing just fine in her classes. Kids all get skills at different rates---you as mom just need to be there to support and encourage her.

[medic3188]

we just moved and my dd did 6 weeks of privates..it greatly helped her...if we had not moved and been in a time crunch i do not know if i would have done them...

[margymmom]

My daughter's coach of several years has a great philosophy- she tells us if a lesson is needed. She only sets them up right before or during competition season to address areas in which a girl might be having problems. She never asks my daughter so I assume they are not necessary. I have allowed her to take them for special occasions (a birthday present) or when we had to miss a week of practice during competition season. There are some girls on our team who take weekly privates all during competition season, but my daughter hasn't been at a disadvantage yet! It's hard not to get sucked into the mindset that more is better, but I think your daughter will be better off in the long run if you keep things in perspective.

[Aussie_coach]

I am a bit shocked that preteam level girls would need privates. By the sounds of it she is around level 3. At this level all the skills that girls need to learn should be taught in class and taught well. How many hours does your daughters group work out a week?

Privates are expensive the average in almost any activity is $50-$60 per hour. That same amount of money many gymnasts spend on training 15 or 16 hours a week in group lessons where they get a lot more done. Preteam classes should be small enough anyway to be able to develop that individual attention. How many girls in her group?