I took my daughter to our other level 4 girls practice last night (rant)

[catesmom]

Melmonette- i think that a lot of what you are feeling is coming from the way that some girls at your gym are obviously being treated. And rightfully so. We never want to see our dd's treated any differently than others and some times it seems that way, and in your case it seems like it actually is the case. I know at our gym we don't make up any missed practices. But my dd goes 4 days a week so when practices are cancelled sometimes we just say YEAH! When you change gyms it sounds like you will be much happier. I can already tell that the coaches at the new gym are more responsive to your concerns.

I think when you are in the new gym your concerns with these things will not bother you so much.. This current gym has really pushed all your buttons and I recognise it as Mom survival mode. When things get as out of hand as what you have been experiencing you just can't take it anymore. I am almost positive that in the new enviornment you will see these concerns disappear.

I also think that what some of the other posters have said is true. Our team is small and I know that the rec kids, and the cheerleaders and the tumblers pay the lions share at our gym. The obvious problems at he gym you are now attending has made it almost impossible for there to be a team atmosphere there, and I can tell you that if it wasn't a case of "we're all in this together" at our gym it would be much harder to enjoy.

I'm hoping that the next few weeks will not cause you anymore concerns and that you will be able to get out of there and to a better situation for you and the girls. Know that you have our best wishes and feel free to RANT anytime you need to. Thats what we are here for

[melmonette]

thank you all for your support.
I am glad to listen to all your opinions.
Yes we are done with the gym... We are just finishing up with state and off we go and I am sure the gym won't even miss us as the owner sort of treats their paying customers as disposable. There are always more paying customers to replace me and my daughters and their gym will continue to perform well without us but it still hurts that I have to take my daughter away from a team she loves to spend time with. It is a good thing a few other teammates are coming with us in the switch. I really do love some of the coaches.. They are very good but they are just strapped down with too many girls and not enough of them. Our team has a very good chance at winning state because 13 of our girls are second year level 4s so we can put up big numbers when we hit.
I will be happy for the girls if they win state and happy for the team and the coaches too. So as you can tell I am so conflicted even though I know the best thing for us is to find a gym with better ratios and addresses our concerns. However sometimes I feel guilty for leaving at the same time because this is where we started our gymnastics journey and Emily has learned a lot here and some of her best friends are at the gym.
But thank you all again for the support and I know this is the best decision to leave after state, I will just make sure we pick the gym that best meets our needs. There are 2 others that we still are going to let the girls try out. They have both invited our daughters to workout with their girls for a week for free and for us to come and watch even before that just to see how they do things.

[Panda-girl's Mom]

Your fustrations sound very familar, once again we are at the gym where the girls are struggling to compete all around( all of them have competed all around except my daughter and another teammate who weren't able to qualify for states and quess who is hosting states our gym. We practice 10hrs weekfor 200.00, practice is on Friday and Saturday. We often have missed Saturdays due to meets there is no makeup. They have not even attemped to offer privates for my daughter and the other girl in an attempt to get them to compete all around and qualify for states. I have mentioned bringing her in for privates and I was blown off. This is why along with my daughter being upset by not competeing all around I am considering leaving. I have even talked to parents who have girls in higher levels who do not compete all around and they just accept this. I am also torn about leaving because my daughter has been there for over 3 years and is close to everyone and they have a very strong parent association.

[Aussie_coach]

Just remember guys that gymnastics is an individual sport. The team part of it is very exciting but every child must be getting from it what they need. It sounds like some of your daughters are being neglected. Every gymnast in every gym is equally important. If they are the senior elite who is on the national team or the little 5 year old rec kid who is strating out for the first time. Every gymnast has the right to be catered for.