WAG the difference between level 10 and elite

[sce]

blame Bruno Grandi...

It's interesting too. As it seems that on the men's side it means less specialists form countries that wish to field teams. With their being six events, the 4 athletes will each need to be proficient on more events.

 

[RangerDad]

How early should we consider Elite path? Currently DD is 7 yrs old and level 3. Her current gym is nice and they train a number of Level 10s with focus in future college competition. The things is that my DD talks about competing someday at the international level and I have been researching and learning about different options. Current gym does not have a HOPES/TOPS or Elite program. The team is large so limited in amount of hours, even if requesting to pay extra. The coach explained that best option are privates (doing one hour extra week for a total of 10). We are planning to homeschool due to her great aptitude for independent and fast tracking learning (so that's covered!)
So my questions are: Should we stay in the current gym with the JO program which is excellent and try to send her to pre-elite camps during the summer? Should we move gyms to one offering pre-elite, TOPS and HOPES programs? Which are the best elite programs near Sacramento (have not found any, only read about Azarian near Irvine,CA and All Olympia in LA)?

Ideas, opinions, point of contact info., etc... Welcome!!!

PS
I know is early, but I prefer to support her and provide her with the right tools right now, than wait and if she doesn't lose her motivation but gets to old to participate in the developmental programs without us trying I will feel awful.




"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"

 

[profmom]

Others may disagree, but I think it would be a mistake to leave a good gym where your DD is progressing well at this point. It's not necessary to do TOPS to get on the elite track down the road. The most important thing at L3-5 is building very strong foundational skills for later success. My only question would be whether this gym can move her through the compulsory levels fairly quickly. If not, then maybe looking around makes sense, but if they are successfully placing girls in college programs, I'm guessing that they can do this.

 

[bookworm]

How early should we consider Elite path? Currently DD is 7 yrs old and level 3

Way too early....she isn't even an optional yet.

 

[MeetDirector]

Ranger -

I know you want to plan ahead and make sure you have things lined up for her success, but she has got to get thru those compulsory levels first. There are some tough, gate-keeper skills coming up for her that are foundational to anything beyond in this crazy sport.

Good Luck.

 

[Mrs. Puma]

Though this statement is not really untrue, I couldn't help but picture Dunno spitting his coffee across the room...lol

 

[bogwoppit]

Well there are quite a few girls in L10, who will be at NAT's, who are more than capable of becoming Elites. Alicia Boren is one of them. Many people just decide the elite path is not for them, and that is nothing to do with talent. Elite is a pretty brutal path for a gymnast and a family to take. Costs a ton of money, involves massive stress and commitment and rarely leads anywhere. Look at the list of kids qualified to classics and then read it again in 4 years, pretty rare to see many of the same names 4 years later.

Dunno knows this for sure. Elite may seem like the pinnacle to many parents of compulsory gymnasts, but honestly it is not without many, many pitfalls. It is not just about talent either, anyone who says that it is is wrong.

 

[Mrs. Puma]

It just struck me funny that it said level 10 was "just under the elite level" and Dunno has taught me that it's a HUGE gap

 

[gymgal]

It just struck me funny that it said level 10 was "just under the elite level" and Dunno has taught me that it's a HUGE gap

Well, technically it is accurate because there is nothing officially between the JO program and elite. And while it is possible to go elite without ever doing JO, it is highly unusual. But your point is taken. Huge gap between 10 and elite.

 

[Mrs. Puma]

Well, technically it is accurate because there is nothing officially between the JO program and elite. And while it is possible to go elite without ever doing JO, it is highly unusual. But your point is taken. Huge gap between 10 and elite.

I had JUST read this thread and everyone talking about how they are sooooo different and then I saw that and (though you're right, it is technically correct) found it hilarious. Maybe I need to get out more! Lol!

 

[jjsmom]

How early should we consider Elite path? Currently DD is 7 yrs old and level 3. Her current gym is nice and they train a number of Level 10s with focus in future college competition. The things is that my DD talks about competing someday at the international level and I have been researching and learning about different options. Current gym does not have a HOPES/TOPS or Elite program. The team is large so limited in amount of hours, even if requesting to pay extra. The coach explained that best option are privates (doing one hour extra week for a total of 10). We are planning to homeschool due to her great aptitude for independent and fast tracking learning (so that's covered!)
So my questions are: Should we stay in the current gym with the JO program which is excellent and try to send her to pre-elite camps during the summer? Should we move gyms to one offering pre-elite, TOPS and HOPES programs? Which are the best elite programs near Sacramento (have not found any, only read about Azarian near Irvine,CA and All Olympia in LA)?

Ideas, opinions, point of contact info., etc... Welcome!!!

PS
I know is early, but I prefer to support her and provide her with the right tools right now, than wait and if she doesn't lose her motivation but gets to old to participate in the developmental programs without us trying I will feel awful.




"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"

I'm glad that you asked this question, as it is something I have been pondering myself. My DD is 8 years old and is competing L5 this year (also TOPs), however she has recently begun "up training" at L7. I recently had a talk with our gym owner about the "elite track" for her as she states that international competition is her goal. I was told that now is the time to really get her on that track, so to speak. Our gym has MANY L10s, with many girls getting full ride scholarships, and has TOPs/Hopes/Elite girls at our gym. I feel comfortable that she is at the right place. I guess my concern is, how do you really know if your child has "it"? It obviously takes a special kid to make it that far (and of course every gymnast is special to their respective family). DD is focused, driven, talented, but also has a love for what she is doing (she says the hard work is fun - which I appreciate hearing!). At this stage of the game, how do you know the difference between a gymnast who seems to have what it takes from one that doesn't (or can you see the difference this early?).

I want to support her 100% but also want to help her set realistic goals for herself...

 

[2gymmies]

I have another question - it seems that more and more gyms are dabbling in the Tops/Hopes/Elite game. Do you think that the change in Olympic Team size will deter gyms from trying to take a kid elite? After all, the chances of making the Olympics in gymnastics are less likely than winning the lottery! Coaches, would you still try to take a special kid elite or is it just too much of a long shot now?

 

[Faith]

I guess my concern is, how do you really know if your child has "it"? It obviously takes a special kid to make it that far. DD is focused, driven, talented, but also has a love for what she is doing (she says the hard work is fun - which I appreciate hearing!). At this stage of the game, how do you know the difference between a gymnast who seems to have what it takes from one that doesn't (or can you see the difference this early?)..

You don't.

It's a long journey. All you can do is set goals along the path, get to l7, get x skill. There will be setbacks along the way, injury, growth, puberty, fears. Overcoming these is as hard as gaining new skills. Sometimes the ones who make it aren't the ones who stand out in the early levels, but the ones mid pack who work hard, persevere, and just keep at it. Mostly it's a war of attrition.

Focus on the journey. If it gets her to elite, yay! If not, she will have learned so much along the way that will set her up on other paths she might take. At this age she needs balance too- don't make her life about reaching elite.

 

[profmom]

I have another question - it seems that more and more gyms are dabbling in the Tops/Hopes/Elite game. Do you think that the change in Olympic Team size will deter gyms from trying to take a kid elite? After all, the chances of making the Olympics in gymnastics are less likely than winning the lottery! Coaches, would you still try to take a special kid elite or is it just too much of a long shot now?

Not sure it will make any difference. I doubt that, once you reach the point of seriously trying to make elite, it is all about the Olympics. There is way more to being elite than going to the Olympics. I admire Elizabeth Price and Paul Ruggeri just as much as I admire Kyla Ross and Jake Dalton.

Jjsmom, I will retell a story. Last summer, we went to nationals to watch senior men's and women's finals. In the morning, we ran into Jonathan Horton's parents at breakfast and got to chatting with them, because Jonathan Horton is kind of like a god to my son. They told us that Jon was never the best one as he was moving up the ranks, but he always worked really hard, and look at all of the amazing places his work had gotten him to! DS was very happy to hear that!

 

[jjsmom]

You don't.

It's a long journey. All you can do is set goals along the path, get to l7, get x skill. There will be setbacks along the way, injury, growth, puberty, fears. Overcoming these is as hard as gaining new skills. Sometimes the ones who make it aren't the ones who stand out in the early levels, but the ones mid pack who work hard, persevere, and just keep at it. Mostly it's a war of attrition.

Focus on the journey. If it gets her to elite, yay! If not, she will have learned so much along the way that will set her up on other paths she might take. At this age she needs balance too- don't make her life about reaching elite.

Thank you for the sentiment and I agree 100%! We try our best to incorporate other "kid" things into her life because I don't want gymnastics to be the end all be all. I think the level of determination she has is something she applies to pretty much anything she wants to do whether it is her career aspirations, or simply playing a game on her iPad, so I'm glad she is able to understand the importance for balance in her life and I'm certainly here to encourage that. Just taking it moment by moment is the mindset I think we've developed. Glad to hear you all agree!

 

[hearts_and_stars]

I would also add that becoming an elite has more to do with attitude and work ethic than it does with natural talent and ability. If you've got a kid in the gym who has tons of natural ability but has a bad attitude or is lazy you'd be wasting your time trying to get them to elite. On the other hand, if you've got a kid who is not the best but also not the worst, shows up for practice ready to put in 100% every day, rarely misses practice, comes in for conditioning when injured, and wants to improve and progress, now that is a kid you can take elite.