WAG Taking private 1:1 at a competitor's gym

[Splat]

I did take a private at a different gym while my current gym was closed for 2 weeks we had a meet right after we got back to practice. So I did it to stay in shape while off. My coaches knew but my main coach didn't like it and was super made that I didn't ask her to do a private (she wouldn't be allowed to because the gym was completely closed). I would make sure it is ok with your dd's gym before signing her up.

 

[rosiekat]

Yeah, it would be a big fat no from anyplace I'm familiar with. That can be a shame, though - I think sometimes it's good to hear another person's perspective, or maybe they are able to demonstrate or teach in a way that gets that particular point across to you. Sometimes, frankly, we need to hear something from a different teacher. But as was pointed out upthread, most coaching is looking at the long term, with a plan for further out. So I do understand why it's frowned upon, I just wish it wasn't *quite* so taboo. (And I'm saying this as someone who is 110% pleased with where my son is right now.)

 

[Gymmommy71]

Another gym having better coaching on an event a gymnast stuggles on, another gym having better equipment that a gymnast needs, another gym providing more training hours that a gymnast wants but can't get at their current gym, specialist coach who is better at something than the coaches at current gym...

I'm sorry, but to me these still all sound like reasons one would deep down want to leave a current gym and go to another. It's one thing to desire this extra stuff from say a nationally renowned gym like a WOGA or Chows (which are what camps are for), but when it's a private lesson w/ a rival gym w/in driving distance, you're clearly unsatisfied even if you don't realize it yet IMO.

Also, if the specialized training from this super coach or access to this good equipment was part of your current Gym's training plan, they'd be the one suggesting it and arranging it w/ the other gym (and my bet is it would be for a group of girls, not just one gymnast), not the gym parent independently.

I also wouldn't be surprised if the other gym would refuse the request for the private over conflicts of interest, or at least insist on calling your current gym for their blessing first.

 

[SurpriseGymMom]

Hopefully you haven't inquired at the other gym because if you have, I can guarantee you they already "caught wind" since the owners know each other. It's pretty amazing how small the gym world is...

 

[Sasha]

I'm sorry, but to me these still all sound like reasons one would deep down want to leave a current gym and go to another. It's one thing to desire this extra stuff from say a nationally renowned gym like a WOGA or Chows (which are what camps are for), but when it's a private lesson w/ a rival gym w/in driving distance, you're clearly unsatisfied even if you don't realize it yet IMO.

Perhaps if all/multiple of the reasons cited for desiring privates were true at the same time (better equipment, expertise, timeslot..), that would tend to indicate a deeper dissatisfaction, yes.

The more "decorated" gymnasts (e.g., TOPS, Future Stars, other elite camps) who earn special clinics and camps take advantage of a range of different coaches and their unique teaching styles pretty frequently. Coaches each contribute their experience and pointers in the best interest of the athletes (or so I assume - I have only been to one such clinic with my child, but coaches did seem to all genuinely be trying to help all kids, including 'rival' gym kids).

Is it fundamentally "wrong" to think an occasional dose of an an additional expert helping your child might be beneficial? Does it really have to be a person from Chows or WOGA (or similar big name) to be potentially helpful? Does it really mean that a person is "clearly unsatisfied" and disloyal to even explore the thought of whether some targeted work with an additional expert might be beneficial? Not everyone's child has access to these experiences (open camps perhaps, but that may or may not be a fit), but could reasonably wonder if exposure to more/different coaches could in some way help her child, too, since it seems to be such a common experience to "cross-coach" in the clinic atmosphere.

I realize privates with another coach could be counter-productive for other reasons stated (different training plan, short-term vs. long-term progress), and so I'm certainly not advocating this should be the "norm" at all(!!), but I would not assume a parent who is wondering out loud if "another set of eyes" might help her child is automatically dissatisfied and disloyal.

Our coach is, imo, one of the most technically proficient, hard-working, kind, and trustworthy coaches in the whole region. I 100% don't want to go elsewhere. That doesn't mean that I would not welcome another coach's time and input to work with my son if it were offered, available, and welcomed by our coach. "Rival" is a construct separate from the best interest of an individual child's gymnastics.

 

[kris]

FWIW, if I knew there would be no repercussions, and I knew a great vault coach at a gym with a vault pit, I'd consider it for my DD. That said, I knew this gym didn't have a vault pit when we signed up (and DD had already competed level 8 when we moved so I knew how handy a vault pit could be) and no way would I leave the best program around just for that. That said, her gym in the past has taken groups of girls to another gym to use the vault pit before and I would guess if there are multiple girls needing it again this year they will do the same later in the summer or early in fall.

 

[Gymbee06]

Just to add that quite a few gyms round here do regional training and clinic days for all the gyms to attend the coaches from all different clubs train different girls from different clubs I will say this though our last gym never participated in any of these days and clinics they were always too worried about losing girls and hated every other gym around us would bad mouth other gyms and their coaches constantly current gym seems to have an excellent relationship with other gyms the gym we private at has a current national team coach and admitted to me that she used to be so possessive over her girls going to train at other gyms and coaches but now she doesn't care as she just wants girls to compete and enjoy gymnastics

 

[Musicmama]

If they're going to find out anyhow then I'd be up front about it from the beginning so that fewer negative things can be read into your actions.

Tell them what you think she would get out of a private at the rival gym and why you're thinking of it in the first place (the scheduling issue, in particular). Maybe they'll be more willing to work with getting her in if they know it's a big enough issue that you're already looking elsewhere to fulfill that need/desire.

 

[AmandaLynn]

On the other side of that coin... As a gym, we do not take on competitive athletes from other gyms for privates.... I can see circumstances where that policy may be flexible (where the athlete's coach has set up the private, or if the coach brings in athletes to use our equipment/facility), but it hasn't happened, to my knowledge, in the time I have been at this gym.