confused about daughters progress

[starmaker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariposamama that is great that she is competing L2! i so wish that we competed the lower levels here. i think it helps their confidence so much when they get that opportunity. i hope you guys both have fun! (is is AAU?) i hope you keep posting here starmaker. i was thinking we had scared you off, which wasn't anyone's intent i am sure. you sounded concerned when you posted, which is what i was definitely addressing. but we all know our kids better than anyone else and i am sure you are watching to make sure everything is safe for her.

Our Gym is hosting the Universal Invite this weekend. It's an international competition so there will be gymnasts from south america there too. DD is becoming more and more excited as the day gets closer. She has been learning the L2 rountine for the last 3 weeks or so. Personally I think she could of used more time to learn it but we will see how she does. I do plan to post her video on you tube and put a link here. I believe it is a USAG event but maybe the level 2 and 3 could be AAU- don't know.
Thank you, mariposamama for your concern. DD seems to be motivated and excited with gym again. And on off days I do not bring up gym unless she does. (just trying to keep the pressure off and making sure she has time to just be a kid)

[mariposamama]

how exciting for her to see all the other girls. we have gone to 2 college meets and DD loves it. she has a poster with their autographs and we made a shirt and she got that signed. she even made signs to hold up for them. we are going to our gym's L4 meet tomorrow so she can see what L4 competitions look like. she is really excited.

i bet your DD will have a blast competing and watching the older girls. watch out for her wanting to do lots of new tricks. LOL. they get ideas from watching them.

[Aussie_coach]

It really would be fabulous for more gyms to introduce the lower level competitions. Here in Australia competitions begin at Level 1. And level 1, 2 and 3 competitions are hugely popular. Gymnasts are not required to compete until level 4 (then they must get the minimum score to move up a level) so most gyms offer the option of competitions or just classes for level 1-3 athletes. The kids love it and it is a great way to promote longevity in the sport.

Many young gymnasts when they start out don't believe they will ever be good enough to compete as level 4's so having the lower levels helps them to set more immediate goals.

[gymmomntc2e6]

My dd competes L3 right now and I think it has been really good for her and her teammates to kind of get their feet wet.

they don't do as many meets as the L4 & up, but it is a good introduction into competitive gymnastics.

Let us know how she does at the meet this weekend, and when the video's are posted. I have to figure out how to post the video's on youtube so I can put dd's there.

I did see in another thread somewhere that there is a site called gymnasttube and it is like youtube but only gymnastics. it was pretty neat.

[gymrunner]

In my opinion this is way too much too soon. After 15 years in this sport with our daugher who started at age 3, the one thing I can tell you is that the sport is a marathon and not a sprint. Believe it or not, the factors that will keep your daughter in the sport and successful at it have very little to do with anything she is doing or exhibiting right now. Many young girls exhibit natural ability only to fail for a variety of other reasons, including burn-out. Now is the time for her to have fun and gain a love for the sport that will carry her through the rough times that will surely come later. She doesn't need them at 4. If she is truly talented, and motivated, she will excel at her own speed. I also believe the other posters are correct about the competing age guidelines. I'm suprised her coach was not on top of this.

[starmaker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gymrunner In my opinion this is way too much too soon. After 15 years in this sport with our daugher who started at age 3, the one thing I can tell you is that the sport is a marathon and not a sprint. Believe it or not, the factors that will keep your daughter in the sport and successful at it have very little to do with anything she is doing or exhibiting right now. Many young girls exhibit natural ability only to fail for a variety of other reasons, including burn-out. Now is the time for her to have fun and gain a love for the sport that will carry her through the rough times that will surely come later. She doesn't need them at 4. If she is truly talented, and motivated, she will excel at her own speed. I also believe the other posters are correct about the competing age guidelines. I'm suprised her coach was not on top of this.

My dd is having tons of fun in her gym class. Her main coach is a 21 year old ex gymnast. She is GREAT with her. She is firm but at the same time gentle. ALthough she is the yougest in the class, she does not baby her but at the same time understands that SHE IS four and has her moments. Her patience and her ability to encourage and praise my dd are very commendable. This is our second gym so I have some point of reference. My dd has not encountered "rough" times at gym. (atleast not at her new gym) Because she is so naturally talented, smart, and mature for her age she IS working at her own pace(it just happens to be faster than most 4 year olds). No one is really pushing her. She is working to her ability. Out of the group of girls they are training for L4 next season my dd is the most physically ready. (the other girls according to the coach need some arm strength. My dd is the only one with a pullover, split, etc. My dd could not be in any other class at this gym without being completely and utterly bored....hence her old gym.
By the way dd turns five next months. Don't know maybe in other people eyes five is better than four and half.

Have you guys ever seen a four year old do straddle presses??
Her strength and flexibility is very uncanny. People reaction seeing her warmup and condition are of complete awe.

Other than my circumstance I would agree with everyone else about 9 hours being too much too soon for a 4 year old. dd wouldn't have it any other way though. And my gut tells me that the look on her face while at gym is reassurance enough!!!

[Bay Valley]

In Michigan we have "Fun Meets" for girls levels 2-5 that are not old enough to compete. They have to follow normal meet rules, they give ribbons for all events to all kids, and even medals. My daughter was to young to compete for level 4 and did this, next season she went rite to level 5. With the FUN MEETS they have actual judges there so the girls can get use too competeing in a more relaxed way, and they love it. We have 1, 4yr old and 2, 5 yr olds in our gym doing this and they love it.

[gymrunner]

We have several kids in our gym your daughter's age that are not only doing straddle presses (not all that tough to teach to a motivated young one), but also kips on bars. In fact, my own daughter could do both skills at 5 years old 13 years ago. We have a 7 year old doing giants already. You will be amazed at what some of these young kids can do, especially if your daughter ever competes in the TOPS program - that will be an eye-opener for you! None of it really means anything right now or is any kind of indication whether they will have what it takes to suceed as a competitive gymnast. The cheer schools are filled with girls who were full of talent at an early age. Its all about loving the sport and dedication more so than raw talent or strength. My own daughter trained level 5 for two years because she was too young to compete and in retrospect it was too much, even though she "loved it" at the time - until the injuries started. I speak not only as a parent, but as a coach. There is plenty of time. Keep a close eye on her. Her coach is pretty young and doesn't have alot of experience yet, even if she was a gymnast. We were all gymnasts!

[starmaker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gymrunner We have several kids in our gym your daughter's age that are not only doing straddle presses (not all that tough to teach to a motivated young one), but also kips on bars. In fact, my own daughter could do both skills at 5 years old 13 years ago. We have a 7 year old doing giants already. You will be amazed at what some of these young kids can do, especially if your daughter ever competes in the TOPS program - that will be an eye-opener for you! None of it really means anything right now or is any kind of indication whether they will have what it takes to suceed as a competitive gymnast. The cheer schools are filled with girls who were full of talent at an early age. Its all about loving the sport and dedication more so than raw talent or strength. My own daughter trained level 5 for two years because she was too young to compete and in retrospect it was too much, even though she "loved it" at the time - until the injuries started. I speak not only as a parent, but as a coach. There is plenty of time. Keep a close eye on her. Her coach is pretty young and doesn't have alot of experience yet, even if she was a gymnast. We were all gymnasts!

I had no idea there were so many 4 year olds doing straddle presses and kips. The coaches and especially the higher level gymnasts in out gym are genuinely impressed by her strength. The straddle press was not never taught to her. She saw someone do it, gave it a try and did it. As far as a kip, she has had a few practises on them and looks very good. Assuming dd continues with gymnastics she will definently participate in the TOPS program. Why would the TOPS program be an eye opener for me?? I know what the test consist of. My dd is very motivated, hard-working, extremely competitive, detail oriented little girl. She loves being challanged. She tells me her favorite part of gym is conditioning. She is super strong!! And super flexible!! So far as I see it, and her gym sees it she has a great shot at going very far in the sport. I am aware that she is young and that there is plenty of time but no one is rushing her. Holding her back simply because of chronological age makes little sense to me. If you evaluate EVERY characteristic a gymnast needs to train L4 and later find out the gymnast is actually 4 or 5 years old will you hold them back??
DD actually has 3 coaches. On any given day she can have any given coach. One is the owner and head coach. Who has taken gymnasts to elite, collegiate, worlds, and own son is one the national team and an olympic hopeful for 08 olympics. The other is a man who has been to Worlds and trains gymnasts to elite. He tends to be more strick and impatient. The young one I spoke about earlier is actually an extremely good coach. She knows what everyone is doing at all times.

[starmaker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gymrunner We have several kids in our gym your daughter's age that are not only doing straddle presses (not all that tough to teach to a motivated young one), but also kips on bars. In fact, my own daughter could do both skills at 5 years old 13 years ago. We have a 7 year old doing giants already. You will be amazed at what some of these young kids can do, especially if your daughter ever competes in the TOPS program - that will be an eye-opener for you! None of it really means anything right now or is any kind of indication whether they will have what it takes to suceed as a competitive gymnast. The cheer schools are filled with girls who were full of talent at an early age. Its all about loving the sport and dedication more so than raw talent or strength. My own daughter trained level 5 for two years because she was too young to compete and in retrospect it was too much, even though she "loved it" at the time - until the injuries started. I speak not only as a parent, but as a coach. There is plenty of time. Keep a close eye on her. Her coach is pretty young and doesn't have alot of experience yet, even if she was a gymnast. We were all gymnasts!

I had no idea there were so many 4 year olds doing straddle presses and kips. The coaches and especially the higher level gymnasts in out gym are genuinely impressed by her strength. The straddle press was not never taught to her. She saw someone do it, gave it a try and did it. As far as a kip, she has had a few practises on them and looks very good. Assuming dd continues with gymnastics she will definently participate in the TOPS program. Why would the TOPS program be an eye opener for me?? I know what the test consist of. My dd is very motivated, hard-working, extremely competitive, detail oriented little girl. She loves being challanged. She tells me her favorite part of gym is conditioning. She is super strong!! And super flexible!! So far as I see it, and her gym sees it she has a great shot at going very far in the sport. I am aware that she is young and that there is plenty of time but no one is rushing her. Holding her back simply because of chronological age makes little sense to me. If you evaluate EVERY characteristic a gymnast needs to train L4 and later find out the gymnast is actually 4 or 5 years old will you hold them back??
DD actually has 3 coaches. On any given day she can have any given coach. One is the owner and head coach. Who has taken gymnasts to elite, collegiate, worlds, and own son is one the national team and an olympic hopeful for 08 olympics. The other is a man who has been to Worlds and trains gymnasts to elite. He tends to be more strick and impatient. The young one I spoke about earlier is actually an extremely good coach. She knows what everyone is doing at all times.