confused about daughters progress

[gymrunner]

Its not a question of holding them back as much as it is wear and tear if they seek to have long-term success in the sport. The coaches will move them as fast as possible because it helps them promote their gym and they want to win meets. You are the parent and must monitor your dd's health. Only you can decide if she can handle it or not. Some can, most can't. I've seen it on both sides as a parent and a coach. Coaches push, push and push. Too much too young will show up later when it actually matters. Nothing your daughter is doing at level 4 or 5 has any bearing whatsoever on her long-term success, and the meets and their results mean nothing in the long run if level 10 or elite is the goal. Real gymnastics does not start until level 10. Everything else is just preparation and confidence building. Staying healthy and loving the sport are without question the two most important factors in reaching that level - more important than strength and talent, as strength can be gained and talent means nothing in this sport without motivation and hard work. Out of hundreds of kids that started out with my daughter 13 years ago in our state, many of whom were very strong and talented, only her and one other girl have made it to a college scholarship. The odds against your daughter making it all the way are staggering, and the reason is usually because the girls lose their motivation from over-training, they find another interest or they get injured. Keeping your daughter happy and healthy improve her odds tremendously! As for TOPS, it is basically a physical strength and flexibility challenge competition for the younger ones with skills added for the older girls. The parents really get into it and you will see 7 year olds doing 100 push-ups and 30 pull-ups and everyone will be very excited about it. There are 2 thoughts about TOPS. Some coaches find it a waste of time because it takes away from gymnastics training. Other coaches are really into it - again because success by a kid brings more attention to the gym. We do not participate in TOPS at our gym because of the additional wear and tear on the kids to prepare and the time away from learning skills, and we have seen no correlation between success at TOPS and success as a gymnast in the long run. I cannot stress to you the importance of happy and healthy if your daughter has the potential to do well in the sport. The cheer squads of America are full of talented strong kids who either broke down physically or lacked the motivation and work ethic to suceed in gymnastics. I wish your dd the best.

[catesmom]

Starmaker- Hope things are going well for your dd, I just revisited this post from a while back, and I was wondering how your dd enjoyed her first competition? I read that you were putting videos up on youtube, but I didn't see a link. Anyway I was just wondering.

[mariposamama]

Quote:
Originally Posted by catesmom Starmaker- Hope things are going well for your dd, I just revisited this post from a while back, and I was wondering how your dd enjoyed her first competition? I read that you were putting videos up on youtube, but I didn't see a link. Anyway I was just wondering.

here is her little cutie's youtube link. http://www.youtube.com/user/OliviasClub

[flippymonkeysmom]

This is a tough topic for a lot of people. When a young one has natural ability, it is hard to even think of holding them back. My dd's coach was an elite gymnast and started very young. Her daughter is now 4 and amazing to watch. She is able to do all the level 5 routines easily. She was able to do bhs's last summer. She has her kips, bwo on beam with a sopt, etc. It really is incredible to watch. The amazing thing is she only practices 4 hours a week. Granted she spends more time than that in the gym because her mom is there coaching the other girls, but her mom is afraid if she has her practice too much too soon she will burn out. Next year she will be old enough to compete level 3 - which is totally unfair to all the other level 3's out there since she is so good already.

[Gymnasticsgirl521]

I have to say as long as your DD is having fun and her coaches are supporting her being so young then I say you know your child best. I too have an almost 5 year old that is working on simular things. She will not be able to compete next year but will be training her L4 and beginning to work on L5 for her first year of competing. That being said I say as long as DD is having fun and is growing that is all that matters. When ever she gets upset about things I always ask her is she wants to contine in the sport.

I so wish we had L3 meets here. DD would so LOVE to get to actually compete. I know it is going to kill her next year when her peers are going to meets and she will just be training.

We are starting private lessons next week and going to try two a month to help DD. DD is such a perfectionist about how she does things we feel this would really help her get things just perfect and help eliminate some of her frustration. I personally feel this will help her too with her confidence on her skills. The Easter Bunny will be giving her a certificate for her first private this weekend. I know she is going to be thrilled.