Private lessons?

[azgymrats]

I was wondering how often your dds have privates? how long are the lessons? What level is your dd?

My dd just turned 6 years old and her coach suggested this schedule for her.
Mon-45 min private
Tue-45 min private
wed-level 4 (2.5hrs)
thur-45 min private
fri-2 hour private

She used to go 2-1 hour classes and 1 level 4 class(2.5 hours a week).
We tried the above schedule out for 2 weeks and my dd loved it and she has advancd quite a bit.
Do you think this schedule would really benefit my dd over just 3 level 4 classes a week?

[bogwoppit]

[azgymrats]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bogwoppit

That doesnt help much. WDYT?

[bogwoppit]

Now that I have that out of my system.

I really think that privates should be used to complement regular training, they should not be part of a regular training schedule. I think a child is better off in a group of their peers, where they will learn by watching and doing.

I think three level 4 classes a week is plenty for a six year old, she is very young and should be doing other things besides gym. I would really wonder about any coach that wants a 6 year old in the gym five days a week.

Gym at any age, and especially as this young age, should be fun and should be with other gymnasts.

I have two DD's in gym, my nine year old, level4/5 (different system here) has never had a private and probably never will. Older DD, 11 years about level6/7, has had about 7 privates in the last two years. She had them as she had to miss so much gym due to injury, she did them right before meets to get her routines down.

I would keep your money in your wallet, you are going to need it later on if she sticks with gym, it gets very expensive as they move onto team. Check out this thread in the parents forum.

Is it worth it?....opinions needed

In the end you should do what you think is right for your child. Remember that out of every 100 gymnasts who begin at level 4 only 50 of them are left by levels 6 & 7.

[gym law mom]

Did the coach ever say why your dd needed about 4 hours of private lessons? Sorry, but that borders on ridiculous. At her level she should be getting what instruction she needs from her classes. Little ones love the privates since they get all that 1 on 1 time with the coach. I only see the need for a private if a girl is struggling with a skill or routine. My gymmie competed as a L7 this past year and had 4 privates. 2 were to do choreography on her floor and beam routines and the last 2 were to redo the choreography on her floor and correct little things. Actually, she doesn't like to do privates that much unless she feels the need. I would be VERY wary of a coach that suggested alot of privates for a young child.

Cost for privates at our gym varies depending on the coach. Those with more experience charge $50-60/hour---the rest are about $40.

[azgymrats]

I totally understand the costs that will come later. That discussion was about a parent who was going to commute 50 miles extra a day. ALot of that costs came from gas, etc.. The private lessons we have been doing are no where near as expensive as they should be. I am not supposed to discuss what rate she gave us, but it is a steal. I guess an issue we are facing is my kindergardner being at the gym from 6-8:30 at night. I understand older girls practice late nights but my dd just turned 6. She is in bed at 7:30 and sound asleep by 8:00, so the level 4 times are difficult for us/her. I also have 2 other children. I agree that gymnast really do learn alot from other gymnasts during team workouts. She is not completely a level 4, she is still mastering her bhs on the floor yet can do a fly awy on the bars. She can hold her straddle on the beam for a minute. So her coach is trying to get her up to be completely a level 4 I guess. We live in a really small town and i am close with her coach. If we were paying $50 an hour i would understand but the rate she gave us is basically only benefiting my dd not her. KWIM? My dd has been in gymnastics for 3 years now, she started pre-team after a month of tumble tots.

[bogwoppit]

Only you can decide what is right for her.

Only we can tell you what we would do for our girls.

[azgymrats]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bogwoppit Only you can decide what is right for her. Only we can tell you what we would do for our girls.

Thanks I just didn't know what others did. There aren't any other gyms close to me so I have nothing to compare our gym to.

[adsills]

I'm new here. What is a "DD"????? Thanks in advance!!

[jls1969]

I would have to agree with bogwoppit....that seems a bit excessive for level 4. I also think that privates should not be a part of the workout, but rather a complement when extra help is needed. My daughter is a level 6 and has done 4 or 5 privates...the first couple were when we came to her new gym and she had to be re-taught a cast on bars and then we had 1 for vault before her state meet and 1 to work on free hips for level 6. Our privates are $70 per hour.

I truly feel like level 4 should be mainly be for learning some basics, being introduced to the competitive arena and adjusting to a bit more regimented training schedule. Our state only does level 4 achievement...there is no placement at the competitions. If you feel like your daughter is getting enough time in the gym to learn her level 4 routines, then I would only use the privates for skills she is struggling on.

Even though we are only level 6, our coach keeps telling us that gymnastics is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. You want to take it easy on the gymnast's body and psyche when you are early in the process, so they will not burn out. He is a highly regarded coach, so I have to beilieve that . Your daughter might want to be in the gym every day now, but if she doesn't have days to add as she progresses in the levels, it could become old hat to early on. Talk to the coach and see what the reason is for so many and whether your dd could enough out of level 4 training and a couple of privates per month...I hope she is having fun doing level 4!