Do you have a say in your daughters Floor Music?

[iluvgym]

We do not give our parents a say in their child's floor music. It's not done that way to purposely keep them out of the loop or anything, we just feel that the coaches and the gymnast who will do a routine to that music are the experts at gymnastics and what would be a good fit or not. Parents are not gymnastically informed enough to pick the right music for the right kid.

The comment about the cool Pirates routine is the perfect example............ I can't tell you how many judges cringe as soon as that music starts.........doesn't matter how good the routine COULD be, they are so sick of hearing that music that it's hard to really enjoy watching the routine. Judge's are only human.

[gracefulone]

It's really up to us at my gym. I really liked a couple different choices, and I let my parents give their input. In the end, I went with my favorite, which happened to be one of my dad's all time favorite songs, one of mine too.

[Gymmonkeymomma]

For my older DD's first optional routine, she and I picked 2 pieces and her choreographer (who was not one of their coaches) suggested the one she thought would be better. For her 2nd routine, her choreographer/coach picked 3-4 pieces for us to listen to and DD had final say. We were very pleased both times.

For younger DD's first optional routine (for USAIGC Bronze) - it was a one size fits all - the music was very peppy. All 10 girls (ages 6-12) used the same music and most of the older girls/parents did not like it at all. For this year's Bronze routine, again it was one size fits all but a much more "mature" tune. Even though DD made it work and took 1st the first time she competed it, I think at 7 yrs old, she should have something that is more "cute-sey".

[Aussie_coach]

I don't give the parents or the kids a choice in floor music and so far that has made them happier, I find pieces to suit the child and their style and when the parents and kids hear it they are generally very happy with the choice and it's usually something better than they would find themselves. If a child really did not like the music I would reselect but so far that has never happened.

Here in Australia all gymnasts have their own floor music and their own floor routines from level 4 up, so these kids are generally very inexperienced as are their parents in understanding their personal style.

[Tuduri]

I almost always defer to the coach about anything because, afterall, he or she has the knowledge of the sport. But at the same time, I don't cotton to a coach who assumes he or she is the final arbiter of all things. I think that a coach who can't, within reason, deal with a parent has an inferiority complex. I, the parent, am the one who pays the bucks and I insist in having some say so over what goes on with my daughter's training. Moreover, if our coaches weren't as wonderful as they indeed are, we would go elsewhere. There are other gyms that would die to have my daughter in their gym. But that really isn't the point. All gyms, their coaches, their owners, etc, need to appreciate the value of all their customers, that includes the gymnast and their families. While gymnastics is a great sport, it also is a service provided to customers. And if the gym/coaches won't accomodate their patrons, they will suffer the economics of the market.

Tuduri

[iluvgym]

Didn't mean to offend, just meant that you pay for a service, and part of coaching is things like selecting floor music. Just like you pay a mechanic to fix your car, you don't stand over him and tell him how to do it right? Well at least I don't, that's what I pay him for. I've had a car for years, but it doesn't make me an expert.

I'm sure your daughter is great, and this next comment ISN'T geared towards YOU personally, just a comment you made about how other gyms would just die to have your daughter. Let me tell you, ALL team members are important, and if I had a parent who wanted control over skills, choreography and music, I'd show them the door no matter how good their daughter was. Gyms don't make money off team anyway, it's an EXTRA service they provide, and they'd actually make more money without it.

[Imat3]

At our gym, the parents and athletes has some say in the process. My girls' coach has actually already told them to start thinking about what kind of music they would like and let her know if they find something. Once we find something they like we will take it to her. I'm guessing she will either say it would be okay or keep looking. Ultimately it would be up to her, as she knows what works best, but it is nice that she is letting us have fun looking. My girls are getting a feel for what they like. And they really need to like it...it is their routine afterall.

Happy Easter weekend!

Imat3

[lannamavity]

Quote:
Originally Posted by iluvgym Didn't mean to offend, just meant that you pay for a service, and part of coaching is things like selecting floor music. Just like you pay a mechanic to fix your car, you don't stand over him and tell him how to do it right? Well at least I don't, that's what I pay him for. I've had a car for years, but it doesn't make me an expert. I'm sure your daughter is great, and this next comment ISN'T geared towards YOU personally, just a comment you made about how other gyms would just die to have your daughter. Let me tell you, ALL team members are important, and if I had a parent who wanted control over skills, choreography and music, I'd show them the door no matter how good their daughter was. Gyms don't make money off team anyway, it's an EXTRA service they provide, and they'd actually make more money without it.

Couldn't have said it better.

How would any parent feel if a coach walked into that parent's office and told them how to do their job? A little annoyed?

Do parents walk into a school and tell the principal/teacher what the kids should learn from week to week and month to month? The teachers wouldn't need to be educated themselves, would they?

If you want to pick the music, skills, etc, then coach a few decades, learn the trade and open a gym! If you trust the coaches, fall in line with their procedures and let them do their job.

[bogwoppit]

Quote:
Originally Posted by lannamavity Couldn't have said it better. How would any parent feel if a coach walked into that parent's office and told them how to do their job? A little annoyed? Do parents walk into a school and tell the principal/teacher what the kids should learn from week to week and month to month? The teachers wouldn't need to be educated themselves, would they? If you want to pick the music, skills, etc, then coach a few decades, learn the trade and open a gym! If you trust the coaches, fall in line with their procedures and let them do their job.

Firstly a coach would not walk into a parents office and tell them how to do their job, because the parent has not been hired by the coach to do a job for them. And yes, of course we parents see the teachers and talk to them about what's going on in school and how things could be a better fit and what could be done differently , that's what parents are for, to be an advocate in our childs life.

We all love our coaches, on the whole, but they are doing a service that they are paid to do. As Tuduri says, "we can always let our pocket book do the talking". The bottom line in children's sport will always be parents with money to spend on kids. I do know this story from the coaching side too.

lannamavity, quite a few of your responses on the board have been quite negative, leading me to name you in my head "Negalannamavity". It is fun to share views and ideas, but a few emoticons and a bit of humour thrown in can save a thread from the snarky abyss of internet chat. I am sure you do not mean to offend, but you do.

[awposey1]

Our head coach is russian and his wife used to do the choreography. Usually the coach picks a few, the kids pick a few and then together they narrow it down. My duaghter is not a great dancer so I always defer to what the choreographer thinks will work for her best.