age minimum requirements for L4

[starmaker]

Has anyone heard of or knows anything about a "special permission" granted to gymnast who do not meet the minimum age requirement. For instance, having a five year old compete as a L4??? Is it possible?

[nettyinpa]

As far as I know they have to be 6 years old in order to compete. You could probably find out at www.usa-gymnastics.org.

[hammy]

I'm pretty sure that the age 6 requirement is mandatory, and i think the main reason for doing this is to no push the children too fast (for the same reason I believe there is an age requirement for level 10 and maybe even 9). As nettyinpa said--check out the USAG website or give someone a call.

[Blackie6]

My DD is a 6 y old L4. I know while she was on pre-team she was learning skills for L4. Some gyms/states have a level 2 or level 3 that do compete, so it is possible to still learn the skills while experiencing the feel of an actual meet. Some gyms skip L4 altogether and train for L5 which compete at age 7. For the truly talented ones it is possible to move quickly thru the levels once you do get to age 6 or 7, but I agree with the previous poster, there has to be some sort of mandatory age ot else there would be 4 and 5 yr olds training 8 or more hours a week in the gym.

[Ingymmom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by starmaker Has anyone heard of or knows anything about a "special permission" granted to gymnast who do not meet the minimum age requirement. For instance, having a five year old compete as a L4??? Is it possible?

http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/women/...1-entryreq.pdf

Age requirement for usag L4 is 6 - no exceptions.... however in FL I know many gyms use AAU for competition experience. The routines are very similar to the jo program & I believe the age requirement is 5 for AAU L4.

From what I understand USAG has this rule implemented for insurance purposes.

[gracefulone]

One of the YMCAs in my state had a four year old competing level four. I think it was "exhibition" only, meaning that her results didn't count towards awards, etc. I don't really see the point except it was kind of like level three, but they didn't have one.

[gymgymgymnast08]

u can be exhibition if u r younger just for experience but I think its 6 years old

[EntrReality]

Most YMCAs do not have age requirement rules unless the state committee has set them again most do not have a rule.
AAU national rules do not have an age minimum listed in their rules.
USAG is 6yo (national rule).

[mariposamama]

Quote:
Originally Posted by starmaker Has anyone heard of or knows anything about a "special permission" granted to gymnast who do not meet the minimum age requirement. For instance, having a five year old compete as a L4??? Is it possible?

like the other posters, if it is USAG then the child MUST meet the age limit to compete. for level 4 it is age 6, for levels 5, 6 and 7 it is age 7, for levels 8 and 9, age 8 and for level 10 it is age 9.

http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/women/...1-entryreq.pdf

i think that Florida competes AAU as well, but i can't find any age limits for them. it depends on your gym as well. some florida gyms compete the lower levels (1,2 and 3), but that depends on the gym as well. we don't compete the lower levels where i live. it starts at level 4 for the competitions here, statewide and we don't have AAU.

you might want to check with your daughter's gym to see if they compete AAU as well. maybe that is what her coach is thinking about. or maybe the coach doesn't realize how young your little one really is. my DDs coach has asked me at least 4 times when my DD turns 6. she has a lot of girls to keep track of. my DD turns six in july and their first competition is september, so it works out good for her. if we decide to let her move to team, that is.

[starmaker]

well, I hear what all of you have said. Basically, the gymnast MUST be 6 years old. and that makes sense. I spoke with dd's head coach and bean coach and both said that they have had USAG make exception for other gymnast before. I also spoke to a parent of an 11 year old boy. The age exception was made for him. And at the age of 10 was the youngest national team member. His mother told me they had to get "special permission" for him to compete. When I talk to the gym they seem certain that my dd will be able to compete next august eventhough she will not turn 6 till April of 2009. I live in Florida. The gym my daughter attends is very competitive. In fact, it is very unconventional. My husband calls a sweatshop that manufactures gymnasts. It is HOT no a/c. It is dusty....a layer of chalk on everything. Gymnasts train on appartus eventhough there is no coach around. They adjust equipment on their own. My daughter's first hour of class is conditioning. They coaches are not around. Older higher level gymnasts help the youger lower level gymnast. There is a conditioning book in the middle of the gym. The girls read the exercise and work independently. My four year old daughter will usually partner up with an older girl (maybe 12 yrs old) and will climb ropes, handstand pushups, walk around the gym with ankle weights etc. The gym she at before was not at all like that. children were not allow to jump if they were not asked to. This new gym though seems to be doing something right. They have several national team members, elite gymnasts, international champions, etc. I really don't know what I am doing when it comes to dd. She has crazy talent, strength, flexiblity. Last thrusday when I went to pick her up from class, all the other girls on team wanted dd to show me something. She did an effortless perfect straddle press handstand. I was amazed!! My dd couldn't understand what the big deal was. She loves being there and challengeing herself. So far from what I have seen none of coaches have beenrude to her, yelled at her or in any way punished her. At her last gym she was constantly doing push ups for not paying attention etc. My dd seems to be much happier at this gym. I am trusting the gym and listening to my daughter. I am using this as a sounding board and you guys give me things to think about and consider on my own. Thank you so much!