gracyomalley
Proud Parent
My daughter had a great year(for her) as a 10 year old level 7 last year - 6th in the state, 5th on bars, 9th on floor. She had grown leaps and bounds (literally and gymnastically - I think she was still under 4 feet as a level 6, shortest in the state!)....but this summer, she hit mental blocks and decided to repeat level 7. Her coach felt she could go either way (8 or 7), but that the most important thing was that she feel confident and have "ownership of her gymnastics". For the first time she chose to repeat. 2 of her same age friends and long term training partners moved up, but several friends had already had to repeat at compulsory levels. Her coach feels that "having what it takes" to stick with gym has much more to do with each kid enjoying and continuing to feel good about gym/themselves as a gymnast, then how "talented" a child is - after all, when tweens and teens hit so much changes socially/mentally/physically/academically that many kids quit NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL they are or how well they score!
Really, for most kids, gymnastics isn't about making elite or even (although DD hopes and her coach has sent 2 in the last 3 years) college scholarships...its about having a fun, character building, physically healthy activity that helps them grow into adults with strength to work hard, have fun, be a good team member, see challenges/fears as things to be overcome (dd is FINALLY connecting her BHS_BHS on beam now after competing it in tears as a level 7 all year - never fell - great form - never connected last year!). If gym is all that for your daughter (and you can afford this crazy sport) then she's got what it takes!!
Really, for most kids, gymnastics isn't about making elite or even (although DD hopes and her coach has sent 2 in the last 3 years) college scholarships...its about having a fun, character building, physically healthy activity that helps them grow into adults with strength to work hard, have fun, be a good team member, see challenges/fears as things to be overcome (dd is FINALLY connecting her BHS_BHS on beam now after competing it in tears as a level 7 all year - never fell - great form - never connected last year!). If gym is all that for your daughter (and you can afford this crazy sport) then she's got what it takes!!