CoachMeg
Coach
We have a set of twins on our level 3 team. They're the oldest in the group at 12 years old. The rest of the L3 team consists of: 2 six yr olds, 5 seven yr olds, 3 eight yr olds, 1 nine yr old, 1 ten yr old, and then the twins (12 years old). The problem: one twin is ready for level 4 and the other is not.
The twins are very talented and very flexible, they are just not very strong (they started gymnastics late). When the twins were on pre-team, I went up to the mother to tell her that one of them (let's call her Emma) was ready for L3. She asked about the other twin (let's call her Kate) and I told her that she was not quite ready. She told me to hold Emma back until Kate was ready. I didn't agree with her choice, but of course I followed her wish.
Fast-foward...they're both now on L3. We've competed one meet and as expected, Emma outscored Kate by about 1.5 points. Her mom has stated (several times) how she wishes her daughters weren't the oldest on the L3 team and how they'd have more fun if they worked out with the L4 group who has a couple of girls in similar ages. I recently emailed the mom telling her that Emma is doing very well and has ALL the next level skills and we'd like to move her up to L4 for the remainder of the competitive season. Unfortunately, Kate does not have a high bar kip, squat on, double back-handspring, or front-handspring which are crucial for L4. Their mom emailed me back saying that she doesn't want to hold Emma back but this will cause tension if they are at different levels, and wants me to have Kate practice with the L4s but compete L3. She says she will have more fun this way and will be more motivated. While I understand her concern, she needs to understand that although they are twins they are not the same person - or gymnast.
If I let Kate work out with the L4s but compete L3, other L3 parents are going to want the same thing. But if I move Emma up a level & keep Kate at L3, I risk losing her. I'm in a sticky situation and I'm not sure how to proceed.
Thoughts?
The twins are very talented and very flexible, they are just not very strong (they started gymnastics late). When the twins were on pre-team, I went up to the mother to tell her that one of them (let's call her Emma) was ready for L3. She asked about the other twin (let's call her Kate) and I told her that she was not quite ready. She told me to hold Emma back until Kate was ready. I didn't agree with her choice, but of course I followed her wish.
Fast-foward...they're both now on L3. We've competed one meet and as expected, Emma outscored Kate by about 1.5 points. Her mom has stated (several times) how she wishes her daughters weren't the oldest on the L3 team and how they'd have more fun if they worked out with the L4 group who has a couple of girls in similar ages. I recently emailed the mom telling her that Emma is doing very well and has ALL the next level skills and we'd like to move her up to L4 for the remainder of the competitive season. Unfortunately, Kate does not have a high bar kip, squat on, double back-handspring, or front-handspring which are crucial for L4. Their mom emailed me back saying that she doesn't want to hold Emma back but this will cause tension if they are at different levels, and wants me to have Kate practice with the L4s but compete L3. She says she will have more fun this way and will be more motivated. While I understand her concern, she needs to understand that although they are twins they are not the same person - or gymnast.
If I let Kate work out with the L4s but compete L3, other L3 parents are going to want the same thing. But if I move Emma up a level & keep Kate at L3, I risk losing her. I'm in a sticky situation and I'm not sure how to proceed.
Thoughts?