WAG Not so much an hours question, but days

[twinmomma]

I've searched all the "training hours" threads, and they aren't exactly what I'm looking for.

As an L3, DD trained 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. After season was over, she was identified as one who had the potential to test out of L4 and move to L5. While I'm still not sure I agree (she struggles with flexibility though she is super strong and a solid tumbler), part of the deal with training with that goal in mind was being in the gym M-F, 3 hours a day. If she shoots for just competing L4 with most of the rest of her team, she would be going to 4 days a week (MTWF).

She's 8, almost 9. The transition from 3rd grade to 4th is looming, and in our area that means going from 20:1 ratio classes to much higher, as well as more expected homework and independence. 5 days a week, all DURING the school week, seems excessive to me for an 8 year old possible L4 (she'd only be an L5 if she could get the skills).

Thoughts? I know the hours discussion has been beaten to death, but how are your hours structured? I'd add that I did a little local research and none of the other gyms that have hours on their website have their L5's in the gym 5 days a week. They may be in the gym 14 hours, but it's over 4 days, often including a weekend day.

 

[profmom]

Five weekdays a week is tough. Granted, mine go mostly for four-hour blocks, but each has one weeknight per week out of the gym. That one night a week is a real sanity saver, because they can use it to catch up on all manner of things, or just sit around and be brain dead. (DS is L6 and goes about 20 hours a week, and DD, who is L8, goes about 18.5).

 

[GymMomof2Girls]

My daughter just turned 9 and is a level 4. (We're in ny and states is late May)
She practices 14 hours/week 3.5 hours a day M/T/Th/F. Privates occasionally on weekends.
Her gym does not allow for skipping levels no matter what. There are several girls that have scored perfect 10's multiple times and expected scores are 9.5+. Still no skipping.
The level 5's practice 16 hours/week (4 hours each in M/T/Th/F).
Levels 6-10 practice 20 hours/week with an extra optional 3 hours on Saturdays.

Also even though my 9 yr old is off Wednesday's, we're still in the gym from 4-6 that day bc my 5 yr old's preteam practice is m/w 4-6.

 

[lovemygymnast]

I have an L4 in the gym 3 days for 4 hours each of those days. Our L5's do 4 days of 4 hours. Is that the question? It does seem like a lot of hours but I believe in some areas of the country, that might be right, but not here.

 

[gwenmom]

IMO that is a lot of days and hours for an 8/9 year old. Especially if she has a huge jump in hours/days all of the sudden.

My DD (9) is a L4 this year and she does three days a week. I know when we add in a couple extra hours she is tired. And the temper tantrums and tears come more easily. That said, she did do 4 days a week over the summer. And I believe it was about 20 hours. She was tired the first couple weeks, but quickly adjusted.

I think until optionals I wouldn't have DD in the gym 5 days a week unless she was fast track to optionals and even then I'm not sure I would consider it. She's only 9 and still needs a life outside of Gymnastics.

You have to do what is best for your family. Is there a way to try 5 days a week for a few weeks and then go down to 4 if it is too much.

 

[GymCMLA]

Here L2 - T/TH 3 hours each
L3 T/Th/F 3 hours each
L4 M/W 4 hours each and Friday 3 hours
L5-L7 M/W/Sa 4 hours each and Friday 3 hours
second year L7-L10 M/W/Sa 4 hours each, T/Fr 3 hours each

 

[gymmomtoo]

None of our level 5s are in the gym that much either. Three days a week, 3.5 hrs a day, is what they do, I think. Only the level 8s-10s go 5 days a week!

 

[LizzieLac]

I believe 5 days is a lot for compulsories. 4 days seems more appropriate and I agree with your concerns about the transition in school that is coming. There is nothing wrong with increasing more gradually. Perhaps she could manage 5 days a week once per month, but 4 days the other weeks...?

 

[Mrs. Puma]

Mine goes everyday but Sunday. The actual schedule is 5 days with a "make up" on Friday, but she wants to go every Friday. So including Makeup Friday, it's 15 hours. M 4-7, Tu and Wed 5:45-8:30, Th 4-6:30, Fri 4-6 and Sat 9:30-11:30. I find it odd Saturday is the short day!

 

[mariposa]

My daughter did 9-10 hrs a week at old level 4 (3 days a week), 14 hours a week old level 5&6 (4 days a week), 18-19.5 hours a week at level 7&8 (5 days a week). Her schedule will stay the same from now on as that is what all our optionals do.

 

[MAcastsalot]

Our girls don't go 5 days a week until level 7.
Level 3: 3 days
Levels 4-6: 4 days (varying hours)

 

[mom2newgymnast]

My dd is only level 2, but I know that our gym 4 days a week is the max, which I like. Although the hours ramp up quickly and the days seem long, I like that it stays at 3 days a week until level 7. Here is their schedule:

Level 2: T,TH,F 4-7 = 9 total
Level 3: M, W 4-8, S 8-12 = 12 total
Level 4: M,W,F 4-8 = 12 total
Level 5/6: T, TH 3:30-8:30, S 8-1:00 = 15 hours
Level 7/8/9: M,W,F 3:30-8:30, S 8:30-1:30 = 20 hours
Level 10: M,T,TH,F 11:30-4:30 = 20 hours

 

[twinmomma]

Thank you all so much for your input. My gut is that 5 days a week is way too much for an 8/9 year old and all of your schedules make much more sense to me. I'd be ok with 3.5 hours 4 days a week to get to 14 hours, but 15 spread over 5 with no break makes no sense to me.
As for the skipping levels, I'm not entirely sure the rationale, other than we have a few girls who really excelled at L3 and others who struggled, and maybe they want a separation between them.

 

[munchkin3]

Can you just, not go one day? This way you can pick the day off according to homework and general condition of your child?

I will face this soon. Mine is doing 4 days 4 hrs, and already having a hard time with THAT!......one more day right now is impossible. When she must got the full 5 days, you can BET I won't be making a big deal if she misses a day with good reason.
I asked my daughter if she wanted to go 'fast track' and said, ' no way if I have to go everyday!!!'
So we are in regular track......she is at the top of her class BTW....what's the rush right?

 

[rsm]

DD is level 5 and turned 9 last month. In level 4 she did go 5 days a week (3 hrs/day) and got used to it after a month or so. It didn't take long because she had the same schedule every day and it worked for her. The important part for me was making sure she got enough sleep during the week after practice, homework and piano (piano got the short end of the stick on many days). Now, the level 5s go 6 days a week. We've found that some weeks, that is too much for her. Especially if there are a lot of other things going on (homework, other activities, etc). So if something comes up that conflicts with practice (like a birthday party), we're okay with her skipping occasionally. She probably ends up skipping 1 or 2 practices a month. So not too much, but enough to keep sane when we see her getting worn down. As long as she is keeping up with school work and homework and is in a decent mood, then we keep going.

So I think you can try it and see how it goes. My opinion would be to give it at least a couple of weeks of full practice because she will be tired at the beginning and will need to build up stamina. And then if she is tired or doesn't want to go one day, skipping practice becomes much easier to justify. But you never know until you try.

 

[gymdoc]

Our HC has another job and cannot coach on the weekends so lots of our girls do M-F
YDD is 8, skipped L3 and is competing L4 this year. She practices 4-7 M-F - we started 5 day weeks over the summer so her body was used to it. She has an hour drive from school so she does her homework in the car
ODD is 10 and also L4. Her school gets out later so she does her homework after practice and some in the morning. Seemed insane to me but it has worked.

 

[suebee]

I have noticed that dd's gym has about the same hours as other gyms but they have shorter practices with more days. For example, instead of 3 hours 2x/week, they do 2 hours 3x/week, etc. For 15-16 hours a week, instead of 4x4, they do 5x 3.

They also do not do Saturday practices until they're at 6 days a week, which is different from other gyms. In some ways I like this, as we can still do family things on weekends when there are no meets, but it does make the actual week more stressful.

I have too wondered which is better and why. We live further from the gym so I would personally probably prefer fewer days with longer practices, but I'm not sure what dd would prefer.

 

[Mrs. Puma]

I

I have noticed that dd's gym has about the same hours as other gyms but they have shorter practices with more days. For example, instead of 3 hours 2x/week, they do 2 hours 3x/week, etc. For 15-16 hours a week, instead of 4x4, they do 5x 3.

They also do not do Saturday practices until they're at 6 days a week, which is different from other gyms. In some ways I like this, as we can still do family things on weekends when there are no meets, but it does make the actual week more stressful.

I have too wondered which is better and why. We live further from the gym so I would personally probably prefer fewer days with longer practices, but I'm not sure what dd would prefer.

I think I'm in the minority, but at this point I kind of like more days shorter hours? It's clearly very common to do 4 hr sessions in this world, but that sounds like a lot for my 7yr old at this point. Obviously that will be the deal as she gets older, and I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[Deleted member 14190]

If she can handle it do it.

 

[IreneKa]

My L4 DD goes 5 days a week, but it's MTThFS. There is an optional practice on Wednesdays, which we usually skip. As @profmom said above, it really helps to have one free night a week to catch up on the homework. Although, some of our girls do go 6 days in a row, and doing fine.