Parents Did your child compete before ready or wait?

[mariposa]

Bars is the big one at DDs gym, too. If you don't have bars, you don't move up, other events are important, but bars are big. She'll catch up! And having naturally good form will come in very handy overall.

Many of the power gyms in our state have a similar system as your gym seems to, with a set date to have skills by for following season.

8 year old age group is pretty competitive, too, at least around here.

 

[IreneKa]

Her first season DD competed Xcel bronze, and that was fine for her. Then we decided to try JO and switched gyms. She was place in a group training for L3, with a plan to compete L3 in the fall. However, the rest of the girls in her group competed old L3 that previous season, so DD was behind them at least on bars. At the end of August she was still missing some bars skills, so the HC decided to place her at L2, until she gets all L3 skills, and then possibly move up. She competing L2 for 3 meets and did awesome! Placing on all events, 1st or 2nd AA. But she still wanted to be a L3, so we insisted on moving her up in December when she got all her skills. The rest of the season she competed as L3, and it wasn't that great. She usually placed on 1 or 2 events, but at States she was the only one on her team to not place at all, this was devastating for her.
So... did they move her up too soon? Probably. She would have had a great season as level 2, and then a great next season as level 3. Did she regret moving up? Not at all. Yes, she was sad not placing at the meets, but the rest of the time she got to work harder skills, and be more challenged. Because she moved up to 3, she was able to up-train to 4 after the season was over, and moved up to L4 next season. If she stayed at 2, she would just be finishing L3 now.
So, it's really hard to tell what's best. Yes, it's great for them to become proficient in their skills before competing them. But for some kids it's also important to be challenged and work on harder skills, instead of just drilling something they already know. At least that's what seems to be more important for my DD. She didn't have such a great season as L4 either, but if I mention to her possibly repeating L4 next season, she gets upset, she really wants to move up to 5, even if it means not placing that well again.

 

[gymmutti]

DD probably competed old L5 when she should have started at L4. She had the skills safely but not perfected. Best score of the season was not quite a 34. Could she have moved up - probably, but she may have had another lackluster season. She repeated instead in order to gain confidence and it worked. She got to make the podium in the second year and she really liked that. It also allowed her to uptrain more. It is nice to see her feel confident in the skills she is competing and working skills and drills for 1-2 levels up. If her gym was one where they don't uptrain throughout the year, she probably would not have liked repeating as she would have been bored. For us, it worked well but for other kids or at other gyms - maybe not so much.

 

[lhmom]

Mine was 6 when she started the old level 4. She was "close" on bar skills and had everything else so the coaches had her compete. She ended up doing pretty well placing in every meet mainly because she wasn't in the most competitive age group (which was the 8 yr. old group). The coaches planned on having her compete a 2nd yr of 4, since she was on the younger side and she needed more time to work on her form, so it worked out just fine. When she got to optionals, the HC did have her compete level 6 last season because she didn't have her giant by the fall and free hip also needed work. I am glad that the HC did this because DD had a solid season at 6 and a great level 7 season with a consistent giant and a free hip to handstand by the time State meet came around.

 

[oplei]

I have seen huge scoring differences in what looks like the same skill due to lack of proper form. Compulsories are brutal about form and you need strength to get the form. Without it those little deductions are killer. Both my daughter and her friend competed seasons where watching from the stands the routine looked good (all skills present) but from the judge's chair there were LOTS of deductions that just killed the routine.

 

[Ali'sMom]

I know a lot of people don't agree with this, but have you thought about getting her a couple of privates for bars only, to be able to see really where she's at, and how far she is from being where she needs to be?

I'm not one who gives DD privates all year, but when moving up to L4 came down to the darned kip, when most of the other girls already had it, I gave her the extra push. This past month, the move up to a L5 scoreout meet was hinged on clear hip and flyaway. So yes, I gave her a few privates for that. (and she's competing this weekend to scoreout of L5).

Would her coach work with her in privates, and then maybe push her up if she'd get the bars with enough time to learn the L3 routines?

 

[lemondrop]

I do really think it depends on the child. For example, I think my younger DD will likely do another year of pre-team, even though she "has" all the L3 skills. I say she "has" them because while she can execute the skills safely, her form is atrocious probably 75% of the time. She has just turned 7, and does not have the best attention span/maturity, but she does love gym. Our gym has limited spots available for L3 team, and I don't see her getting one. Even if she did, I am not sure I want to spend the $5000+ it would cost me for her to be on team when I am pretty sure she would not have a very successful season. In her case, I would rather wait a year and let her mature and work on her form, and perfect her skills (and uptrain for L4). My older DD (who just turned 9) competed L4 this year and was solidly middle of the pack, improving with each meet. She was between L3-4 last year at this time and I allowed her to be pushed up to L4 and it worked out fine. I am certain she would have smoked L3, but it would not have been challenging. BUT, she was older and more focused and mature coming out of preteam than younger DD is this year. So, all of that is to say, I don't think there is a clear answer, which is probably not very helpful.

 

[GYM0M]

DD started competing 3 weeks after she turned 6 in old L4. Did she have the skills? Yep. Did she have the form? Yep. Did she have the polish? Eh, somewhat. Did she score very well? Yep. 35.8 AA. Did she place? Not at all, finishing 16/21. Fast fwd to next season, stayed old L4, too young to move up, but wouldn't have mattered. She had a successful year. She did win AA once & placed on several events. Was she a state champ? Nope, not even close! The point is that lines blur. If she's allowed to move up, that doesn't mean she won't have a good year and if she waits, doesn't guarantee a successful season either.
If she's as close as you say, ask the coach to reevaluate her in June as she will need July and August to perfect the routines. See if the coach will compromise and offer a reevaluation. Even if the coach agrees to reevaluate, you're still on a slippery slope. Try not to pressure dd into those bar skills. They will come with passion, persistence, and perseverance. If she doesn't have the skills by June, it would probably be best if she didn't compete this year. Maybe reevaluate in December.
OR would it be possible for her to move up into the L3 group and NOT compete? Just train for the skills? She would get to stay in 'her' group, up train, and there wouldn't be any added pressure to get the skills ready to compete by August.

 

[wallflower]

Spinning off of another thread that I started -I'm curious to hear if your child competed when they were maybe slightly less than ready or waited until they were very confident and if you have opinions on which is the better way to do it. My DD is one of a couple of girls who the coach said could "probably" compete level 3 in the Fall but she's just not sure so she's keeping them on pre team. I actually didn't expect my daughter to compete in the Fall so I was initially fine with that -but now I'm watching her and her teammates and while I can see that she's slightly behind I don't see a huge difference. DD joined her current pre team group later than most of the girls and isn't as strong as the rest of the girls. Nevertheless she's made a TON of progress and it seems to me that if some of the other girls can pull it together by Aug/Sept DD probably can too. Most of the girls will be missing more summer practice than DD so she has that going for her too. Of course, it's not my decision but I'm curious to hear if waiting a year is a good thing or not. Have you seen kids start the competitive season not quite ready and was it a major blow to them? Is it better to be more confident a year later or push a bit and maybe not score so well but still have the experience of competing?

I have 2 gymnasts. One was forced to wait due to her age. So when she starting competing at age 6 she was really ready and started right away winning everything and scoring very high. She not only had all the skills but was polished and near perfection.

My other one started without being ready. She was missing a few skills and was not polished at all. She will go into this season the same way.

Personally I enjoyed the one not ready a lot better. It's much less pressure to focus on personal goals and improving. I found it stressful when the first DD won everything.

 

[wallflower]

I guess I should add that both kids had fun. Actually I think the younger, less prepared DD had more fun.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Well last year was my dd's first yr competing. She started out okay. 32.3 I think. Her season high was a 36.2. So a good jump throughout the year. But there are gyms here who hold ppl back to score high. Like right off the bat first meet getting 37 and 38's. But funny thing is that they don't improve to much. Yeah it might be fun to win every meet, but i think kids need that disappointment of not winning. It means just that much more when they do win. Or place well.

As you get up in scoring I find the devil is in the details.

So if your basic skills are weak you will start much lower in scores and as your basic skills improve your scores take a big jump and its like wow, you went from an 8.3 to a 9.2

If your skills are strong and you are starting at a 9.2 or 9.3 then again the devil is in the details its the little stuff that is just a bit off so corrections don't seem as extreme and end up at the end of the season at 9.5-9.7

JMO its one thing to end the season at 9.7-9.8 but if you are starting the season at 9.7-9.8 on all events at the lower levels, is the reality is you should be up a level.

 

[GYM0M]

JMO its one thing to end the season at 9.7-9.8 but if you are starting the season at 9.7-9.8 on all events at the lower levels, is the reality is you should be up a level.

For the most part, I agree, but there is always grey area. A level 3 scoring 9.7+ at the beginning of the season could be struggling with a kip or cartwheel on beam or FHS vault. A level 4 could be struggling with a back tuck or bwo or flyaway. Sometimes scores don't give the full picture.

 

[gymhorsemom]

I know a lot of people don't agree with this, but have you thought about getting her a couple of privates for bars only, to be able to see really where she's at, and how far she is from being where she needs to be?

I'm not one who gives DD privates all year, but when moving up to L4 came down to the darned kip, when most of the other girls already had it, I gave her the extra push. This past month, the move up to a L5 scoreout meet was hinged on clear hip and flyaway. So yes, I gave her a few privates for that. (and she's competing this weekend to scoreout of L5).

Would her coach work with her in privates, and then maybe push her up if she'd get the bars with enough time to learn the L3 routines?

I have considered this and might ask about this soon. My understanding is that the coaches don't do privates until the kids are getting ready to compete (like down to the last minute and still missing a skill kind of thing) but maybe the coach would in this instance. I guess I am trying to figure out if I should be pushing to get DD ahead or if I should be happy that she'll (hopefully) be one of the more ready girls the following year. She is SO far ahead of the group below -which she will soon be joining.

 

[MILgymFAM]

Ready for what? I am not trying to be sarcastic, but there are a few answers to that question. If we are talking about ready to safely compete skills, then my kids both started when they were ready. If we are talking about when they could win or score very high, then my ODD may never have been ready to start, and my YDD wouldn't have moved up when she did. It is one of those things that just REALLY depends on the gymnast's attitude toward competing and the coach's towards winning- and the dynamic between the two. I look at it like this, for the most part: my ODD may never burn up the podium. She is a very middle of the road gymnast. She works very, very hard and is ridiculously dedicated, but she could just as likely sit in the middle of the AA at multiple levels. What would be the point of going to the lowest one she could safely compete? If she would be 10th place in 3, 4, or 5 then why not just go for 5 and let her move on to optionals. She may not do much better there, who knows, but she could focus on things she does best and probably have more fun with her own routines. That's just my opinion, and that was just a fictional example (my DD just switched from xcel and won't even know her level till August).

 

[gymhorsemom]

Thanks for all of the responses. I've got to say that I'm turning into a CGM about my daughter not moving up. I've now taken to viewing level 3 bar routines on youtube -and I have to say that more than half of them look a lot like my DD on the skills -struggling a bit to get all the way around on the skills and even falling on some -this is exactly where my DD is with the skills now but Aug is a long way off. I wish they'd let her keep trying and make a decision later on -particularly as we aren't at a super competitive gym.

 

[z2akids]

My answer for DD would be yes and no. She competed old level 3 in a club level (not USAG) only 3 months from walking into a gym. She got those skills very quickly and, because she had dance background, she was tight, pretty dance skills and toes. She did well at this level. Well enough to skip the club level 3 (New 3) and move directly to USAG new 3. She was NOT ready for current level 3. Because she had no gym background, when she competed old 3 it was at the top of her skill level. Yes, she "got" her skills in time to compete L3. But, it was a tough year. Her highest AA was a 35.3 which us not competitive in our area. She was dead last at the start of the season. She really wanted to move up to 4, but they kept her on 3 and she repeated this past season. She skills improved, she was able to uptrain, she developed confidence and also scores and placed well, finishing the season with over a 37.

We just started training for level 4 and she is on so much better of a place. She is getting her kip (well, the arms are bent) about 1/2 the time. She well likely have time this summer to work on back walkovers in beam because her cartwheels are consistent (need to be prettied up, but good enough to have sine time to work higher skills). Same on Floor.

Anyway, it can be very difficult on the girls to "barely" have the skills. I know when DD was competing L3 the first time, I didn't really see all of the imperfections in her routines (I am mom, I am not supposed to. Lol). But, going back and watching the videos this year, I can see where she had flaws and was not competitive.

 

[kaloss]

Gymhorsemom--- I can PM you some videos if you're interested. You will be able to see the difference between struggling and being pushed all season and being very ready.

 

[gymhorsemom]

Gymhorsemom--- I can PM you some videos if you're interested. You will be able to see the difference between struggling and being pushed all season and being very ready.

That would be awesome!!! Thanks.

 

[meganliz77]

I think for me it is less about rushing into competition and more about DD being separated from the group that she's in as all but one move to team and she and another girl join the pre team group that was below them. I was ok with it until I started observing just how close DD is in skill to the girls moving up. And her coach has said this too. So it's a bit frustrating that she should not move with them when she could possibly do level 3 -but then again maybe she's the lucky one to get to do it (hopefully) really well the following year? We have a friend who just barely made level 3 team (they were told she wouldn't and then told she just barely squeezed on) and she ended up doing pretty well by the end of the season -which makes me wonder if I should be pushing to give DD a bit longer to get the skills and move to team? Or just go with what the coach says?

Regarding being separated from group-- that will inevitably happen during her time in this sport. Some will move forward, some will stay back, some will quit and some will sometimes come back.

Trust your coach unless you have a really good reason not to. It's not just about the skill mastery, there is so much more than what us parents can see with our untrained eye. I know it can be frustrating trying to figure it all out, and left wondering, but I don't think this is a make it or beak decision... Meaning no matter what happens or what you decide, she will likely be just fine!!

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Thanks for all of the responses. I've got to say that I'm turning into a CGM about my daughter not moving up. I've now taken to viewing level 3 bar routines on youtube -and I have to say that more than half of them look a lot like my DD on the skills -struggling a bit to get all the way around on the skills and even falling on some -this is exactly where my DD is with the skills now but Aug is a long way off. I wish they'd let her keep trying and make a decision later on -particularly as we aren't at a super competitive gym.

Did the coach say never or not now.

I can you tell our coaches are reluctant to say for sure our kids will move up until end of July beginning of August. Because there are far too many CGPs who when told its possible take it as gospel and then get ticked if it doesn't happen. So they would rather keep lower until ready to say now.