It will get very stressful when they get into the optional levels. You are looking at daily practices and many hours. It does get very hard to plan fun vacations and have down time because it is a year round sport--that doesn't mean you can't take vacations. It is just harder to plan them. We are never able to take vacations over the winter because it is always in the middle of meet season. That being said, I really wouldn't sweat level 3. My daughter did level 3 in first grade also at 9 hours a week, and it was really not bad. The practices were not the issue. It was more missing out on weekend activities with school friends during the winter and early spring due to gym meets.