Parents Increasing elite age from 16 to 18

[collegegymnast7073]

Hello! I am currently a senior collegiate gymnast working on a capstone research project about raising the minimum age limit in senior elite women’s gymnastics from 16 to 18. I'm seeking insights from gymnasts, coaches, parents, and sports psychologists on the topic through confidential and anonymous interviews. The point of the project is to find people with differing viewpoints and understand how their own lived experiences shape their viewpoints. When you get a chance I would really appreciate if you could fill out this form! Also, please send to any of your club gymnastics friends who are in college or who have retired, or any coaches or parents you think might be willing to take it!! form link: https://forms.gle/c3kJzk6wJJ4GfLaE7

 

[HopefulGymnast]

If you fill in gymnast, the next question is "what college do you attend". Is this only meant for college gymnasts / college aged gymnasts (and parents etc). Also, is any country fine or just US gymnasts?

 

[JBS]

I think increasing the age to 18 is probably a good idea.

 

[Jenny]

I think increasing the age to 18 is probably a good idea.

I would agree if it went across all sports. However diving, swimming, skateboarding etc all have 13 14 year olds competing at the Olympics and other top world events and it feels like penalising gymnastics already to have to be 16.

 

[HopefulGymnast]

However diving, swimming, skateboarding etc all have 13 14 year olds competing at the Olympics

There is also discussion about fixing that. Especially since the Valieva situation in figure skating. And it seems strange to say "other sports have this problem therefore we should have this problem".

it feels like penalising gymnastics already to have to be 16.

Can you explain to me in what way it feels like penalising? I would think giving everybody more chance to prepare for their dreams, more time to learn to deal with the pressure, and more of a chance to have at least some childhood. And it means they'll be able to better understand what they've achieved and what it means by the time they cán go to the olympics. I don't get how that's a punishment.

 

[NutterButter]

@HopefulGymnast - all she’s saying is that compared to other sports that skew young, gymnastics has the 16 year old requirement while other sports do not. The “penalty” is in comparison to the other sports. She otherwise states she supports a higher age limit.

You bring up some good points and questions on why older is better!

 

[HopefulGymnast]

The “penalty” is in comparison to the other sports

I guess the confusing thing is that to me a penalty is supposed to be negative.

By the way, just wanted to add I'm asking all this out of genuine curiosity of other people's views. (After posting I was a bit worried that without intonation I come across angry or something, which wasn't what I'd meant to at all)

 

[Aussie_coach]

Gymnastics has the age limit for a reason. It can’t be compared to other early specialisation sports, and then decided on to be “fair” and “equal” to other sports. The safety of the gymnast is what is most important.

Gymnastics requires high levels of training hours at a young age and pounds the body in a way that other sports do not.

The landings in gymnastics take a far greater toll in the body than those in diving.

The age at which gymnasts are most vulnerable to injury are th our earth years. Walk into any gym and look at the different age groups. Those girls in the 11-14 year old age group will be wrapped in more bandages and tape than any other.

The earlier they are expected to peak internationally, the greater risk during these vulnerable years.

I would support an increase in age, in the hope that it would require coaches to pace athletes and focus more on developing long term, healthy athletes and less on peaking gymnasts for their 1 Olympics where they are as young as possible.

We have seen female gymnasts take multiple Olympics, of course Chuso is most famous for this, competing from 16 to well into her 40’s, but there have been plenty more who have continued to compete international level into their late 20’s. As their bodies were not destroyed in their teens.

 

[Dahlialover]

In the US, the minimum age for men’s junior elite is 16 and senior elite is 18. This has a dramatic impact on the way that boys and girls are trained in our country development program. In our men’s development program (levels 3-10, roughly equivalent to US WAG levels) we have minimum ages for each level—level 8 is age 12, level 9 is age 14, and level 10 is age 16–which prevents the sport from becoming a race to teach the most difficult skills at the youngest age possible. In USAG WAG, the minimum age for level 10 is 9-years-old!!! I know 8-year-old girls working double backs on floor, which would never happen in MAG because they won’t be able to compete them for 8 years. MAG coaches have to think carefully about limiting the wear and tear that their gymnasts experience when they are young because they have stay healthy into their 20s to achieve success at the highest levels of the sport. Elite WAG gymnasts in The US are often done with their careers before MAG gymnasts are even eligible for senior elite!

I think the biggest impact of raising the age for WAG senior elite would be to reduce injuries and overtraining in very young gymnasts.

 

[Ty’s Dad]

I just heard they are changing the age rule for women’s junior elite. I don’t know how I feel about that

 

[Dahlialover]

In the US, the minimum age for men’s junior elite is 16 and senior elite is 18.

I should clarify that USAG MAG has a “junior elite” track within the development program that starts at 12 but that is just a more competitive division within the regular development program. Those athletes are still bound by the minimum age limits for each level and aren’t eligible to compete level 10 until they are 16-years-old.

 

[raenndrops]

Years ago, I posted something about changing the minimum ages for JO (now Dev)
L1 - 4 years old (they're just so cute when they are little & most gyms don't compete it anyway)
L2 - 5 years old
L3 - 6 years old
L4 - 7 years old (I know with 2 36+ AA, they can skip L5 and go to L6... maybe that should be for older girls ... the youngest can compete L5 the next season or Xcel Gold depending on the gym)
L5 - 8 years old
L6 - 9 years old
L7 - 10 years old
L8 - 11 years old
L9 - 12 years old
L10 - 14 years old (this is a change from my original adjustment designed to encourage repeating L9 with upgrades before moving on).
=================================================================
For Xcel,
Bronze - 5 years old
Silver - 6 years old
Gold - 8 years old
Platinum - 10 years old
Diamond - 12 years old
Sapphire - 14 years old

 

[gymgal]

I just heard they are changing the age rule for women’s junior elite. I don’t know how I feel about that

what is the new age going to be

 

[Ty’s Dad]

what is the new age going to be

From what I just was told senior elite will be 17 or 18. Girls that have already qualified to nationals as a senior will remain a senior. The girls that didn’t will go back as a junior.

 

[JBS]

WAG Level 9 was a completely useless program for advanced athletes up until very recently as it was a fully restricted level. This forced athletes with "D" skills to Level 10.

L5 - 8 years old
L6 - 9 years old
L7 - 10 years old
L8 - 11 years old

This is the range in which your ages would not work for me at all. I can't even have a 9 year old L7 in this system... that wouldn't work at all. You can't hold back talented kids because certain coaches don't know how to coach.

Also... I have an athlete that has had a double back on trampoline for 6 years now... yesterday was her first double back on the rod floor.

 

[Dahlialover]

You can't hold back talented kids because certain coaches don't know how to coach.

Every male gymnast in the US is “held back”—no optionals at all until age 12 and no level 10 until age 16. It works just fine to do it that way.

 

[JBS]

Every male gymnast in the US is “held back”—no optionals at all until age 12 and no level 10 until age 16. It works just fine to do it that way.

I would say you do not understand the men’s program at all. I coached MAG for quite some years.

 

[Dahlialover]

I would say you do not understand the men’s program at all. I coached MAG for quite some years.

I’m a MAG parent. My statements are factually true based on the current USAG rules. Is there a nuance that I am missing?

 

[JBS]

I’m a MAG parent. My statements are factually true based on the current USAG rules. Is there a nuance that I am missing?

You are correct… but yes… it’s just different.

MAG & WAG are so different… very hard to compare. Also… US WAG is basically the best in the world… MAG… not so much… hopefully we’ll good this Olympics.

I’ll try to explain tomorrow.

 

[Aussie_coach]

You can not compare MAG and WAG.

MAG predominantly relies on the adult strength that boys do not develop until after puberty. There are many skills in biys gymnastics, that you simply can not reach them until the teen years when they are developing those adult muscles.

For girls it is generally the opposite and it’s easier to teach skills prior to puberty, their strength to body ratio is different.

There are so many reasons why girls skew younger in gymnastics.

Starting at the very beginning with your 4-6 year old gymnasts. Girls at this age in general listen better, follow instructions better, can focus on detail, focus for longer etc. they are ready for a structured more technical program earlier.

Boys at this are less inclined to structure, focus, listening, etc, They aren’t ready for a structured class that focuses excessively on technique. They need to run, jump, climb, swing and develop,op their body awareness.

in older children, say around 6-11 for girls, this is the key developmental time, they need to learn more skills, earlier before they go through puberty. This is the ideal time to teach the big tumbling and flipping skills.

Biys at this age, can’t do most of the “big” skills required for their sport. So they are better to work on a modified program that does teach the things they are ready for like tumbling, building flexibility (as this will be harder later) and the fundamentals on each apparatus, to prepare for when they are ready for the big stuff.

So this type of development encourages girls to be pushed through your and boys to wait.

Fro, there girls will go through puberty earlier, and hit peak height earlier. Boys will develop later and tend to have longer international careers.