Hello. I coach preschool and rec gymnastics and cheerleading. My daughter is a competitive gymnast - age 8. Competed at old level 5 by age 7. Our goal/dream is for her to one day be on the National Team. Trying to decide between two gyms! Last season I did a very long commute to get her to "Gym A", however if she wants to continue there it would require a minor move - same state and we rent so moving is possible. I also have a young boy who seems to be interested in gymnastics.
Gym A - old school, small more individual attention, several elite boys and girls train there, no Tops Program (they found too many of the girls quit so they stopped using the program). Although they have never placed any girls on the U.S. National Team, they do have girl Olympians from other countries train there. They have put a male on the Olympic team. Owners are from another country, they very rarely spot girls learning new skills, little or no positive reinforcement. However, they are very "team" oriented and every single parent and child supports each other. Kids put in many hours. However, clearly defined small goals or lesson plans are unheard of. They would like my kid to be there 6 days a week, homeschool program. They do not offer a prep-op program or excel program, so she would most likely do level 5 this year. They certainly shoot for the stars and want to get any of their team girls to a higher level. They do NOT use weights on young girls and I like that. Gym is NOT in an area I want to move to, Oh they put a big emphasis on form and ballet.
Gym B - big gym, charges the most in the area. At least 50 kids just on prep-op/level 7 training. Total of 200 girls on team. No boys team. Very big TOPS gym. As far as I know, they have not placed any females on the U.S. National Team, but they also shoot for the highest level. A lot of positive reinforcement, a "fun" gym. Clearly defined goals. If my daughter goes with this gym, she will do prep-op this year, then test out of level 5 in Fall, 2014 before competing at level 7. This makes me nervous! Why have nothing on her record to show she completed the new level 5 until next year? If we had to move to another state, there would be no USAG scores for her for 1.5 years. Also because it is such a big gym, she is not working on skills which she almost had prior to coming the the gym and there is no individual attention. She is not allowed to work on front tucks or back tucks. They break skills down to very simple steps and do drills for weeks or even months before actually attempting a skill. Some of it - to me - appears to be busy work and done for "crowd control." They do use weights - over the head, ankle weights while jumping and on the beam - which I am not a fan of at this age. Gym B is a well known gym because of their TOPS program, also a few involved with HOPES program. They win at states and regionals for level 7, but after that many quit gymnastics. Oh, they are tested five times a month on strength, flexibility, and skills and everyone's results are posted. Almost no focus on ballet and not much attention to form.
If we go with "Gym A" they could make her do level 5 this year, then level 6 the next year, then go to 7.
If we go with "Gym B" she would do prep-op this year, then do level 7 as a 9 year old.
I am not very familiar with Prep-Op, but it seems the skills she is currently working on are lower than the new level 5. However, if she does not have to compete at USAG this year, they will keep training them until December which means there is a potential they will work on some higher level skills?
If you got this far, thank you for any opinions you may have.
Gym A - old school, small more individual attention, several elite boys and girls train there, no Tops Program (they found too many of the girls quit so they stopped using the program). Although they have never placed any girls on the U.S. National Team, they do have girl Olympians from other countries train there. They have put a male on the Olympic team. Owners are from another country, they very rarely spot girls learning new skills, little or no positive reinforcement. However, they are very "team" oriented and every single parent and child supports each other. Kids put in many hours. However, clearly defined small goals or lesson plans are unheard of. They would like my kid to be there 6 days a week, homeschool program. They do not offer a prep-op program or excel program, so she would most likely do level 5 this year. They certainly shoot for the stars and want to get any of their team girls to a higher level. They do NOT use weights on young girls and I like that. Gym is NOT in an area I want to move to, Oh they put a big emphasis on form and ballet.
Gym B - big gym, charges the most in the area. At least 50 kids just on prep-op/level 7 training. Total of 200 girls on team. No boys team. Very big TOPS gym. As far as I know, they have not placed any females on the U.S. National Team, but they also shoot for the highest level. A lot of positive reinforcement, a "fun" gym. Clearly defined goals. If my daughter goes with this gym, she will do prep-op this year, then test out of level 5 in Fall, 2014 before competing at level 7. This makes me nervous! Why have nothing on her record to show she completed the new level 5 until next year? If we had to move to another state, there would be no USAG scores for her for 1.5 years. Also because it is such a big gym, she is not working on skills which she almost had prior to coming the the gym and there is no individual attention. She is not allowed to work on front tucks or back tucks. They break skills down to very simple steps and do drills for weeks or even months before actually attempting a skill. Some of it - to me - appears to be busy work and done for "crowd control." They do use weights - over the head, ankle weights while jumping and on the beam - which I am not a fan of at this age. Gym B is a well known gym because of their TOPS program, also a few involved with HOPES program. They win at states and regionals for level 7, but after that many quit gymnastics. Oh, they are tested five times a month on strength, flexibility, and skills and everyone's results are posted. Almost no focus on ballet and not much attention to form.
If we go with "Gym A" they could make her do level 5 this year, then level 6 the next year, then go to 7.
If we go with "Gym B" she would do prep-op this year, then do level 7 as a 9 year old.
I am not very familiar with Prep-Op, but it seems the skills she is currently working on are lower than the new level 5. However, if she does not have to compete at USAG this year, they will keep training them until December which means there is a potential they will work on some higher level skills?
If you got this far, thank you for any opinions you may have.