B
Billy
As many of you know, we've been having some problems at our current gym, over-crowding and lack of supervision being the biggies. I've been researching gyms in our area for quite awhile now and I found one that has a good program with some high-level gymnasts (a 2008 Diamond TOPs team member and the 2008 Level 10 Regional Beam champion). So, DH and I checked it out and we were REALLY impressed. This gym has a daytime practice program the is run by the optionals coaches for team girls who homeschool. There's only 10-12 girls and they are very dedicated. They are more serious than the evening team girls and thus usually work harder and accomplish more. They were so good, in fact, that we weren't sure DD would make the team.
But, we took DD to try out at the new gym on Friday. Not only did she love it but she made their team!!! And there's more. They are not having her continue level 4. They are moving her up to level 5 instead! The coach (who has experience coaching elite as recently as three years ago) also said that DD will not train L5 with the compulsory coaches. They (the optionals coaches) want to keep her with them instead. They plan to train her on the level 5 routines and also start level 6 and optionals skills. They'll have her compete a couple meets of L5 in April or May and then hopefully score out of L6 by early next fall. By this time next year, she should be training level 7. Also, she'll start training TOPs and if she's ready, she'll test next summer! All of this means missing out on competing L4 this spring but DD doesn't care. She's thrilled to be switching to this gym and this program. And I'm so excited for her!
I think this is going to be a great fit. We'll actually be able to be home for dinner most every night! Of course, this means that we have to start home schooling sooner than expected. I've been working frantically for the last few days to get a curriculum together for the rest of this year. I'm hoping to get her into K12 Virtual Academy (a home-based, public school program) for next year.
I have to say, I'm so impressed that she went from level 2 to level 5 in six months and she just turned 7 last week. It's also nice to finally work with coaches who are not only high level coaches but who also have goals for DD and the capability to help her reach them. Very exciting times ahead!
But, we took DD to try out at the new gym on Friday. Not only did she love it but she made their team!!! And there's more. They are not having her continue level 4. They are moving her up to level 5 instead! The coach (who has experience coaching elite as recently as three years ago) also said that DD will not train L5 with the compulsory coaches. They (the optionals coaches) want to keep her with them instead. They plan to train her on the level 5 routines and also start level 6 and optionals skills. They'll have her compete a couple meets of L5 in April or May and then hopefully score out of L6 by early next fall. By this time next year, she should be training level 7. Also, she'll start training TOPs and if she's ready, she'll test next summer! All of this means missing out on competing L4 this spring but DD doesn't care. She's thrilled to be switching to this gym and this program. And I'm so excited for her!
I think this is going to be a great fit. We'll actually be able to be home for dinner most every night! Of course, this means that we have to start home schooling sooner than expected. I've been working frantically for the last few days to get a curriculum together for the rest of this year. I'm hoping to get her into K12 Virtual Academy (a home-based, public school program) for next year.
I have to say, I'm so impressed that she went from level 2 to level 5 in six months and she just turned 7 last week. It's also nice to finally work with coaches who are not only high level coaches but who also have goals for DD and the capability to help her reach them. Very exciting times ahead!