B
Bobby
I did gymnastics when I was young but of course everything has changed!!
My DD was 5 in August, which means she'll start big school ('prep') in 2010 as one of the eldest in her grade.
She's been going to 'kindergym' all year, and I just assumed she'd be allowed to start gymnastics next year 'at the beginning' (ie: level 1). But the invites we were given to re-register for next year are just for a regular 'beginners' class - which is only an hour per week!!!
I snooped around amongst some mums with older gymnasts, and was told that 'competition classes' (where the girls do levels) is by invitation only, and apparently only a minority are selected.
Bummer.
It could be mother's bias, but I honestly thought my DD had real aptitude.
I researched a bit on the web (which brought me to this wonderful forum), and found that level 1s compete as either 'under 6' or 'over 6'. This strongly suggested to me an underlying assumption that all girls who started young enough SHOULD compete level 1 before they turn 6 (and presumably the 'overs' are mostly late-starters) - after all they wouldn't pick a cutoff which left barely any girls in one division.
If my DD is already 'behind' her peer group, I don't see how she'll ever catch up at an hour pw?? And ... she's so far ahead of her current class I'd be a bit surprised if she was that behind 'normal'?
Can anyone advise me on how Aussie girls usually get into levels classes, and at what age, and for how long before they are actually allowed to participate in competitions??
This club has a very good reputation and is close by so I probably wouldn't consider changing clubs. My DD is so much shorter than the other kids in her kindergym class the coaches may assume she's much younger than she is? Do you think it would make a difference to tell them??
My DD was 5 in August, which means she'll start big school ('prep') in 2010 as one of the eldest in her grade.
She's been going to 'kindergym' all year, and I just assumed she'd be allowed to start gymnastics next year 'at the beginning' (ie: level 1). But the invites we were given to re-register for next year are just for a regular 'beginners' class - which is only an hour per week!!!
I snooped around amongst some mums with older gymnasts, and was told that 'competition classes' (where the girls do levels) is by invitation only, and apparently only a minority are selected.
Bummer.
It could be mother's bias, but I honestly thought my DD had real aptitude.
I researched a bit on the web (which brought me to this wonderful forum), and found that level 1s compete as either 'under 6' or 'over 6'. This strongly suggested to me an underlying assumption that all girls who started young enough SHOULD compete level 1 before they turn 6 (and presumably the 'overs' are mostly late-starters) - after all they wouldn't pick a cutoff which left barely any girls in one division.
If my DD is already 'behind' her peer group, I don't see how she'll ever catch up at an hour pw?? And ... she's so far ahead of her current class I'd be a bit surprised if she was that behind 'normal'?
Can anyone advise me on how Aussie girls usually get into levels classes, and at what age, and for how long before they are actually allowed to participate in competitions??
This club has a very good reputation and is close by so I probably wouldn't consider changing clubs. My DD is so much shorter than the other kids in her kindergym class the coaches may assume she's much younger than she is? Do you think it would make a difference to tell them??