Changes to the WAG program.

[ruby&jack]

Can anyone explain to me the changes that will be coming?? I have heard that there will be a completely different program next year??

TIA

 

[Amusibus]

Wait, what? Didn't we just go through this last year??

 

[ruby&jack]

I could be wrong, but it hasnt taken place yet, in Victoria anyway.. according to my daughters coach it will be coming in Jan 2015.

 

[OzZee]

Level 1-3 non competitive.
4-6 I think compulsory music, no bonuses. (6 was going to have bonuses at one point but think isn't. Too many changes to keep up.)

 

[ruby&jack]

Level 1-3 non competitive.
4-6 I think compulsory music, no bonuses. (6 was going to have bonuses at one point but think isn't. Too many changes to keep up.)

So what would happen for the girl's who have already competed in Levels 1 & 2 competitively?
They move to level 3 with no comps? Seems strange... I see where there coming from though I guess. With such a high drop out rate, leaving the senior levels a little small.

 

[Aussie_coach]

Level 1-2 will be non competitive and will be based on skills. There will be no routines. There will still be level 1-2 competitions but these will be circuit based where everyone gets a medal and they are not compared to each other.

Levels 3, 4 and 5 will all become compulsory routines. Everyone will do the same routines and everyone will have the same floor usic. There will no longer be any bonus skills in level 3, 4 and 5.

Level 6 will be a bit like level 4-5 are now where you do your own routine to your own music but you must include the set skills. There will be no bonus at level 6 either.

Level 7-8 will be a bit like level 6 is now with their own routines and their own music with some skills that everyone has to do and then some optional skills. Also no bonus.

Level 9-10 will be optional routines which will have limited bonus.

Then there will be open level, which will be based on FIG standards.

 

[_coachbrooke_]

Ooh I have been wondering about this as well! And is it true they are getting rid of state stream?

 

[ruby&jack]

So will this make it easier for girls to do National instead of state?? Are they getting rid of State Stream???!!! That's a huge gap to close!

 

[_coachbrooke_]

I have read somewhere on here that they are getting rid if state... I would say they would def have to make national a bit easier? Otherwise it will be interesting with the girls who train 5hrs a week :/

 

[ruby&jack]

Wow.. I wonder if they are. They will lose kids that way too.. making it easier will have the same effect.
My daughter is NDP2 and trains 7+ hours a week. I regally watch her (as we live 40mins away) and I watch some of the state girls. The gap is HUGE!! I was watching state 3 and 4 tonight and there is no way a lot of those girls could compete NDP. I know my daughter would lose interest if it became easier.

 

[_coachbrooke_]

Yer it's a hard one! If it's too hard the state stream girls will be discouraged and if it's too easy the national girls will... The only way I could see it working is if they did prep levels like they have now? Or maybe the national kids will get expressed to higher levels!

I'm at a small country club and they pretty much only do state stream around here, it's goods as it allows the girls time for other things (there is a huge netball and basketball culture) and also a lot of our parents couldn't afford to be doing massive amounts of hours!

Anything is possible though if the gymnast is willing to work really hard, I just got one of our girls to state 10 on 2.5hrs a week : ) nothing flash but she was stoked : )

My girls are already dreading having the same music & routine again! Will be easier for the coaches though!

Whole thing will be interesting!

 

[ruby&jack]

So it's definitely happening then? Scrapping state?

 

[_coachbrooke_]

Not sure! I'm only going off what I have read somewhere else on here! I can't wait to get a glimpse at requirements etc!

 

[OzZee]

@aussiecoach - I thought it had been changed from that original layout and level 1-3 is now non competitive? That's what was said at the courses a couple of weeks ago.

re state stream - nsw, probably ending, but they have put in against gymnastics australia's ruling and the decision isn't final. I think the final decision will be September?

I am also rather sceptical how it'll work for the sport with a lot of girls leaving either immediately because they don't want to move to ndp (the skills being shown at the workshops for 1-3 are not easier at all) or in the future because they don't want to continue in ndp.
Personally I love the ethos of State stream. It's a way for many more girls to enjoy the sport without making it an overwhelming choice. The aim that for many as the levels go up to become specialists and not compete all apparatus suits so many gymnasts who would otherwise retire.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

The requirements are far easier with what has been proposed, NDP gymnasts could easily 'skip' a level number and not be challenged. Ultimately it is up to the states on if they maintain a state stream. It is likely some states will keep their state stream as some coaches got pretty vocal and pointed out that many of these kids are more of a recreational gymnast and would not survive under a one size fits all program,. The argument given for removing all the streams was that the USA has one stream... and we all know from reading chalkbuket that information is far from correct. Oficially USAG has two streams JO and Xcel , plus there is AAU, YMCA, TAAF, JOGA and CARA, I am sure there are a few others as well.

The other argument for removing the state stream was the drop out rate, but I think it is the nature of the stream, some kids transfer to state to finish up with a positive experience, others choose state because they have a larger commitment to another activity and eventually the gymnastics is dropped. Equally for those in rural areas they may be dropping out because they don't have the facility/coaching/resources/progress to feel any benefit in continuing. None of these factors will change by removing the state stream.

 

[_coachbrooke_]

Does anyone know when they will be putting out a draft of skill requirements etc? : )

 

[ruby&jack]

I can see how it may be beneficial for state girls. But for national girls I think this could be a bad choice. It will mean that their training to this point is almost irrelevant and I think they may become extremely bored. This will make the gap between NDP and IPD even bigger than it already is, which will also mean less girls will be able to transfer (in early levels) from NDP to IDP.

 

[Aussie_coach]

Gymnastics Australia are NOT getting rid of state stream because there is no state steam in Gymnastics Australia.

The State Stream is something that each state puts together themselves if they choose. It actually has nothing to do with the NDP program. Here in QLD we don't have a state stream, all athletes just compete NDP or IDP and it is not a problem. Most lower level competitions have a separate division for gymnasts who compete lesser hours. Also different types of gymnasts (competitive and less competitive) gravitate towards differentntypes of competitions.

But as there will be no competition at the lower level, there really isn't a need for a separate stream.

The idea with this system is to get kids through the system faster. The tradition in Australia is to do a year at every level from level 1. So while in the US lots of kids are hitting level 4 by age 7, in Australia the majority of level 4's are 10-11.

Under the new system they are expecting the talented kids or the gyms that train higher hours will accelerate their kids at a faster rate. This will mean more kids will make level 10.

 

[JessSyd]

Aussie_coach is getting the girls through levels faster also about moving away from the IDP system and towards something that makes it easier for kids to move into the elite stream later , rather than streaming them young on the promise of talent and the possibility of an appropriate body type and kids who start slightly later or start at non IDP gyms missing out?

I can't remember where I heard that IDP might be disappearing, but I'm interested to know what the thinking is on that right now.

 

[ruby&jack]

I just hope the changes won't affect the NDP girls who are training longer hours, with hours cut and less challenges skills wise.