WAG Gym Hopping

[munchkin3]

So I was curious about other peoples perception on this. I am in a state where its super 'frowned upon' to leave your gym....I have friend in another state where kids move all the time and there is never any hard feelings.
So here's my story-
DD took some very rec classes when she was 6 or so (DS was at another gym). I found a place super close to my house and I wanted to see if she was into it. She was there for 4 months or so and wanted more so I took her over to where her big brother was at a YMCA. Here, at 7, she was in a very great gentle program that was demanding but loving. He coaches were great and the facility was small- it was like a big family.
Eventually son moved on, and DD finished up L4 and it was time to make a decision.....did she want more, or keep it light and simple......She opted for more, which required another change. We went to a large gym with a big program and she was very happy with her coaches.....eventually, several of the coaches moved on as the gym ownership declined and we were faced with YET another change.......DD's coach decided to leave and go elsewhere.....the big question- would we stay at the big gym, or follow the coach.....she loved her coach, they have a great connection....she is 13 now and training L8/9 and she feels the relationship is much more important that the facility......we followed the coach.
Im so glad we did.......but we are 'GYM HOPPERS' !!! LOL
what is your perception of gymhopping?

PS one beautiful thing however, at states, my DD still hugs the girls and the coaches from all the previous places shes been, and the coaches have moved around too......everybody was still so sweet and supportive....(then again, we have NEVER burned any bridges, except one, which i never want to rebuild)

 

[Texastwister]

You are a paying customer. Take your money where ever you like. Also gyms change and if they change in a way that doesn’t fit your DD anymore, why would you continue?

 

[munchkin3]

You are a paying customer. Take your money where ever you like. Also gyms change and if they change in a way that doesn’t fit your DD anymore, why would you continue?

agreed. I am embracing my inner hopper.......

 

[Ali'sMom]

Embrace it!!!
I find the seeing a bunch of gyms listed for a girl does give the perception of "gym hopper", but I will never assume WHY someone hopped.
I do know of a couple of girls (their parents) who hopped because "Coach can't get them on the podium", but then it happened again and again. So, blame the gym/coach, not the kid's ability. THAT would be frowned on.
Knowing the area you're in (IIRC), I'm very glad that there is support all around!

 

[honu]

100% agree with Texastwister, we are consumers, paying a hefty sum every month for a service. Lots can change at a gym and the needs of the family or gymnast can change over time too. Being educated about your gym options and keeping up to date on gyms is being a smart consumer. It is common in our area for gymnasts and sometimes coaches to make a gym change. Some later end up back at their original gym. We also have new gyms open and that generates movement too. Changing gyms every year because you are disgruntled would be frowned upon. Moving once or twice over the course of several years in gymnastics, not a big deal at all.

 

[munchkin3]

I find it quite funny how a gym owner may get upset and lash out like that. Gymnastics is personal, but at the same time we ARE consumers and we are paying for a service.
I understand when a coach puts time and effort in a kid, and the kid up and leaves. Well, i'm embracing being a good mom, and watching out for whats best for my daughter.
She is so happy we took the chance and left with her coach.

 

[gymmom10]

Embrace it!!!
I find the seeing a bunch of gyms listed for a girl does give the perception of "gym hopper", but I will never assume WHY someone hopped.
I do know of a couple of girls (their parents) who hopped because "Coach can't get them on the podium", but then it happened again and again. So, blame the gym/coach, not the kid's ability. THAT would be frowned on.
Knowing the area you're in (IIRC), I'm very glad that there is support all around!

Seeing a bunch of gyms posted- it would not necessarily occur to me that the person was a gym hopper... I guess my first thought would probably be that the person must have moved a lot! Gym could have closed or changed ownership too. There could be other reasons.

 

[skschlag]

We are on our 3rd gym with D. So, it could be considered gym hopping, and probably would look that way if people investigated. However, the first 2 gyms closed their boys' programs so he had to move.

Gym hopping to me is more of an attitude than an action. People who are just never happy and blame gym/coaches for lack of the success they think their gymmie should have. Moving gyms for legitimate reasons to me is not gym hopping.

 

[Ali'sMom]

Seeing a bunch of gyms posted- it would not necessarily occur to me that the person was a gym hopper... I guess my first thought would probably be that the person must have moved a lot! Gym could have closed or changed ownership too. There could be other reasons.

Oh definitely! I meant more in the area I live, there are approximately 10 gyms within an hour, so if I see 5 gyms in 5 years within a 45 minute drive, to me they are a "gym hopper", not someone just moving a lot. But like I did say, I never assume WHY someone hopped, so there is no inherent negative connotation to the term OP was using of "gymhopper". Back in the day, my DD would have followed her favorite coach ANYWHERE

 

[gymmom10]

Wow- what luxury to have a choice of so many gyms so close to you!

 

[Aussie_coach]

Different gyms suit different kids, around here it's not even uncommon for parents to have different children at different gyms, because what works for one may not work for another. Each specialises in different gymsports and age groups. Sometimes it's going to take some moving around to find what works.

If we have a gymnast leave to go to another gym, we make sure we let them know that we understand that each child needs so,etching different and that our door is always open should they wish to return. And the majority of the time they do return, sometimes very quickly and sometimes a few years down the track.

It's human nature to always feel like the grass is greener on the other side, so they go check it out and they find that it's not as green as they thought. When they do return they are often the most amazing clients, theynhave a true appreciation for what we do because they have seen other other stuff.

 

[Ali'sMom]

Wow- what luxury to have a choice of so many gyms so close to you!

Definitely a huge benefit! (Until CB, I had no idea that it wasn't a common thing to have such choices. The first time someone said they drive 45 minutes, I was like "WHAT??".)

 

[rosiekat]

I think it really depends on how and why someone leaves. I've seen some people who fuss about the slightest thing and move their kids frequently. I've seen people leave a gym because of a particular coach but return when that coach has left. There's a difference to me. There's a difference between true gym hopping and moving your child to the best place for them. I think most gyms/coaches understand that, but some definitely do not.

 

[amiandjim]

I probably sound like a crazy gym hopper when talking about my daughter, but I’m really not! She started at a small local gym at 3, preteam at 4, and level 1 at 5 (just a couple fun meets). We moved her after that to a slightly larger but also very close gym because the first mostly focused on cheer (to the point that even their level 6s (highest level at gym) had to practice their floor routines in between the cheer team doing their routines)!

She did level 2 at local gym at age 6-7 and just really wasn’t making any progress. Coaches didn’t really believe in her, and it just wasn’t a good fit. She seemed to have some potential (not a crazy phenom but strong and worked hard) so we made the decision to drive 45-60 min to our current gym. They had her repeat level 2 because she was well behind their level 3s, and she had an amazing year. Summer after level 2 she was invited to their invite only training group (like TOPS but no testing) and she has had a pretty good level 3 season, which was made difficult by a fractured foot. State is this weekend and I think she is ready for level 4.

We love her gym! Having said that, it has changed a lot in a year, and if I thought it was best for her, I wouldn’t hesitate to move her again. None of these decisions were based on scores or placements, just based on how she fit in and the coaching she was receiving. I feel that if she is committed to working hard, and we are committed both financially and timewise, it’s our job to find the best gym for her as a gymnast. And sometimes that changes from year to year.

 

[Puff]

There are so many VALID reasons why a family might leave a gym, even a gym that is considered to be a good gym. Coaches that are negative yellers and unkind and your child is unhappy training with them. Gyms that have a lot of favoritism and it isn't in your child's favor. Gyms that don't want you in there ever and don't communicate with you and it's like giving your child to strangers that offer zero amount of kindness. Gyms where your child or your family is excluded to the point where you lose all desire to stay in an environment that brings your family no happiness. As others have said, gyms losing coaches or programs changing or not meeting the competitive capabilities of a child. Sometimes the hours/times are a problem, sometimes the distance/location. Sometimes it's jobs and multiple kids and LIFE. I think chemistry and happiness are very important, especially in a sport that is so all-devouring, and it can take a couple of gym changes to find it. Yeah, maybe there are some difficult families too. But when I see a family that has bounced around, I'm more inclined to think they've had a rough journey but the struggles of this sport haven't put out their spark. But I guess some coaches and other parents assume they are trouble and lack loyalty and left for reasons that weren't legitimate. When I hear someone say the term "gym-hopper" with derision, to me, it says more about that person than it says about the kid or family they're talking about.

 

[Sk8ermaiden]

We have moved once. Really for a million reasons, but the type of coaching was a big one, followed by her desire for a less intense path, allowing for other sports. If the coaching situation at her current gym changed for the worse, or she wanted more intensity as she got older, I would move her again.

But my big thing, being in a city with dozens of gyms, is that the coaches move around SO much. There are some who stay their whole career at one place, but most of them seem to bounce around. We all know the coaching is everything, and when the coaches change, it's common to see what seems like whole teams leave the gym or the sport.

 

[MILgymFAM]

We are gym hoppers, I suppose. My DDs have competed for far fewer gyms than they’ve associated with though, so I guess it’s about perspective- one kid has no electronic competition record at all (T&T) and the other DDs online life shows her competing for four teams in three states.

My YDD has competed for two gyms and my ODD for four, but we’ve been affiliated in some way, for some time, with eleven different gyms. Some were extended trials where we decided to walk before getting in too deep, some were more unique situations (ODD trained with two gyms simultaneously once, while competing for one; ODD did a year of team privates with the HC of one gym without ever joining in classes/team). We’ve switched due to long distance moves, to seek a change in program (Xcel to JO), due to commute/schedule issues, and just because we had to go for the best interest of my kids. We’ve only ever burned one bridge and we burned it to the ground on purpose. In every other case we’ve been amicable at worst, but often remain dear friends with former coaches and teammates even years (and many miles) later.

My YDD is no longer in gym at all (though she still wishes she were). My ODD is happy with her gym and team, but we are heading into “unique situation” territory again soon enough, and she’ll add two more gym connections to her list without leaving her current gym at all.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Even the same kid needs different things at different times in their life. Family circumstances change. Gyms change.

There many valid reasons to move.

The “gym hopping” to me, again, JMO, are CGP who can’t understand why their kid isn’t a superstar. And since they know their kid is fabulous it must be the gyms fault so they move a bunch.

Not remotely the same thing.

Total side note. My daughter saw her first coach at a recent meet. Her coach from when she was 3-6. Loved her and she was perfect for my daughter at the time. Big smiles and hugs, all around. Every one is where they are supposed to be.

 

[CoachAlex]

As a coach, I feel like you listed valid, practical reasons for each switch. When I hear the term “gym hopper” I think of the person who goes from gym-to-gym because their kid isn’t winning, so obviously the current gym isn’t “good enough.” The reality is, not every gym is the same and not every program is right for every kid.

 

[Aussie_coach]

I think the term “gym hopping” was never meant to apply to those who move for valid reasons like location, different goals etc.

But those families who feel their child is talented but the gyms never recognise it of give the child the opportunities the family feel the child deserves.

When we select kids for higher levels, competitive pathways etc, we give those kids a lot of our time and ourselves. Many gyms run the teams at a loss to make the high hours affordable. You are looking for a two way street here, a kids that is prepared to commit and give 100% to their training. The gymnast needs to be there for a while before they should expected to be selected for various pursuits. There is a lot more to gymnastics success than just talent.