MAG level 5 to 7

[Sperkowsky]

There are requirements for skills. They have to have so many in different groups. And you are right, our coach doesn't let a kid compete a level 8 routine without all of the requirements. So if they can't meet the routine construction requirements on an event, they don't compete that event.

And you are right, I have seen level 8s doign level 6 routines. But really...why? I think it is better to do a level you can do and learn the skills you need rather than pushing. BUt this is coming from a mother, who likes to see her son stay safe while learning skills and progressing. D could have done 8 this year, had a hard year, not done all events, and been bottom of the pack. But now, he has solid skills on all events, and will be able to do 8 more successfully.

Again, I think the coach will figure out what is best. It is so different from gym to gym, coach to coach.

Well the reason why is simply because of age a 17 year old competing level 5 is just plain mean in my gym my coach would make him a level 10 and try to get him good on a single event (level 10s can make regionals and nationals as specialists)

I agree if the kids 7 don't push him but when you get older there's not as much time

The whole routine construction process is a little different

In Jo any skill you do whether it in the code of points or not equates to an a

For instance this floor routine completes every group

Back tuck

Press handstand

Front tuck

Back layout

Arabian

And that's a

13.1start value

You do that clean and have a very good score


But say you don't have an Arabian (which is a group)

Your starting score would be a

12.5 you do that clean and you still will have a good score

On high bar I don't think I've ever seen more then a few level 8a complete all the requirements because the groups are

Giants
In bar (a free hip usually at this point)
A eagle move
A release move
And a dismount (which starts at a layout from giants)


So if you do a simple routine like I did my level 8 year

Kip cast handstand switch grip
Front giants
Half turn
Back giants
Layout Flyaway

You are fulfilling 3 requirements

And your starting score is a 11.9

I've seen a little clean simple routine beat very hard routines many times

Most level 8 routines are easier then level 7 routines

The only downside is for pommels he will have to use a full set of pommels since he is 13.

Just my 2cents

 

[skschlag]

Sorry for hijacking gracyomalley! Hope this is helping you too....

Don't you have to have 8 skills per routine? I am learning about optionals and thinking it might be better to remain blissfully unaware. However, I find it fascinationg. My ds was telling me that less than 6 skills and you lose a lot of points.

 

[Sperkowsky]

Sorry for hijacking gracyomalley! Hope this is helping you too....

Don't you have to have 8 skills per routine? I am learning about optionals and thinking it might be better to remain blissfully unaware. However, I find it fascinationg. My ds was telling me that less than 6 skills and you lose a lot of points.

Less then 6 you lose 5 tenths on an event so yeah a good amount however on a event like floor you could do say a scale or something of that nature to get an extra skill in.

For instance on my pbars if I didn't catch my peach then I need to do an L before my front uprise to get an extra skill

 

[gracyomalley]

It's actually quite interesting - and so different from girls (DD is a level 8). I do think it looks like he might be able to do L8 and score better on many things than at L7 because of the options of more on what's easy for him (vault and floor, rings and high bar sort of) while adjusting for pbars and pommel....

I do agree that an experienced coach would be the one to make these decisions - but we don't have one. We just have a college kid walking around checking the book and asking the Level 10 what's what....he then researches stuff and comes back with good training drills, etc...but he certainly hasn't got tons of experience with this situation. He does, however, really believe in the boys and its a refreshing change - all the boys scored much better at regionals than last year, and are really working hard for him - plus because he doesn't have preconceived notions, if they are safe to try stuff (and he does seem to have a good sense of this - plus the women's coach is helping with some decisions) he is letting them...that's the only reason DS 13 now has a layout and almost a full, plus giants, and DS 9 just got his entire L6 floor, pbar and rings routines in one week - old coach wouldn't have let DS9 even work on that stuff because he scored in the bottom half at regionals this year....his high bar stinks (he's afraid of heights....) if he had scored on hbar like the other events he would have placed well....

Anyhow, its good to hear how others do it. Once again, he's way "out of age" as it is, and does this for fun - but at his age, with it taking a big time and financial commitment, and with how much he enjoys learning new skills and how well he does in certain events, staying back for anything but safety or because it would make him actually able to progress more later (as in if form were an issue - which it isn't) seems counter-intuitive....

In the end, I don't even know for sure if they will have a team next year - but I really appreciate all the input...

 

[skschlag]

well, we can share teh clueless journey together D has been working his 8 stuff, and has plans, but who knows. Half of it sounds like a foreign language. Hope your ds can make the jump