M
mandy
Today I spent almost the whole time in the gym, because my little cousin had training in the morning and in the afternoon
and I waited for her.
As the gym has a big waiting and watching area, I relaxed there, did stuff for uni and watched the different groups train. I watched Level 4 and Level 7 and 8 train and there was one thing I noticed that really astonished me.
At the beginning of each training, all Levels did pretty the same: some plyo, straight jumps, tuck jumps, straddle jumps, handstand walks, some active flex and some light conditioning stuff.
Then they worked on each event for about 20-30 minutes and ended the session with 30 minutes strength and some stretching.
Now what I noticed: Although the higher levels had much more difficult skills of course, the younger ones seem to be much stronger!
When they did conditioning at the beginning, the younger girls could do 5 straddle presses in a row and some of them even went through a straddle planche!!! The older ones just did one press, then stopped, then another one-so not in a row and far from straddle planche!
Same with conditioning at the end... all levels did the same (they have the same coach):
hollows, leg lifts, pull-ups, push-ups, rope-climbs
And they all did the same amount of sets and reps! The older girls actually seem to struggle more with the last reps (some couldn't complete all reps) than the younger ones!
Also, splits and back flexibility seem to be better in little ones.
During a break I had a chat with another,
very nice coach and told him
about that. He said that, gymnastics is just more for "little ones", older or bigger girls are having a harder time doing those bodyweight
movements. He said he has seen many girls going through a straddle planche in their press handstands but has never seen a girl older than 11 do that! Same for press handstands in a row. He said it is a much bigger achievement for a 15+ year old to do a press handstand than for a 7 year old. Most girls can get pretty strong if they have the right training until the first growth spurt sets in. Even tiny adults have a harder time than children.
But this doesn't show how good a gymnast is. He said there are many kids who can do presses easily, but just because they are so tiny.
Is this true? What is your experience?
and I waited for her.
As the gym has a big waiting and watching area, I relaxed there, did stuff for uni and watched the different groups train. I watched Level 4 and Level 7 and 8 train and there was one thing I noticed that really astonished me.
At the beginning of each training, all Levels did pretty the same: some plyo, straight jumps, tuck jumps, straddle jumps, handstand walks, some active flex and some light conditioning stuff.
Then they worked on each event for about 20-30 minutes and ended the session with 30 minutes strength and some stretching.
Now what I noticed: Although the higher levels had much more difficult skills of course, the younger ones seem to be much stronger!
When they did conditioning at the beginning, the younger girls could do 5 straddle presses in a row and some of them even went through a straddle planche!!! The older ones just did one press, then stopped, then another one-so not in a row and far from straddle planche!
Same with conditioning at the end... all levels did the same (they have the same coach):
hollows, leg lifts, pull-ups, push-ups, rope-climbs
And they all did the same amount of sets and reps! The older girls actually seem to struggle more with the last reps (some couldn't complete all reps) than the younger ones!
Also, splits and back flexibility seem to be better in little ones.
During a break I had a chat with another,
very nice coach and told him
about that. He said that, gymnastics is just more for "little ones", older or bigger girls are having a harder time doing those bodyweight
movements. He said he has seen many girls going through a straddle planche in their press handstands but has never seen a girl older than 11 do that! Same for press handstands in a row. He said it is a much bigger achievement for a 15+ year old to do a press handstand than for a 7 year old. Most girls can get pretty strong if they have the right training until the first growth spurt sets in. Even tiny adults have a harder time than children.
But this doesn't show how good a gymnast is. He said there are many kids who can do presses easily, but just because they are so tiny.
Is this true? What is your experience?