M
monkeysmom
Any advice for a parent about daughter joining prep op team (this is not level 6, it's the newer alternate team I think mostly for older girls who don't make JO or want less intensity). 7 year old tried out for prep at very competitive and busy gym, offered prep op. In gymnastics 2 years (rec classes only), prior to this. Didn't make prep this tryout (level 4 preteam) but offered prep op for 7 year old. 10 hours in the gym per week in summer, great coach with JO team coaching experience, which seems a real plus for her as the goal is to compete USAG, her goal but I don't think it's the gym's goal. Better to take the hours and great coach for a year here in prep op or look around for a smaller gym which may invite her to USAG JO pre team/level 4 training? Fairly strong, can do 7 pullups and a couple straight leg toe ups, seems to have good form for a beginner due to dance experience, can do splits, front and back hip circles, getting a decent handstand, beam is coming along too, just got skill recognition for getting her handstand on beam, can do back bend, kickover, still working on handspring in intermediate class? Hard to get on this team, for Level 4 prep seem to take lots of young ones who are short and bendy....my daughter not tall at all but not super short either. Flexibility and strength improved markedly since joining gymnastics 2 years ago. Wasn't picked 3 months into gymastics 2 years ago for the program for 4-6 year olds that show good potential (sort of the pre pre team)--part of the level 4 training tryout done by those same coaches that turned her down then, so kind of knew our goose might be coooked on getting on (they are invested in the little ones they have been training for a couple years, understandably, and spots are tough to get). This seems like wonderful opportunity for a year or so then reevaluate, but wondering what others think if the ultimate goal is to get on USAG JO? Or better to find a gym that seems more interested in giving her level 4 training opportunity? Thanks!!!