I have seen many girls at my gym who started gymnastics from scratch get to about L7 in like maybe 3 years or so, which I think is pretty amazing! Of course, they need to have a special spirit and love for the sport, they must be willing to work VERY hard and they must have gymnastics in their blood. However, this is not rarely seen.
And also, of course, there are differences between the athletes; some girls have super nice form, others are a little sloppier and compete only the bare minimun on bars. But still, some make it to pretty good L7 gymnasts in 3 years.
I know it is like this with my team, we are all past puberty and no one dreams of anything, we just do it for fun. But still, we work hard and lurk around between L7 and L8 skills. Some of us are working single higher level skills on different events, but nothing serious. I always thought this was different with younger girls: They have their routines, so all they basically would need to do is upgrade their main tumbling skills. So you could think it would still go on like it started – doing at least one level a year.
But I noticed that it is not! Some might get to L8, although the pirouette on bars as well as the connected front tumbling pass and sometimes vault seem to really bother some gymnasts. But it is doable if they were good L7s. However, going to L9 seems almost impossible just after one year of L8!
Although the athletes have all the important basics, somehow the skills seem so hard to learn and be able to do consistently, that you see very little L9 gymnasts that are good all around, like on every event. Also, the skills seem to get scarier and more dangerous. Flight skills on bars and doubleback dismounts, twisting and doublebacks on floor, twisting vaults, series on beam with flight.... urrrghhh.
Is this just my impression or is this the common case?
Is there a statistic that says how many L7s get to L9?
And also, of course, there are differences between the athletes; some girls have super nice form, others are a little sloppier and compete only the bare minimun on bars. But still, some make it to pretty good L7 gymnasts in 3 years.
I know it is like this with my team, we are all past puberty and no one dreams of anything, we just do it for fun. But still, we work hard and lurk around between L7 and L8 skills. Some of us are working single higher level skills on different events, but nothing serious. I always thought this was different with younger girls: They have their routines, so all they basically would need to do is upgrade their main tumbling skills. So you could think it would still go on like it started – doing at least one level a year.
But I noticed that it is not! Some might get to L8, although the pirouette on bars as well as the connected front tumbling pass and sometimes vault seem to really bother some gymnasts. But it is doable if they were good L7s. However, going to L9 seems almost impossible just after one year of L8!
Although the athletes have all the important basics, somehow the skills seem so hard to learn and be able to do consistently, that you see very little L9 gymnasts that are good all around, like on every event. Also, the skills seem to get scarier and more dangerous. Flight skills on bars and doubleback dismounts, twisting and doublebacks on floor, twisting vaults, series on beam with flight.... urrrghhh.
Is this just my impression or is this the common case?
Is there a statistic that says how many L7s get to L9?
I don't know if there are statistics specifically like you've asked for, but it would be cool to know. My guess is that fewer than 20% go from L7 to L9, and most of those who do, do so with more than one year at L8. You're right about the huge jump from L8 to L9....didn't USAG address that somewhat with the adjustments to levels 2 years ago? I think there are now some options for more difficulty at L8, but I'm not positive. Also, some gyms have the resources to train the higher levels (9-10) and some don't. When you talk about "younger girls", do you mean those who started gym earlier? I'm learning that it is nearly impossible to predict who will move up a steady 1 level per year and do well. Fear sets in, puberty changes bodies, and interest wanes. It's not unusual for a state champ at any level to "retire" after a great season!
