How much time does your gymnast spend in the gym?

[gymnastmom38]

I'm curious as to how many hours your gymnasts spend each week in the gym? My dd goes a total of 3 1/2 hours (which includes a trampoline/tumbling class). She's level 3 and will be 7 years old later this week.

I'm noticing that my dd really needs to work on her polishing to clean up her routines. This is the first time she's competed, so I think everything is pretty new to her.

Just wondering what her hours compare to others? TIA!

 

[eme777]

Right now, my 9 yr old, 2nd yr level 4, works out 6 hrs/wk and my 6 yr old, level 3 (pre-team), works out 3 hrs/wk.

We moved from a highly competitive gym a few months ago. My older daughter was working out 16 hrs/wk on level 4/5. Then they "cut down" to 14 hrs/wk once school started. The only negative thing about the decrease in hours is the conditioning. There's a lot less now (due to time) & it shows a little. Her routines are actually better now because she's had more coaching consistency.

My younger gymnast was at 6 hrs/wk at the old gym. Again, there's a little less conditioning, but she's getting more attention now, b/c the coach to gymnast ratio is much better.

I think that the key is quality rather than quantity.

Also, some kids can't focus for that many hours, in addition to school. Mine were fine, in that respect, but I've seen a lot of kids lose it if they are at practice too long.

 

[GymnastsMomma]

I answered for my 7 year old who is level 6- works out 12 hours.
My 9 year old (boy) works out also 12 hours- level 5.
Then my 4 year old does 4 hours on pre-team

 

[Shelovesthebars]

My 4 year old dd spends 3 hours in the gym and she is in the upper level preteam. This is plenty of time for her to get the skills and conditioning she needs. However, some of the other girls parents are complaining that it isn't enough time to get all the 4 events in in the practice time and I would have to say that sometimes we only get to work on certain events one time per week. I feel at this age strength, flexibility and conditioning are more important than skill aquisition.
However, she will increase her hours in the next month to 5 hours a week but 2 will only be to primarily learn level 3 routines.
I watched your dd's video and it is darling! I really need to get busy and create an acount on youtube. My dd will compete level three in the fall after she turns 5. I am really wondering how she is going to do with the competive side of things. I have no idea if she will excell or be freaked out. OHHH, time will tell.

 

[bogwoppit]

Both my girls are in the gym about 8 hours a week. Though the older one seems to be doing about 8 hours a month since November as she has had so many nagging injuries and they can't go to gym when they are injured at our club.

They are in the gym for 2.5 hours a time. I think they could benefit from more conditioning and more time on skills, but we work 5 apparatus and therefore there are only so many things they can achieve.

Oldest is a L6/7 skills wise. Youngest is a L4/5 skill wise, with some 6 skills thrown in for good measure. Quebec system. They are at the lower end of hours.

 

[Mariainlv]

My 7 yo L3 is in the gym 10-11 hours a week. The level 4 girls (she moves up in May) are there 12-16 hours a week.

 

[ZJsMom]

dd--level 7 about 18 hours a week
ds-- level 5 12 hours a week. He was doing 16 over the summer.

 

[MdGymMom01]

I voted 8-10 hours for my dd a level 5 (well, level A for MDL).

 

[Obeg]

9 Yr old pre-team, competing Prep Opt R1, and training lvl 4 1 day a week on a trial basis - 10:45 a week.

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

My 7 yo L3 is in the gym 10-11 hours a week. The level 4 girls (she moves up in May) are there 12-16 hours a week.

WOW!!! That is a lot of hours for those levels!!! I'm really surprised!

 

[Flippers Mom]

My daughter just turned 11 and is a level 8. She goes to the gym 20 hours a week now, but at levels 4 & 5 she was only going 6 hours per week, at level 6 she went 8 hours a week and 10 hours per week for level 7. She moved to a much more competitive gym for level 8 and her hours jumped. I used to say that quality is more important then quantity, and to a certain degree I still feel that way, but you just can't get away from the fact that the more time they spend, the more consistent they will be and the better shape they'll be in. It is a balancing act that we have struggled with throughout the years.

 

[gymnastatheart09]

I'm a level five and for my actuall practices theres 9 hours. But, i do go to an open gym on friday every week and thats an hour and a half. But, there's also an open gym on sundays for level 5+ for 4 hours wich i go to very often. So, 10.5- 14.5 hours a week

 

[gym monkeys mom]

My DD is 14 year old level 8 she is in the gym 16 hours a week.

I am glad she is not there any more. I firmly believe staying in gymnastics long term for my DD is a balance. She needs time to be a teen girl as well as a good gymnast.

Our club is not a high pressure achieve 1st at all costs for this I am glad. It works for us. She has had no major injuries and still loves the gym!!

We all have to find what works for our DD's and help them to balance it out.

 

[sportyspice]

My DD is starting morning training this week which will bring her hours up to 20 pwk, she is training skills equivalent to US level 7 (Age 10). My DS is training 16 - 18 hours per week for Level 6 (Age 12). I am watching carefully for burnout and making an effort to keep them socialising and doing homework. It does require careful planning though.

 

[bookworm]

My daughter (Level 10) does 25-30 hours a week and has for at least 3-4 years. She has never done double sessions as some do ( the risk for injury jumps tremendously) and has been successful with the hours she does. We also take a day off here and there when i feel she needs it (homework, school dance etc)

 

[gymmomof1]

My gymmie is 8years old a L5 and does 13hrs @ week

 

[cathiann]

I think your poll is skewed towards the lower levels--most gyms at level 5 or 6 will be going more than 10 hrs a week. Beth's a level 8 this year and is going 20 hrs a week (which is actually the level 9 schedule--she goes the extra day to get skills back after breaking her foot). Our level 9s and 10s both go 20 hrs.

 

[Ingwe]

My DD is L7 and trains 20 hours per week.

 

[momofthreegirls]

My DD is on the fast-track preteam, training level 3 skills. She goes 3 hours per week (two 1.5 hour classes). Sometimes we attend open gym for an extra hour of practice.

Beginning in June, for competitive level 3, she will practice 7 hours a week (6 hrs gymnastics, 1 hr dance).

 

[gym law mom]

My gymmie is 13 and a 2nd yr. L8 who is also training L9(even during meet season). She is one of those "tweeners" as far as levels go. This is her 1st yr. doing 20 hours and so far, handling it well. There is 1 hour out of the 20 that is ballet. I don't see all the time being used "wisely" by some of the coaches. I too would rather see quality over quantity.