Individual event specialization now allowed/practical in women's USAG L7-10

[ncaabound]

I quit gymnastics about a month ago. Im a sophomore in high school and im a level 8. My ultimate goal was to go to college gymnastics but i no longer loved gymnastics any more with the exception of bars. I've won state for bars 3 years in a row, but im just not where i need to be on the other events to take them into college so I quit. I loved loved loved bars, I am tall and thin and despite the theory that gymnastics is a sport for short muscular people tall people have good lines for bars. I this is true this would MAKE MY WORLD because I feel like If I was just persueing bars I would have time to get to the level i need for college. I have come across gymnast in college who just compete one event. If it is possible for my to just compete and train bars for two more years so i can do it in college PLEASE LET ME KNOW! thanks

 

[gymdog]

Yes, this is possible, assuming you can find a coach and gym who will agree to it. Now the mobility score is 8.5 per event for advancement, I believe. As far as NCAA gymnastics, it is true some gymnasts specialize in just one event, although this will make the recruiting process more difficult as you'll have to find a school that needs bars specialists badly enough that they will want someone who can contribute just on bars. Although if you were going to try to do this for any event, really, bars would be the event that is typically a weak line up or needed.

I can understand your feelings but if I were you I might consider training on two events - maybe bars and beam. However if you really want to do just bars and pursue NCAA, then it is possible. I'd think carefully about your feelings because NCAA gymnastics is a big commitment if you aren't in love with the idea of gymnastics anymore, especially at a time in your life when there will be tons of other opportunities (many of which you may not have such a good and clear opportunity to do again). Perhaps you could also consider staying involved in gymnastics recreationally and competing in college club gymnastics (NAIGC).

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

everyone has really good points on this. personally i think the big thing that would make it okay for levels 7 and 8 would be an age limit. i did levels 7 and 8 in late elementary school, and a lot of other girls do too. i do not think that is a good age to specialize. i think that could be when people abuse the system to move up levels even if a specific event of theirs isn't quite up to par for AA> on the other hand there's a lot of level 7 and 8 girls in high school, who are older, who might be injured, or might just struggle with certain events but want to stay with gymnastics. i think this works best for them.

I was going to say this exact thing..... There are many L7/8 girls who are in high school. It would be a great opportunity for them to train and compete on their best events and still stay involved with the sport.

 

[gymgurl]

In the system i am in it allows for specialisation, there is no mobility score and i love that you can choose not to compete events. As some of you may know there are 3 streams in australia, the IDP, NDP and State stream (this is only in some states). State stream is aimed at gymnasts who want to compete but might be older or not interested in huge competition etc. This has worked really well for me as due to my short period in gymnastics i haven't built up necessary strength for bars and couldn't kip which was the one skill holding me back from level 5. The code had changed this year and the level 4 was ridiculously boring (i.e. i can round off flic sault and all i was allowed to do was round off so i think specialisation is a great option! I am so happy its a possibility!