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Ask for a tryout and be prepared to find another gym.
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My daughter at 6 years old didn't have a pullover, didn't have all her splits, couldn't do a whole heck of a lot on beam. She's now a 9 year old level 4. I can't imagine if they had written her off that young!
Yes! This!I do not understand gyms that write off girls at certain ages. It is very unfair. Gymnasts learn and improve at different ages and stages. A 6 year old beginner can be awesome at 8 years old--my dd started at 6 and she went to level 10. She'd be on a college team if it hadn't been for injuries. Carly Patterson started at 6! Find a gym who cares more about having girls who love the sport then they are about training girls only for elite track. My dd's gym has girls of all ages on every level. Level 1 has had 12-yr-olds and level 10 has had 10 year olds. They are a highly competitive and successful gym, and I think a lot of it has to do with letting any girl who desires to compete be in team, regardless of age. They just put them in the level that is appropriate for their skills.
I would check out other gyms in your area. There has to be one that appreciates skill regardless of age.
Here's another thought. Lower level teams are pretty big. The elite at our gym had 25 on her level 2 team. Over the years that number has dwindled to 1. Just 1. My dd's level 4 team had 6 girls ages 6-9. Only my dd made it to level 10. Many a very talented gymnast at age 5 or 6 ended up quitting or getting injured or just stopped liking gymnastics. So to be so narrow-minded and only taking very young girls on team is very short-sighted. Even highly competitive gyms can benefit from slightly older girls being on teams with younger girls. They are good leaders and good examples of how passion and hard work can make them a great gymnast.
This is exactly my plan!! ThanksAsk for a tryout and be prepared to find another gym.
Would they move her at this time of year though or is there a dedicated time kids "move up"This is exactly my plan!! Thanks
Would they move her at this time of year though or is there a dedicated time kids "move up"
I agree, that was inappropriate!I did think it was a rather odd way to go about it. I just really felt bad for my DD but she was a trooper
My daughter started gym at 7.
Did mini team for 2 years, because she was afraid to compete.
She did old L2/L3 at 10 years old - that's equal to level 1 and level 2 now. She was an 11 year old New L3. 12 year old L4, 13 year old L6.
If our gym wrote kids off, she'd be in the chess team today... as this was the only sport she's ever liked.
I'll echo everyone - 6 years old is definitely not too old!!
thanks. I feel so much better after hearing from all of you!I am a complete newbie myself, but we just switched gyms. DD8 was doing rec classes in one gym and we never even considered other tracks since all rec classes were taught in a separate building from team. We switched for unrelated reasons, but the new gym requires a 15 minute evaluation for anyone above pre-school. At the evaluation, dd was offered excel track, and when we went to the first actual class, I got approached by the head of their competitive program and invited to JO developmental program. We are still weighing this decision as DD is older and already involved in other time intensive activities. But the point is that you might get asked right away and 6 is definitely not too old!
Thank you so much for sharing. After that chat with the coach I truly thought that it wasn't possible for her to ever be on the JO track and now I know it is. I plan to talk to the level 1/2 team coach next week after break. In the meantime I called another gym in town that a friend recommended and they want her to come in for an evaluation. They also have JO and Xcel but they don't compete until level 4. Her current gym competes Level 1 so we will see.As others have said, get clear answers from a responsible adult at your gym as to how they approach their JO and Excel tracks. Also, as others have indicated, you may want to get yourself thinking about looking at other gyms. I'm sure there are plenty of gyms out there who believe 6 year olds have unlimited potential.
My daughter started rec level at 6 1/2; invited to Level 2 team before her 7th birthday and is on the Level 6/7 track before her 9th birthday. She never ran down the vault track prior to joining team and that did not stop her from being State Champion vaulter this year.
Good luck.
Thank you so much for sharing. After that chat with the coach I truly thought that it wasn't possible for her to ever be on the JO track and now I know it is. I plan to talk to the level 1/2 team coach next week after break. In the meantime I called another gym in town that a friend recommended and they want her to come in for an evaluation. They also have JO and Xcel but they don't compete until level 4. Her current gym competes Level 1 so we will see.
That is good to hear. I was actually surprised that they competed level 1 and I was sort of groaning thinking about it so I like the idea that the other gym I called starts competing level 4I wouldn't necessarily put competing Level 1 into the positive category if you're weighing pros/cons. There's certainly nothing wrong with it, but it's a lot of time spent learning routines and competing instead of conditioning and working towards harder skills. There aren't any gyms in our area that compete Level 1 or 2 other than on an in-house/rec basis.
Yeah Level 2 is bad enough, I couldn't fathom the idea of competing Level 1.That is good to hear. I was actually surprised that they competed level 1 and I was sort of groaning thinking about it so I like the idea that the other gym I called starts competing level 4
Yeah Level 2 is bad enough, I couldn't fathom the idea of competing Level 1.
I'm sure it helps. I have noticed a nearby gym that does not compete until Level 4 that does an exceptional job developing optional girls through Level 10 and recognize it doesn't hurt them much.It's a good foundation for later levels and gets them used to a competition setting. In our state it's huge and the competition is fierce.