IreneKa
Proud Parent
Hi all,
I'm new here, and after reading some of the posts I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only one confused by this whole getting on a team procedure.
Anyway, my daughter started on rec classes when she was 5. When she was 6.5 I realized that one hour class a week is not enough for her anymore. So we started doing two classes a week, and I started asking around for the next step to get on a team. I talked to coaches and gym administrator, and they said they'll be testing them at the end of the year to see who is ready for a pre-team. So, we've patiently waited all year. Finally, last June my daughter was asked to join a "prep op rookie" team. They said they'll be practicing 5 hours a week, and will start competing next February. No one explained to us what "prep op" meant, or gave us any other options. Me, having no prior experience with gymnastics, I though "prep" is short for "preparation" or something, so I thought that was a pre-team they were talking about. We were very excited about having so much more practice time, and about a prospect of competing so soon.
Later in the year, I was talking to the parents of one of DD's friends. They've been in the same rec class together, and she was also invited to be on the team. But they had 8 hours of practice, and they were not going to compete this year. I was very confused, why would they have more practice time, but not competing yet? The girls were about the same skill level before they started.
I talked to the gym administrator, and all he kept saying was that that's just a different program. I tried to understand if it's a better program, worse program, can we switch, but he was like, it's a different program, coaches decide who gets into which program.
I was still curious, so I started searching on the internet, and read all about "prep op" program. And I didn't like what I found. Apparently, it's a less strict program, for those who want to compete, but don't want to invest too much time into gymnastics, and they are not eligible for Junior Olympics, etc.
So, now I don't know what to do. DD is happy with her team, she loves her coaches, her teammates, loves to compete (we've been to 2 meets so far). But what if later on she'll want more, but will be unable to achieve more with the limitations of this program, and it will be too late to switch?
Obviously, we are not going to do anything until the end of the season. We have one more invitational meet coming up, and then state champ.
But should I talk to the coaches after that, and see if she can be moved to level 4 next year? Is it even possible to switch?
I just don't understand this whole process. The coaches look at the girls and decide whom they want on their teams? And if she hasn't been invited to pre-team, that's it? She is stuck in prep-op? And if that's the case, should we look around for other gyms? What would you do?
It's just so frustrating that they don't talk to you, and don't explain things to you, and you have to figure all this out on your own.
I'm new here, and after reading some of the posts I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only one confused by this whole getting on a team procedure.
Anyway, my daughter started on rec classes when she was 5. When she was 6.5 I realized that one hour class a week is not enough for her anymore. So we started doing two classes a week, and I started asking around for the next step to get on a team. I talked to coaches and gym administrator, and they said they'll be testing them at the end of the year to see who is ready for a pre-team. So, we've patiently waited all year. Finally, last June my daughter was asked to join a "prep op rookie" team. They said they'll be practicing 5 hours a week, and will start competing next February. No one explained to us what "prep op" meant, or gave us any other options. Me, having no prior experience with gymnastics, I though "prep" is short for "preparation" or something, so I thought that was a pre-team they were talking about. We were very excited about having so much more practice time, and about a prospect of competing so soon.
Later in the year, I was talking to the parents of one of DD's friends. They've been in the same rec class together, and she was also invited to be on the team. But they had 8 hours of practice, and they were not going to compete this year. I was very confused, why would they have more practice time, but not competing yet? The girls were about the same skill level before they started.
I talked to the gym administrator, and all he kept saying was that that's just a different program. I tried to understand if it's a better program, worse program, can we switch, but he was like, it's a different program, coaches decide who gets into which program.
I was still curious, so I started searching on the internet, and read all about "prep op" program. And I didn't like what I found. Apparently, it's a less strict program, for those who want to compete, but don't want to invest too much time into gymnastics, and they are not eligible for Junior Olympics, etc.
So, now I don't know what to do. DD is happy with her team, she loves her coaches, her teammates, loves to compete (we've been to 2 meets so far). But what if later on she'll want more, but will be unable to achieve more with the limitations of this program, and it will be too late to switch?
Obviously, we are not going to do anything until the end of the season. We have one more invitational meet coming up, and then state champ.
But should I talk to the coaches after that, and see if she can be moved to level 4 next year? Is it even possible to switch?
I just don't understand this whole process. The coaches look at the girls and decide whom they want on their teams? And if she hasn't been invited to pre-team, that's it? She is stuck in prep-op? And if that's the case, should we look around for other gyms? What would you do?
It's just so frustrating that they don't talk to you, and don't explain things to you, and you have to figure all this out on your own.