So apparently JO is requiring the switch to soft rails starting January 2014, the reasons we've heard is because they're better for the elites so everyone has to use them.
They are killing my dd's bars!! She is so discouraged! We talked to a college coach friend, and college is not changing because the college gymnasts tend to be taller and heavier than the little pixie elites, and therefore the soft rails cause them to drag their feet because of the bending. So, my lvl 10 who is trying to get recruited and working her butt off, and has 2 years left, suddenly has to re-learn bars and looks bad doing skills that used to look really good. This seems so unfair.
She recently returned from a college camp where she used the old rails. She said her bars were so good and felt good and she impressed everyone. But now back to regular training and she's getting in trouble because she can't do the same on the soft rails.
Why is USAG doing this to these athletes? Let the elites train with soft rails and leave everyone else alone! As if taller, heavier gymnasts need another reason to be discouraged and feel like they don't belong in this sport. It certainly doesn't fit USAG's claim to want to make gymnastics more accessible and inclusionary to everyone who is willing to commit to the life.
They are killing my dd's bars!! She is so discouraged! We talked to a college coach friend, and college is not changing because the college gymnasts tend to be taller and heavier than the little pixie elites, and therefore the soft rails cause them to drag their feet because of the bending. So, my lvl 10 who is trying to get recruited and working her butt off, and has 2 years left, suddenly has to re-learn bars and looks bad doing skills that used to look really good. This seems so unfair.
She recently returned from a college camp where she used the old rails. She said her bars were so good and felt good and she impressed everyone. But now back to regular training and she's getting in trouble because she can't do the same on the soft rails.
Why is USAG doing this to these athletes? Let the elites train with soft rails and leave everyone else alone! As if taller, heavier gymnasts need another reason to be discouraged and feel like they don't belong in this sport. It certainly doesn't fit USAG's claim to want to make gymnastics more accessible and inclusionary to everyone who is willing to commit to the life.