another gymnastics question..

[zoemurr]

Sorry.. still trying to wrap my head around all this. My 7 year old has just been asked to join the competitive team. But it means 6-8hrs of practice after school that I don't think he's interested in. I don't want to push him, but he's very good, and it's a great opportunity.

Anyway.. when/if he does compete, does every gymnast compete in every category for each meet? How long was your child on the team before they went to their competition? Was each child recognized in some way?

Thanks!

 

[deedeetoo]

First, if he's not interested, don't push him. Gymnastics is a huge committment from both a time and money perspective. You don't want to do it if he isn't really bugging you for it. If he's good enough to join the team this year, he will be good enough next year if he gets more excited about it then. This isn't a one-time opportunity.

I have a daughter in gymnastics and they do compete every event at a meet. I'm not sure if the boys are the same. As for when he will compete - that depends on the gym. In our gym you are invited to be on the team (and out of the regular classes) for a couple years before you actually compete. I think other gyms may be different. You have to learn specific skills and the routines. For girls, everyone does the same exact routine and skills at the meets for the first few levels.

 

[zoemurr]

they said he could go practice with the team a few times a week over the summer instead of his regular class, so I think we are going to try that for now. The boys his age are asked to practice every day from 8-12 am during the summer. You would really have to LOVE it to do that.

He has the talent, but not the drive.. but he is only 7. I did assume that the offer would still stand if he decided later that he wanted to try it. I'm just afraid that he's not going to progress much in the regular class, but of course I want it to stay fun for him.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Pushing our daughter to join the team was the worst mistake we could have ever made. She was asked to join when she was 6. By the time she was 8 she was so burnt out that she flat out quit. Refused to practice. Refused to compete. And refused to participate in even the dance classes she loved. We ended up pulling her and leaving her in the just for fun classes and she still wouldnt participate. She is 10 now, and just now showing some interest in enrolling in classes again.

 

[Tam1067]

My son is a competitive gymnast who is actually out right now with a shoulder and neck injury.

He competed as a level 4 last year and will move up to level 5 this year.

Boys do compete in all six events at every meet. They all have set routines so all boys do the same routines. Meets will last about 3-4 hours, and are held on various weekends during the season, which runs from December to March or April.

Boys compete against other boys in their level and age group.

Ask me if you have more questions. My DS really likes it, but he's not great by any means.

 

[flipflopmom]

My daughter started competing in January after joining the team in June. She was 6. 3 years later, still loving it, I wish she wouldn't! We have a 45 minute drive each way, she works out for 3 hours a pop, three nights a week. Which is very minimal compared to most gyms around! No recognition unless they place at a meet.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I definietly wouldn't push him if he isn't interested in putting in the time for the competitive team. If he wants it to be just a fun thing, then let him just keep doing it as something fun.