~*~ Stick It! A thread for Gymnastics Parents ~*~

[dis4me]

I just got back from my son's meet. He took 2nd on rings, tied for 2nd but took 3rd on pommels, 6th on high bar and 10th all around. I am a proud mommy.

Wow mom2rb GOod for your son. That was a great meet. Congrats!!

 

[mom2cinderella]

He took 2nd on rings, tied for 2nd but took 3rd on pommels, 6th on high bar and 10th all around.

Cool!!

She is competing Friday morning at Disney in the Sand Dollar invitational. And we are all making the trip (as you can see in my ticker!!) She has another competition in Orlando the end of February so that may call for another Disney trip.

I don't think our gym EVER goes to anything in Orlando. I asked the toddler "Do you wanna be a Cheerleader or a Dancer so we can go to Nationals at Disney?" and she said "No.". I'll have to work on her. (I'm kidding, of course. Mostly. )

Here is what a dedicated gym mom I have become, we are from Green Bay--Go Pack!!--, but where will I be when the game kicks off, at a gym in Milwaukee (Chelese Memmels' home gym) for DD second meet.

Sorry about the Packers Barb! How did dd do?


Michele

 

[mom2kazkids]

She did good, improved from the first meet with the exception of beam.

On bars she got a white ribbon, did her mill circle by herself for the first time in warm-ups, but missed it in the compitition. Last meet she got yellow.

Beam she fell and got yellow, last meet she stayed on and got red. Our coaches said that the judge on beam was quite a tough scorer, and has judged at the Olympics in the past. Most of the girls came out with either a white or yellow.

Floor she improved from yellow at the first meet to blue at this meet.

Vault she stayed the same, blue at the first meet and blue at this meet.

Her "gift" from the gym was a sweatshirt, and Chellie Memmel was signing autographs, so Lauren got it autographed.

One more level three meet left, then it is full steam ahead for level 4.

Barb

 

[missypie]

Is anyone going to the WOGA meet??

We think WOGA is cursed. They have state for Levels 5 and 6 and both times, DD has had her worst beam routine of the season. If we ever have to go back, we're going to take holy water or a shaman or something to try to lift the curse.

 

[dis4me]

We think WOGA is cursed. They have state for Levels 5 and 6 and both times, DD has had her worst beam routine of the season. If we ever have to go back, we're going to take holy water or a shaman or something to try to lift the curse.

Thanks for the warning. LOL Last year dd fell on bars for the first time ever.We'll bring her some holy water.

 

[carone0318]

Ok, so I thought that I killed this thread because I never saw any responses , but it's here!

dis4me - I know exactly what session you were referring to at States. That age group was killer! They should have broken it down to a Jr/Sr. The State handbook says if an age group at a sectional or States has more than 50 girls it will be broken down (guess they chose not to read that paragraph! ) 37+ is awesome at any meet, especially at States!

 

[dis4me]

Ok, so I thought that I killed this thread because I never saw any responses , but it's here!

dis4me - I know exactly what session you were referring to at States. That age group was killer! They should have broken it down to a Jr/Sr. The State handbook says if an age group at a sectional or States has more than 50 girls it will be broken down (guess they chose not to read that paragraph! ) 37+ is awesome at any meet, especially at States!

I Know I couldn't believe they didn't split it but what can you do. Not to harp on it, but in any other age group she would have been in at least the top 10. She was really disappointed, but at least medaled on bars.Also many of the girls were repeaters and started off the season at 37 so she knew the competition was fierce.
Is your daughter moving to 8? I don't think mine is because she is having trouble with the full.

 

[carone0318]

Dd is training L8, not doing it this Spring, she'll do it next yr - it was never a thought for this yr, that goes for all of the girls who just finished 7. We already have a very strong 8 team, so no need to push. I'm fine with this. She has plenty of time to get her required skills.

She probably has enough already to do L8, but our gym has their own requirements, so that is what she is working on. She has to be able to do a Yurchenko for vault, which takes awhile to learn, but I am confident that she will have by next Dec.

She just got 1 of her floor passes: FHS-FLO-FT. She's done a full, but not consistent and then she has to get FT-RO-BHS-BT.

For beam, she is working the BHS-BHS and is close, but not ready on a high beam with no panel mats around. Our gym told the girls that they want them to all have BTs on beam for L8 (I think that is crazy and will see if they hold them to it because with their current 8s, only a couple can do the BT.) She also seems to be working the BHS-BT dismount, but am not sure if this is what she will do or if she will turn to the RO-BT dismount.

Bars - she's working clear-hip to HS, but not good enough for 8 yet. She has to keep working the pirouette, but she is more focused on the clear-hip to HS. She already has the 2 giants to fly-a-way.

It's always something at the gym. Once they get 1 skill, it's onto the next.

Your dd will be ready for L8 next yr don't you think?

 

[dis4me]

Dd is training L8, not doing it this Spring, she'll do it next yr - it was never a thought for this yr, that goes for all of the girls who just finished 7. We already have a very strong 8 team, so no need to push. I'm fine with this. She has plenty of time to get her required skills.

She probably has enough already to do L8, but our gym has their own requirements, so that is what she is working on. She has to be able to do a Yurchenko for vault, which takes awhile to learn, but I am confident that she will have by next Dec.

She just got 1 of her floor passes: FHS-FLO-FT. She's done a full, but not consistent and then she has to get FT-RO-BHS-BT.

For beam, she is working the BHS-BHS and is close, but not ready on a high beam with no panel mats around. Our gym told the girls that they want them to all have BTs on beam for L8 (I think that is crazy and will see if they hold them to it because with their current 8s, only a couple can do the BT.) She also seems to be working the BHS-BT dismount, but am not sure if this is what she will do or if she will turn to the RO-BT dismount.

Bars - she's working clear-hip to HS, but not good enough for 8 yet. She has to keep working the pirouette, but she is more focused on the clear-hip to HS. She already has the 2 giants to fly-a-way.

It's always something at the gym. Once they get 1 skill, it's onto the next.

Your dd will be ready for L8 next yr don't you think?

Wow Your dd is working some big skills that's great. Yes my dd should be ready by next spring. Our 8s usually do a meet or two preseason Like Rutgers Classic and then go full force in Spring. I do not want her to repeat 7 I would prefer her work on all her 8 skills from now until then. The summer is always a great time to get skills so I am confident she will do 8 next year. Maybe we will see each other at a meet.
So are you done with meets for this year? We have 1 more that I know of and a mock meet tomorrow at our gym.

 

[carone0318]

Wow Your dd is working some big skills that's great. Yes my dd should be ready by next spring. Our 8s usually do a meet or two preseason Like Rutgers Classic and then go full force in Spring. I do not want her to repeat 7 I would prefer her work on all her 8 skills from now until then. The summer is always a great time to get skills so I am confident she will do 8 next year. Maybe we will see each other at a meet.
So are you done with meets for this year? We have 1 more that I know of and a mock meet tomorrow at our gym.

Good luck to your dd at her mock meet - I hope she does well. Is she competing 7 or 8, since it is a mock? Are you doing Team Championships?

We are done our meets until she starts L8.

Our 8s usually do a meet in Dec and then onto the season.

Dd will not repeat L7. I already told a coach this before States even happened. All L7 season long dd had a very good season. There is absolutely no reason to do L7 again. She has confidence. If she was lacking confidence or didn't have a good L7 season, then I could see repeating and then going 8, but this is not the case. She will be training here on out until next Dec.

Oh, we also have a long weekend Disney trip planned in Dec around Immaculate Conception (12/8) catholic school here, so the extra day off. So I already told dd, that if her first L8 meet falls on that weekend, she will have to miss it. She is ok with this (wanted to make sure before I booked),now the gym - they may not be too happy, but oh well family before gym, they will get over it!

 

[Sabrina_Mouse]

About you and your gymnast: My step-daughter's name is Tori and she is almost 12. We live in Maryland and compete with a Maryland team

How old was your child when they started gymnastics?
She started gymnastics when she was 9 years old. After 6 months of class the coaches decided that they wanted her on the team-beginning as a Level 4

What level are they at now? She is now a Level 5 - This music sounds like stripper music to me too.

Do levels 1/2/3 compete in your area/state? Not that I know of.

When is your "season"? Our season began in December and our States will be in May.

Do you have other kids? Are you juggling their activities too? Only furbabies.

Do you follow gymnastics at the National level? Not closely.

We just got back yesterday from a meet at Penn State. Tori got 7th on bars and the team took 4th. This was her 3rd meet for this year. She had a great time and to me that is all that matters anyway.

Our next meet is February 10th.

I look forward to hearing about all of your kid's accomplishments.

 

[mom2cinderella]

She had a great time and to me that is all that matters anyway.

I love it when I see girls who totally flub their event, shrug their shoulders, and walk over to the judge with a big smile! I told dd yesterday, if it stops being fun, please tell me - I won't be mad!


Michele

 

[missypie]

I love it when I see girls who totally flub their event, shrug their shoulders, and walk over to the judge with a big smile! I told dd yesterday, if it stops being fun, please tell me - I won't be mad!


Michele

More common with the little girls than the older girls. I can hardly stand to look at any of their faces at the awards ceremony, because the faces of the girls who don't place in anything haunt me.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Oh yeah - we've only seen sessions/awards for level 4.

I'm sure the further up you go, the more intense it gets.

Michele

 

[missypie]

Oh yeah - we've only seen sessions/awards for level 4.

I'm sure the further up you go, the more intense it gets.

Michele

At our Level 4 meets, everyone gets a ribbon. After that, they place everyone. I think our rules say that the meet sponsor has to give ribbons/medals to the top half in each event.

The young girls seem to do well (i.e. don't cry), no matter how high their level is. The older girls (e.g. high school) don't seem to get too upset at the awards ceremony, because they tend to have a good idea if they did a great routine or if they messed up. (They may be upset when their routine is over but by the time the awards ceremony occurs, they have realistic expectations.) I'd say the rough years are maybe 4th-7th graders. I've hardly seen any of those tough little girls cry (they wait until they see their mothers after the meet!) but the looks of disappointment are heartbreaking.

One reason that it's so sad is that it's so individual. If your soccer team loses, the whole team is upset. At a gymnastics meet, your teammate may win the all around and you may not place in anything and you still have to keep a brave face and cheer for your teammate. Those little girls are tough!

 

[dis4me]

Good luck to your dd at her mock meet - I hope she does well. Is she competing 7 or 8, since it is a mock? Are you doing Team Championships?

We are done our meets until she starts L8.

Our 8s usually do a meet in Dec and then onto the season.

Dd will not repeat L7. I already told a coach this before States even happened. All L7 season long dd had a very good season. There is absolutely no reason to do L7 again. She has confidence. If she was lacking confidence or didn't have a good L7 season, then I could see repeating and then going 8, but this is not the case. She will be training here on out until next Dec.

Oh, we also have a long weekend Disney trip planned in Dec around Immaculate Conception (12/8) catholic school here, so the extra day off. So I already told dd, that if her first L8 meet falls on that weekend, she will have to miss it. She is ok with this (wanted to make sure before I booked),now the gym - they may not be too happy, but oh well family before gym, they will get over it!

Thanks Carone0318 I believe she is doing 7. Which is fine! Not sure about team championships.It is on our schedule but I have yet to hear who is competing.
That's great that you are going to Disney in Dec. We went in May of last year and the head coach gave us a really hard time. DD was even better when she came back though as the break did her well. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.I agree with you Family comes first.

 

[Terry36]

Okay ladies - this Saturday will be my daughter's 1st meet.

We are an African American family so for all of you who have been doing this for a while can you tell me how other AA girls wear their hair? I know it must be in a ponytail but I was wondering what others have done.

She has very thin hair around the face which causes fly aways....so I know I will need to use gel.

Also since this is her 1st meet can you provide any advice to newbies to help prevent nervousness or anything you think would help her do her best!

Thanks
Nervous Mom

 

[missypie]

Okay ladies - this Saturday will be my daughter's 1st meet.

We are an African American family so for all of you who have been doing this for a while can you tell me how other AA girls wear their hair? I know it must be in a ponytail but I was wondering what others have done.

She has very thin hair around the face which causes fly aways....so I know I will need to use gel.

Also since this is her 1st meet can you provide any advice to newbies to help prevent nervousness or anything you think would help her do her best!

Thanks
Nervous Mom

We have an official team hairdo-I'm serious. (I about flipped when all the new moms had to come in for hair lessons!) You part it 5-7 times in front and do this little pull-through, then put it in a pony-tail, then either tight curls or a bun.

Use LOTS of gel.

Do you know how to do those skinny little braids that lay flat on the head? Lots of girls do rows of those, then a ponytail or bun.

 

[dis4me]

Okay ladies - this Saturday will be my daughter's 1st meet.

We are an African American family so for all of you who have been doing this for a while can you tell me how other AA girls wear their hair? I know it must be in a ponytail but I was wondering what others have done.

She has very thin hair around the face which causes fly aways....so I know I will need to use gel.

Also since this is her 1st meet can you provide any advice to newbies to help prevent nervousness or anything you think would help her do her best!

Thanks
Nervous Mom

Welcome to the wonderful competitive world.How exciting her first meet!!!! I was more nervous than my daughter at her first meet. First make sure she has a good breakfast with protein in it. Second talk about everything but gymnastics until it is time to go. The girls will go over everything in their heads up untilt hey are on the equipment. Third and most important is stress how proud you are of her and help her set realistic goals for the meet.

As for the hair. I know the girls on our team would straighten their hair before putting it up to calm the flyaways. Can you put a relaxer on it? Also careful on the gel because sometimes it makes it greasy.Also many girls not just african americans, wear the tight ponytails ont he tops of their head( similar to cornrows) Is that an option?
Good luck to your dd and make sure you report back.

 

[carone0318]

Okay ladies - this Saturday will be my daughter's 1st meet.

We are an African American family so for all of you who have been doing this for a while can you tell me how other AA girls wear their hair? I know it must be in a ponytail but I was wondering what others have done.

She has very thin hair around the face which causes fly aways....so I know I will need to use gel.

Also since this is her 1st meet can you provide any advice to newbies to help prevent nervousness or anything you think would help her do her best!

Thanks
Nervous Mom

I think pulling her hair back and using gel will work just fine.

As for nervousness, I find that I am far more nervous that dd. I do my best not to let it show to her, at least! Our meets never seem to be close to us, so on the way, I let her watch a movie or play the DS. I really don't talk about gymnastics - let her coach do that. Let her know that you are proud of her and no matter what keep your chin up and have fun.

Good luck to your little gymmie!