x

[cati]

xx

 

[Beanie]

I don't know anything about this, but just bumping it up for you!!

I hope someone can help you out with this question!

 

[maci]

Well all kids are so different, there is really no way to say how long it would take.

I think if your daughter is having fun, then let her go 2x a week!

I am not sure about girls, but I know that boys can not compete until they are 6.

 

[cati]

xx

 

[maci]

Probably Level 5, maybe 6. Most kids start competing at level 5.

 

[cati]

xx

 

[Papa Deuce]

I have no idea about any of this, but my 3 1/2 yr old twins are going 1x a week. They have been to about 8 sessions in total. I'm not expecting much improvement at such a young age but I am surprised that they seem to do almost the exact same things every week.

I'm just looking for them to do something different so that they don't get bored. Should they be doing new things by now?

And the only other thing I know is that their instructor was on the Romanian Olympic team at some point in her life.

 

[maci]

Yes they do do routines. Each level has a set of skills that are required to have in each routine.

Papadeuce: When they are young, they do do alot of the same things over and over again. It is such a cummulative sport that, you cant move forward til you have learned the basics. Alot of the repeation also helps build up strength that some skills can not be accomplished with out.
BUT, it is up to the coach to continue to make the basics excting and keep the kids having fun!!

 

[cati]

xx

 

[Papa Deuce]

Cati, that sounds a lot like what we do. First they sit in a circle for five minutes and do a few bridges. Then they walk a balance beam and do a short obstacle course, for lack of a better term.

Then it is on to the long skinny trampoline, which each kid gets to do about three times. They do a 1,2,3 STOP routine.

Then they go back for sticker time. That's about it. I just want to make sure they are having fun and right now they seem a little bored.

 

[cati]

Ixx

 

[Buckalew11]

I have 2 nieces into gymnastics. One is 8 and either a level 4 or 5. She is really the one with more potential as the other one isn't a very intense kind of girl (which is fine BTW--she's having a lot of fun). They both do gymnastics 4 days a week after school for 4 hours a day! (Too much IMHO) Then either on Sat. or Sun. they are at the gym or competing. The 10 yo is a level 5. At that stage she does something called "pre-op" where she chooses her own music and they hire a choreographer for her routine. Up until then the kids all use the same music and do the same routine. UGH! That music, over and over, girl after girl! LOL Both girls having been doing gymnastics since they were about 3 or 4. They still like it even though that is about all they get to do--they know no other life so... On the other hand, my sister has 2 other children who aren't in gymnastics. I wish the 2 of them got the attention that the other got but that is an entirely different thread!

 

[KathiWithAnI]

Actually girls can start competing around age 3 *IF* your gym takes girls to level 2 competitions... level 2 is really, really basic and most gyms don't bother until a girl is level 4 or 5. This is usually around age 6/7 for a level 4. Not to say you can't be older, just depends when you start and how much you practice!

And the long trampoline thing is called a tumble track.

I teach the preschool age classes and yes, we do repeat a lot week after week for the reasons that maci stated.
And maci is right about the boys not going until 6. Boys need SO much upper body strength. Boys can compete in fun meets at younger ages. Most of the responses here have referred to compulsory meets.

Hope that helps.
Kathi

 

[missypie]

My DD (9 tomorrow) competed as a level 4 last year and is training for Level 5 - she will start competing as a level 5 in a few months. When she was 3 or 4 and taking regular recreational gymnastics classes, the gym saw potential and asked if we would put her in the "Hot Shots" class that met for 1 1/2 hours (instead of 1), twice a week. We agreed to the 1 1/2 hours, but only once a week because it conflicted with something else. By about age 6 she was on the "training team", going two hours at a time, twice a week. As a level 4 last year she was going 3 days a week, 2 hours at a time. At the end of last season they were bumped up to 3 hours at a time, them up to 4 days a week, which is where she is now. (12 hours a week; she finally had to drop soccer.)

They compete at Level 4 up to Level 10, then Elite (the gymnasts you see on TV are Elites). If you or your DD really have "ambition" she needs to be a Level 4 by about 7 years old, in order to progess to Elite by age 14 or so. (Of course, if she has extraordinary talent, she could progess faster.) But with that said, there are Level 4s who are 6 and level 4s who are 11. DD is in third grade and there are a couple of girls in her Level 5 group who are in 7th grade. Some girls spend 6 months at one level; others spend 2 years at that level.

 

[bcvprincesses]

All gyms are different. Here in Michigan we have fun meets for level 4 so there is no age limit. My 5 year old is level 4. Next year she will still have to be a level 4 because you have to be 7 to be a level 5. The 4's have 11 hours a week at the gym with one hour a week for dance. She loves it and would like to live there. My best suggestion is to find a meet that your team will be going to and go and watch. It is amazing what these kids can do. We have great coaches that really love the kids. Let me know if you have any other questions

 

[KathiWithAnI]

Also, if you do a search, your state probably has a gymnastics website.... that is a great place to start reading up on anything you want to know.,.... there is so MUCH to learn to understand.
You could also look into your region's website or even the usa gymnastics website here

 

[cati]

xx