Writing lines a punishment for sports

[Anonymous]

I’d pull her out and tell her she’s not mature enough for gymnastics but maybe she can try again in a year or so.

[Anonymous]

You are correct that writing lines is outdated and will be completely ineffective. Your daughter isn’t mature enough for this particular class. Sounds like she would prefer less structure like at a Little Gym or My Gym where the expectation is fun not skill. I’d put her in a different program for now. When she is more emotionally and socially mature, you can try more serious classes if she’s still interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d pull her out and tell her she’s not mature enough for gymnastics but maybe she can try again in a year or so.

Don’t shame the kid!
This isn’t the right fit for her right now- and that is fine. At her age, the class should be fun and engaging. If this coach is too firm with developmentally inappropriate expectations- move her to something she can feel good about and enjoy. I agree in helping kids meet expectations. But sometimes those expectations are not in line with a child’s development. Get her out of there! Find something that meets her where she is.

Wondering if you, the parent, we’re really in to gymnastics. And secretly hoping your kid would be too. Just because it isn’t a fit now, doesn’t mean it won’t always be. But forcing the issue is only going to backfire somewhere down the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d pull her out and tell her she’s not mature enough for gymnastics but maybe she can try again in a year or so.

Don’t shame the kid!
This isn’t the right fit for her right now- and that is fine. At her age, the class should be fun and engaging. If this coach is too firm with developmentally inappropriate expectations- move her to something she can feel good about and enjoy. I agree in helping kids meet expectations. But sometimes those expectations are not in line with a child’s development. Get her out of there! Find something that meets her where she is.

Wondering if you, the parent, we’re really in to gymnastics. And secretly hoping your kid would be too. Just because it isn’t a fit now, doesn’t mean it won’t always be. But forcing the issue is only going to backfire somewhere down the line.

Agree. This just isn’t for her, at this time. It does sound like she has some general behavior/attitude issues to work on, but it isn’t fair to have her class be a negative focus for her or for her is cause distractions in class

[Anonymous]

It sounds like this is a more serious instructor/class. If she wants to stay in this class, she needs to do a better job of listening. Maybe you need to remind her at the beginning of each class that her Coach has high expectations for her behavior and that she needs to listen, not do the silly things, and keep her hands to herself. Create a behavior chart for her, she gets a sticker each practice that the she does not get into trouble. After five stickers, she gets to choose a special treat like an ice cream.

But she needs to understand that her Coach has specific expectations for all the kids behavior. If she is not able to earn stickers, then she will need to move to a different program.

[Anonymous]

It’s an outdated approach, but I suspect it is also a last resort before kicking her off preterm because she’s not responding to anything else, is disrupting the class, and it creating safety issues for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Gymnastics is extremely strict, for good reason. If she made it to preteam, presumably she has some promise, physically, but they won't keep her if she lacks the social discipline to stand in line, wait her turn, keep her hands to herself, etc.

I don't know that written punishment is effective, but I do urge you to take the coach's concern seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d pull her out and tell her she’s not mature enough for gymnastics but maybe she can try again in a year or so.

I was just going to say this. She will be alienated soon by the other kids. This is not going to work out well for your kid unless you remove her and start later when she can behave. All actions have consequences. She needs to keep her hands to herself and be able to listen to a coach. You need parenting school. You are a profound enabler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d pull her out and tell her she’s not mature enough for gymnastics but maybe she can try again in a year or so.

Don’t shame the kid!
This isn’t the right fit for her right now- and that is fine. At her age, the class should be fun and engaging. If this coach is too firm with developmentally inappropriate expectations- move her to something she can feel good about and enjoy. I agree in helping kids meet expectations. But sometimes those expectations are not in line with a child’s development. Get her out of there! Find something that meets her where she is.

Wondering if you, the parent, we’re really in to gymnastics. And secretly hoping your kid would be too. Just because it isn’t a fit now, doesn’t mean it won’t always be. But forcing the issue is only going to backfire somewhere down the line.

Parent is making excuses - kid will never behave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising 1st grader is on a preteam at gymnastics and she loves it but isn’t always the best behaved. Doing cartwheels when she isn’t supposed to, getting on the trampoline, tickling other girls etc. Coach has had several conversation with her, had her sit out, and if so extra conditioning. Friday after practice she told me that she wants her to write “I will not good off at practice” 10 times at being it to the next practice because she just doesn’t seem to be taking the other reprimands seriously and the other girls on her team are not having this issue. I was kind of shocked by the request to make a 6yr old write lines for just silly behavior. My daughter absolutely loves the class and doesn’t not want to quit so I guess we will do the lines, but I feel this is really outdated and not going to be very effective.

Wont be long before the other kids hate her for being so very disruptive. She wont like the class much longer when that happens. Problem solved. Keep letting her do whatever she wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d pull her out and tell her she’s not mature enough for gymnastics but maybe she can try again in a year or so.

This. If all of the other same aged peers can follow directions and your kid can’t, it’s time to stop. Try again next year. Also, how is your child’s behavior at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gymnastics is extremely strict, for good reason. If she made it to preteam, presumably she has some promise, physically, but they won't keep her if she lacks the social discipline to stand in line, wait her turn, keep her hands to herself, etc.

I don't know that written punishment is effective, but I do urge you to take the coach's concern seriously.

Agree with this. For both safety reasons & to continue progress in the sport, gymnasts must be able to follow directions & exhibit self control & discipline. Though my coaches never made anyone write anything, lots of extra conditioning was a very normal consequence. I’d likely pull her out for a year then try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising 1st grader is on a preteam at gymnastics and she loves it but isn’t always the best behaved. Doing cartwheels when she isn’t supposed to, getting on the trampoline, tickling other girls etc. Coach has had several conversation with her, had her sit out, and if so extra conditioning. Friday after practice she told me that she wants her to write “I will not good off at practice” 10 times at being it to the next practice because she just doesn’t seem to be taking the other reprimands seriously and the other girls on her team are not having this issue. I was kind of shocked by the request to make a 6yr old write lines for just silly behavior. My daughter absolutely loves the class and doesn’t not want to quit so I guess we will do the lines, but I feel this is really outdated and not going to be very effective.

Writing lines may or may not be effective as a disciplinary mechanism, but it is a disciplinary mechanism that hopefully makes it clear to YOU, the parent, that your daughter's behavior is a significant issue and you need to figure out how you can help the coaches get her on track.

I have had a six year old that I could drop off at an activity in complete confidence that she would be well behaved. I posted a lot of DCUM comments at her events.

I have another six year old that I need to be all over like white on rice to keep her on track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gymnastics is extremely strict, for good reason. If she made it to preteam, presumably she has some promise, physically, but they won't keep her if she lacks the social discipline to stand in line, wait her turn, keep her hands to herself, etc.

I don't know that written punishment is effective, but I do urge you to take the coach's concern seriously.

Agree with this. For both safety reasons & to continue progress in the sport, gymnasts must be able to follow directions & exhibit self control & discipline. Though my coaches never made anyone write anything, lots of extra conditioning was a very normal consequence. I’d likely pull her out for a year then try again.

+1 pull her out from preterm and maybe sign up for open gym time. Some gyms have weekly open gym. She can have fun for a couple of hours using gym.

She is repeatedly disruptive and taking away coaches attention during practice. It’s not safe and not fair for other girls. They will be moving up to competition team and need to learn routines this summer for upcoming meet season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you go to practice? Once she starts with her nonsense, you take her out of class and take her home. If you have to take her out 3 times, she's out of gymnastics for the year. The coach wants to show that she means business and you have to do the same.

+1 on this.
Either your child figures out that you are serious and stops the behavior, or she doesn't and you decide that she is not mature enough for the class. Either way, this behavior can't continue.