Competitive gymnastics

[Anonymous]

Dynamite's competitive program is relatively new. There were a handful of girls that competed last year at Level 4 and it looks like they have recruited a much bigger crop for next year.

[Anonymous]

Will people please stop sock-puppeting Dynamite... they are not the only gym in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

As far as I can tell, the main difference between USAG and MDL at the lower levels is in MDL there is no compulsory round. Our gym has the girls do MDL until they get to USAG level 7, then they switch to USAG.

My daughter is in the middle of her MDL years and practices 3 times per week at 3.5 hours a pop. My other competitive athlete, who is younger, also pratices three times a week, but those practices right now are 1.5 hours each. At the moment, gymnastics is a much bigger commitment time-wise, the meets are farther away, and it is more expensive than my younger child's sport. But the gymnastics kid loves gymnastics and the younger kid loves his sport, so I would never try to steer one towards the other. Our kids picked their sports themselves.

If your kid wants to do it, then you do it if you can. But be aware, too, the more hard core gyms also carry risks. One of our cousins had to bench her daughter for the season with many tears all around. She was competing at the USAG 5 level and, because of the rigorous practice schedule at that gym, was at serious risk for a stress fracture of the spine.

Same for our gym... the basic difference is MDL not compulsory at the lower levels (as mentioned) and MDL has 4 levels (A,B,C,D) that span USAG levels (4,5,6). [To note there has be a recent change in the USAG levels system, so my comments are in regard to the last year’s system. ] Our gym typically has the girls do their qualifiers in USAG Lvl 5 and 6 after level MDL Lvl D, but some girls opt to do it earlier. It is interesting to see the girls from the different gyms in MDL perform the various level skills and thankfully different music for floor ex. Our DD is in 6th grade and is at the gym is 3 days a week for MDL Lvl C and it goes to 4 days for Lvl D next year. She has a great group of friends on the team who are in 5th/6th grade from all over MD/DC/VA. Some girls are in at a very high level in USAG at younger ages, 3rd and 4th graders that are USAG Lvl 6 and 7 or higher– those are Elite track gymnasts will be trying for the Olympic qualifiers. But, then again they’re practicing a lot more…more akin to very advanced ballet students at a similar age.

As others have said gymnasts generally tend to be very focused, advanced academically and pretty balanced. MDL, for our family, has allowed DD to do some extracurriclars at school and gymnastics and still maintain her grades. We also have taken her to some high school meets and she sees that she already has more skills that some of the girls on her future high school’s team. She also takes amusing pride at being the strongest kid in her class (boy or girl) at President’s physical fitness tests, which kinda embarrasses the “jock” boys...and, yes, by 6th grade you have them.

As far as gyms go, I won’t get into a this’s and that’s about which gym, but a lot of gyms in Maryland to have MDL [ see MDL website here: www.masondixongymnastics.com ]. Some gyms have both USAG and MDL for students at the same age, others have MDL and transition to USAG at Level 7. I would check out the gyms that would be an easy trip distance-wise, has clear rules and whose coaching approach you agree. One thing we like about our gym is the focus on conditioning first and the balance of building up skills. Also, at least for our competitive level the parents aren’t too crazy and get along well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will people please stop sock-puppeting Dynamite... they are not the only gym in Maryland.

Could you tell us about other gyms then?

[Anonymous]

Of course some these kids go to prep op programs, but anecdotally speaking many of them quit for other sports that aren't such a big time, emotional, physical commitment.

Many people aren't cut out for gymnastics, and even less are cut out for high level gymnastics. Prep op programs are a good alternative.

It appears that Mason Dixon League is effectively the P.R.E.P.-Optional program for Maryland even if it isn't officially USAG. In Virginia they call the USAG P.R.E.P.-Optional the Virginia All Stars Optional Program and the link is here: http://vausag.com/virginia-all-stars-optional-program .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will people please stop sock-puppeting Dynamite... they are not the only gym in Maryland.

It's not sock puppeting if it's different people, which I suspect it is. Whether you like it or not, Dynamite has one of the largest programs around, with a lot of different options for classes and teams. But there are certainly other gyms, and especially for parents of competitive kids, I always advise checking out whichever gyms they would reasonably consider for their kids. Not every program is right for every kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Of course some these kids go to prep op programs, but anecdotally speaking many of them quit for other sports that aren't such a big time, emotional, physical commitment.

Many people aren't cut out for gymnastics, and even less are cut out for high level gymnastics. Prep op programs are a good alternative.

It appears that Mason Dixon League is effectively the P.R.E.P.-Optional program for Maryland even if it isn't officially USAG. In Virginia they call the USAG P.R.E.P.-Optional the Virginia All Stars Optional Program and the link is here: http://vausag.com/virginia-all-stars-optional-program .

That is true, but next season MD most likely move to the national system called Excel. ( although they might have spelled it a dumb way , can't remember). This will make 5 levels. VA currently has just 3 All Star levels. VA will adopt the national program ( I'm in the industry but there's a lot of state variation and I'm in VA not MD).

[Anonymous]

What is Excel? Is this an alternative to USAG?

[Anonymous]

OP, U of MD has a one-week day and residential gymnastic camp the last week of July and also the first week of August. From what I understand, kuds are broken into groups dependent on their ability. Maryland takes their sports seriously so this might be a good opportunity to get some competitive insight.

It might be full at this late date but if interested, I would encourage you to go to their sports camps website and contact them for the waitlist. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

PP here. Kids not kuds. It's almost 2:30am so this is what you get. Yawn......

[Anonymous]

Old competitive gymnast here. All the information you are receiving above is correct. I may have missed it because I read the thread quickly (it is getting late) but what is your daughter's age? Weight? Build? I have a slightly different response than the others because competitive gymnastics, like ballet, has evolved so much in just the last 20 years that you have to be realistic about whether or not your daughter has the right body type and physique to be a real competitor. The same is true with ballet. Gymnasts must be short, tightly built, narrow hips, strong arms, and very flexible body. I became too tall so had to quit. Look at all the gymnasts who won at the Olympics and check their size. Or go to local gymnastic school and evaluate (I go to Gymini in Herndon). The good gymnasts and tiny dynamos. If your daughter doesn't have the physical components necessary for the sport, I just wouldn't push it. Unless, however, she just really really enjoys it and you are willing to do all the driving and pay all the fees. But if she doesn't have the right body type, she won't go far and that includes competition at the lower levels as well.

The other comment I would like to add (and the moms above may disagree with me) but I think, like competitive cheerleading, the sport has simply become too dangerous. You are probably not old enough to remember this but Olga Korbut won with a perfect ten by doing a now-outlawed move (called, naturally, "The Korbut) where she crawled up to the top of the uneven parallel bars and did an entire backflip in the air and caught the top bar and then continued her routine. Had she not caught the bar she could have broken her neck. I was also in Atlanta when we hosted the summer olympics when Carey Struggs (right name?) did the three backflips on the beam and missed the last one and injured herself. That's another way to break your neck.

I recently met a cheerleader "flyer" who trains at gymini and she suffered a bad concussion when doing a flip and wasn't caught by the other cheerleaders.

For these reasons, I let my son and daughter take gymnastics until they got to the point where it was clear they no longer had the short, petite, compact body required for the sport and they moved on to other activities. I would not want either of them to have become professional athletes because of the dangers involved for both sexes. I've seen too many injuries. That's just my personal take on it. Thirty years ago when I competed it was still dangerous (back flips on beam, etc.) but now the skill level demanded of the athletes is so extreme that I really wouldn't want my kids risking their necks for a sport.

Also, the girls (and men, too, but more often the girls) develop severe eating disorders because of necessity to keep thin and smart. And I imagine you all know that gymnasts get their periods later in life because of the stress they are putting on their bodies during training. Anyone remember the difference in Nadia Comenich (sp) between the first Olympics and the second. Yes, the Russians and the Romanians were using drugs to keep the girls small (China, too) but puberty eventually does catch up with these girls and the rapid growth spurt when that happens is not healthy. Olga and Nadia didn't even look like the same gymnasts four years after their first Olympics. Well, take that for what it's worth.

Double yawn here.

[Anonymous]

Dynamite has Mason Dixon as well as USAG. Their MD team practices 2 or 3 days a week, you can choose, for 4 hours each day. My DD is getting ready to move up the their level A team which won the championship meet this year. They have several different coaches and I was told that my DD could compete in USAG if she had the requisite skills, although I don't think that we want to go that route -- too much off a time commitment and too intense. You may want to look at several gyms to see if there is a good group for your DD and that she likes the coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The other comment I would like to add (and the moms above may disagree with me) but I think, like competitive cheerleading, the sport has simply become too dangerous. You are probably not old enough to remember this but Olga Korbut won with a perfect ten by doing a now-outlawed move (called, naturally, "The Korbut) where she crawled up to the top of the uneven parallel bars and did an entire backflip in the air and caught the top bar and then continued her routine. Had she not caught the bar she could have broken her neck. I was also in Atlanta when we hosted the summer olympics when Carey Struggs (right name?) did the three backflips on the beam and missed the last one and injured herself. That's another way to break your neck.

I recently met a cheerleader "flyer" who trains at gymini and she suffered a bad concussion when doing a flip and wasn't caught by the other cheerleaders.

. . .

Also, the girls (and men, too, but more often the girls) develop severe eating disorders because of necessity to keep thin and smart. And I imagine you all know that gymnasts get their periods later in life because of the stress they are putting on their bodies during training. Anyone remember the difference in Nadia Comenich (sp) between the first Olympics and the second. Yes, the Russians and the Romanians were using drugs to keep the girls small (China, too) but puberty eventually does catch up with these girls and the rapid growth spurt when that happens is not healthy. Olga and Nadia didn't even look like the same gymnasts four years after their first Olympics. Well, take that for what it's worth.

Double yawn here.

Mom of an Acrobatics gymnastics "top" here. It's scary as he'll when your kids get to the higher levels. There are tons of injuries each year, most of which don't wipe kids out for the season, but some do. As to eating disorders, I've heard the same thing, but I have not seen it personally. The kids actually eat really well and are in good weight range.

[Anonymous]

Eating disorders...haven't seen it. We have after meet get togethers and the girls are eating more than most of the adults... My DD will happily polish off a full adult steak or ribs dinner given the opporunity and she's 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dynamite has Mason Dixon as well as USAG. Their MD team practices 2 or 3 days a week, you can choose, for 4 hours each day. My DD is getting ready to move up the their level A team which won the championship meet this year. They have several different coaches and I was told that my DD could compete in USAG if she had the requisite skills, although I don't think that we want to go that route -- too much off a time commitment and too intense. You may want to look at several gyms to see if there is a good group for your DD and that she likes the coaches.

Is level A the first level? Do you mean she is getting ready to compete?