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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What's the hurry with making these little children compete? Let them have their childhood. Why not?[/quote]

My DS played Blastball at age 4, think of it as pre t-ball. They had a weekly practice and a game. They enjoyed the game. There are kids on summer swim teams at 5, some participate in swim meets. We can talk soccer, hockey and a lot more sports. If a child is enjoying a sport, they are going to learn lessons about practice, perseverance, team work, effort, and good sportsmanship. That is not ruining their childhood, that is helping them develop good life skills in a fun way while getting in good exercise.

And some kids show signs of being above average to excellent at a sport at any early age. DS has friends playing travel soccer at 7. He has another friend, 7, who is on a demonstration team for her Tae Kwon Do dojo and is in a more advanced ballet class. Both of them enjoy their activities and asked to participate. They know that it means more practice and being more focused at practice. Their parents take the attitude as long as you like it and are taking the extra work seriously, it is fine.

[b]Gymnastics is no different. If a child shows real interest, which probably means they are paying attention in class and not goofing off and making an effort, they might be given the chance to try a more serious program/class. [/b]

If it fits the families lifestyle and the family can afford it and the kid is interested, why not?

DS, 7, has not shown the same level of interest. He enjoys baseball but doesn't ask to play in the back yard or shown any interest in travel teams. And I am fine with that. He enjoys tennis, basketball, and soccer in the same way. We are good with that. Who knows if his level of interest will change, we will make a decision then.

But encouraging a child to participate in a sport that has a bit more commitment and competition is not taking away their child hood, it is listening to them and following their lead. And there is nothing wrong with that.[/quote]

Gymnastics is different because it’s such an isolating sport.  Most high schools don’t have competitive teams.  Being a competitive gymnast sometimes means not even attending school.  Have you ever heard of a HS soccer playing being homeschooled for soccer?

Also gymnastics is a spot you can only do for a number of years.  It’s a sport for young girls.  How many other sports are like this?  There are plenty of sports you can enjoy your entire life.  
[/quote]

You are totally exaggerating.  Yes, there are extremely intense programs and those people can choose to homeschool, but that's only for the elite level.  Around here, there are tons of programs that are nothing like that.  99% of competitive gymnasts attend normal school.  And it's not isolating, because you are with your team and in my experience so far, the fellow gymnasts are an exceedingly kind group of girls.

Also, most high schools around here offer gymnastics as a high school sport.

OP, is your gymnastics club Capital?  That contract does sound like overkill.  We are at Chantilly Academy and it's a very nurturing environment.[/quote]

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