Anonymous
Post 07/12/2013 23:24     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
At our gym, you can express interest informally in conversation, but the coaches pick the kids they think are right for the team track.

Yes, boys can start much later than girls. Boys don't peak until their early 20s, while girls need to be pretty close to level 10 by age 12 or 13 to be on target for even getting on a college team.

That being said, one local gym had a girl who started at age 11 and made it all the way to elite. Anything is possible with the right body and dedication.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2013 22:47     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
Do you sign up for pre-team on the competitive track in gymnastics or ar you "tapped" to join the pre-team? At the gym my DD goes to the pre-team info is not posted anywhere.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2013 22:14     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
It's worth it only if you have the body type. Otherwise, you're better off pursuing other sports, mentally, emotionally and especially physically.

Signed- my relative was a gymnastics medalist in the Olympics
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2013 21:18     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Question from a 'newbie': DC has been taking gymnastics casually and 'for fun' for several years on and off but has always had an interest and some proficiency. In order to compete at the USAG or MDL level, would a gymnast have to have 'started' the level of serious practice I'm reading about here at a much younger age (DC will be 8 this year)? I don't want to encourage the interest in pre-team and team if, frankly, there is no chance that DC will ultimately end up participating at that level. This isn't about protecting a snowflake -- this is about whether DC would learn as much and enjoy the sport as much if she were strictly taking classes 'for fun' as opposed to taking classes with a potential aim of participating in a team. My bottom-line question is whether starting training/preparing seriously at age 8 can lead at all to participating in a competitive team. TIA


My son was 9 when he started and competes at the USAG level. He progressed very rapidly. It's a huge commitment though - 14 hours a week in the gym minimum, often more, plus another 2 of private coaching.


8 is not too old of she is talented, though she will likely be on preteam with younger girls at first. But it's probably easier for boys to start later.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2013 20:28     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
Thank you for the replies!
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2013 11:14     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
Anonymous wrote:Question from a 'newbie': DC has been taking gymnastics casually and 'for fun' for several years on and off but has always had an interest and some proficiency. In order to compete at the USAG or MDL level, would a gymnast have to have 'started' the level of serious practice I'm reading about here at a much younger age (DC will be 8 this year)? I don't want to encourage the interest in pre-team and team if, frankly, there is no chance that DC will ultimately end up participating at that level. This isn't about protecting a snowflake -- this is about whether DC would learn as much and enjoy the sport as much if she were strictly taking classes 'for fun' as opposed to taking classes with a potential aim of participating in a team. My bottom-line question is whether starting training/preparing seriously at age 8 can lead at all to participating in a competitive team. TIA


Yes, absolutely, if she has the motivation (and a little bit of talent to go with it), she can definitely compete. And if a gym tells you that she can't, go elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2013 22:09     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
Anonymous wrote:Question from a 'newbie': DC has been taking gymnastics casually and 'for fun' for several years on and off but has always had an interest and some proficiency. In order to compete at the USAG or MDL level, would a gymnast have to have 'started' the level of serious practice I'm reading about here at a much younger age (DC will be 8 this year)? I don't want to encourage the interest in pre-team and team if, frankly, there is no chance that DC will ultimately end up participating at that level. This isn't about protecting a snowflake -- this is about whether DC would learn as much and enjoy the sport as much if she were strictly taking classes 'for fun' as opposed to taking classes with a potential aim of participating in a team. My bottom-line question is whether starting training/preparing seriously at age 8 can lead at all to participating in a competitive team. TIA


My son was 9 when he started and competes at the USAG level. He progressed very rapidly. It's a huge commitment though - 14 hours a week in the gym minimum, often more, plus another 2 of private coaching.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2013 22:03     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
Question from a 'newbie': DC has been taking gymnastics casually and 'for fun' for several years on and off but has always had an interest and some proficiency. In order to compete at the USAG or MDL level, would a gymnast have to have 'started' the level of serious practice I'm reading about here at a much younger age (DC will be 8 this year)? I don't want to encourage the interest in pre-team and team if, frankly, there is no chance that DC will ultimately end up participating at that level. This isn't about protecting a snowflake -- this is about whether DC would learn as much and enjoy the sport as much if she were strictly taking classes 'for fun' as opposed to taking classes with a potential aim of participating in a team. My bottom-line question is whether starting training/preparing seriously at age 8 can lead at all to participating in a competitive team. TIA
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2013 19:18     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
I am enjoying reading these posts. Gymnastics, like any sport, has its positive attributes and dangers. Some coaches may create greater risks by allowing kids to move onto more difficult skills more quickly. This strategy of moving gymnasts up quickly is what is necessary to move to the highest levels -- particularly since females age out of gymnastics by their teenage years. However, gymnastics is a great sport to develop strength, flexibility, time management, focus, concentration, overcoming fear, and many other life skills. There are gyms that have trained Olympic athletes and others that focus on foundational and life skills, others that create a very familial environment without much focus on gymnastics. Before you visit gyms, figure out what is best for you and your child. The most important thing is to find the best match. Choosing a gym that is too difficult or too easy might turn your child off of the sport.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 08:54     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So you are saying that you really want your daughter to do this? (the Korbut flip). How much of this is you being a dance mom and pushing your kid to do dangerous maneuvers? This is another concussion waiting to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZYPcdj_wn4


You seem to be missing the point. NO ONE DOES THIS ANY MORE. I don't really care one way or another because bars has evolved in a different direction, that isn't compatible with this skill, and that is why it is not in the current code. I'm really not sure why posters on this thread are obsessed with it. Concussions aren't a serious problem in gymnastics as compared to other sports like football, but there are elements of comparable and greater difficulty (and therefore risk) to the Korbut flip being performed today. Much more complex releases. If you want to hysterically panic about risks, then what you're looking at more realistically is elbow dislocation, not concussions. And elbow dislocation is a terrible injury in someone over preschool age, so I'm not pulling any punches here. I'm a realistic person. Injuries are a part of this sport, but they're also part of every other sport done on a comparable level. I just don't understand hysterical posts about nonsense about how dangerous Korbut flips are. That's not even applicable to anything. If your hypothesis was true (and it's not, because again, the real issue is that FIG bars have evolved in another direction) it would only prove anyway that gymnastics associations are risk averse and constantly evolving in their risk management practices (this is true anyway).


Seriously. If the Korbut flip makes you nervous, you obviously have been out of the sport for a very, very long time. You have also obviously never been exposed to men's gymnastics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzon3x9BV8Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player
...and men in gymnastics have significantly fewer injuries than women.

Doing a back handspring on the uneven bars is more of a circus trick than a gymnastics skill.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 00:34     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
Yes. Level A is the first competitive level of Mason Dixon. My DD is excited about competing in the fall and knows she needs to hit the gym this summer to get her skills. We are all very supportive of her -- it's a huge commitment but she loves it.
Anonymous
Post 06/16/2013 23:49     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
Anonymous wrote:So you are saying that you really want your daughter to do this? (the Korbut flip). How much of this is you being a dance mom and pushing your kid to do dangerous maneuvers? This is another concussion waiting to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZYPcdj_wn4


You seem to be missing the point. NO ONE DOES THIS ANY MORE. I don't really care one way or another because bars has evolved in a different direction, that isn't compatible with this skill, and that is why it is not in the current code. I'm really not sure why posters on this thread are obsessed with it. Concussions aren't a serious problem in gymnastics as compared to other sports like football, but there are elements of comparable and greater difficulty (and therefore risk) to the Korbut flip being performed today. Much more complex releases. If you want to hysterically panic about risks, then what you're looking at more realistically is elbow dislocation, not concussions. And elbow dislocation is a terrible injury in someone over preschool age, so I'm not pulling any punches here. I'm a realistic person. Injuries are a part of this sport, but they're also part of every other sport done on a comparable level. I just don't understand hysterical posts about nonsense about how dangerous Korbut flips are. That's not even applicable to anything. If your hypothesis was true (and it's not, because again, the real issue is that FIG bars have evolved in another direction) it would only prove anyway that gymnastics associations are risk averse and constantly evolving in their risk management practices (this is true anyway).
Anonymous
Post 06/15/2013 09:51     Subject: Re:Competitive gymnastics
The wacky, crazy competitive gymnast, professional ballerina brain surgeon is baaaackkkk...

I think she needs to find some corn
Anonymous
Post 06/15/2013 01:02     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
Please view. Something, indeed, has to give in the field of "women's" (really girl's) gymnastics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swc6p9X5f_M
Anonymous
Post 06/14/2013 14:30     Subject: Competitive gymnastics
Anonymous wrote:Looks like somebody hit their head one too many times!


Haha! It is all that stress from going from competitive gymnastics to a professional ballet career to a career as a brain surgeon.

Poor think! What kind of tiger mom did she have? She never had a chance, did she