DD and Gymnastics, Yet Again

[Peacock]

Update on my DD and her gymnastics! We found out it's too late to pull her out of "zones", the last meet, so she has one tomorrow (Sat.) and one more after that. I'd hoped that today could've been her last practice, but it looks like we're in for another couple weeks. We were all sad -- her, especially. She does truly love gymnastics.

BUT I made a terrific discovery today!!! There's a gym nearby that has a competitive team that practices TWO HOURS A WEEK. Is that amazing or what? Let me repeat that -- ONE DAY A WEEK FOR TWO HOURS. And they COMPETE! At USAG meets! DD was practicing 3 days a week, 2 1/2 hours each. This is the same price - or half price, considering the YMCA membership we won't need anymore. All the fun and prestige for less than 1/3 the time and work. And boys' classes too! Oh, we are SO there.

One might ask, though, is this still a bit of denial, or postponing the inevitable? I was almost sighing in relief that she was quitting gymnastics altogether...but still felt a bit guilty. I mean, for a kid to have done something for half her life and then give it up? That's big. No, she's not going to be an Olympian. So what? It pleases her, keeps her physically fit, and reduces the chances that she'll indulge in something unhealthy due to peer pressure when she's older.

This place also has an all-star elite cheer squad, and she could do that for the same price. Tryouts are 4/27-28 and I've been told they don't require any more tumbling expertise than DD can already do well - the potential sticking point is the "back tuck" which DD can do on a trampoline but not on a mat, but at her age they only require back handsprings, which she's been doing since age 7. But cheer? You know, it's such a snooty sport. But if you think those girls aren't real athletes, you haven't watched an all-star squad lately. Amazing.

Whatever she decides!

[AngieM2]

edayna - well, now isn't that a neat discovery. The best of both solutions in one.! And maybe as she gets a bit older, she may want to cheer.

My youngest, the one that stopped skating, did Cheering for two years in middle school. And they work hard, and have lots of discpline also.

Good for finding the middle ground.

Angie

[Christine in OK]

Edayna, my sister-in-law did gymnastics and then cheered - in middle school, in high school, and then in college. It paid off when she hit college. The cheerleaders travel with the team quite a bit - she's seen Hawaii, New York City, Florida repeatedly, been to Canada (where's the big amusement park that's nothing but roller coasters?), and somewhere in Mexico (the place is escaping name at the moment).

But her school paid for every bit of it. She even made money off the New York City trip (sweet 16 in basketball), as they gave everyone a stipend of $50/day for food, and she didn't use all of hers.

[hmsteader71]

I am glad you were able to find an alternative squad. We were not fortunate enough to have that happen. Her coach wanted to quit the YMCA and start a senior squad if she could have got enough interested in doing it. But, it didn't work out. Now, my daughter doesn't tumble or cheer at all. Sometimes I miss the cheer competitions, but other times I don't miss it at all.

[Maura]

My dd was a cheerleader. Some of the girls were snobs, some weren't. What I didn't like about cheerleading is that it went on throughout most of the school year, starting with football and then basketball, and then cheerleading competition.

[caroline00]

it sounds like she can keep doing something that she loves and you can still have some family time! You did good!

[Christine in OK]

Just a warning though. My nephew's wife went to high school with my sister-in-law. Cheered all through school and graduated together. (My nephew went to the same school, but is 2 years younger, just FYI) Becca never made it to cheer in college, because by the time she got there she had pins in her ankle from problems. Cheering is very hard on the joints and bones, so beware of injuries and encourage her to take care of herself.

I remember about 6 years ago watching my sister-in-law coach one of her husband's all-star squads (he's a coach, cheered with Sissy in college). After watching one of the girls do a full-layout combination, I asked her if she could still do that; she said yes! but the next day her back hurt and her knees hurt and her neck hurt....

[Hears The Water]

E. I thought of you today, as I was sitting at Bailey's meet in our hometown. My hiney is still sore! I am glad that you found an alternative for your family. I understand were you are coming from with the whole "do I let her or not" thing. Bailey wanted to quit halfway through this year, but I made her finish and I am glad that I did. Did she have high scores? No, but she participated in something taht she loves and learned how to keep her commitments. I am waffeling back and forth about next year though. Bailey's first coach lives just up the road from me and she came to the meet today. She has agreed to take Baiely to her gym every Monday to work on her areas that need it, for free. So were you just reduced your dd's gym time, Bailey just raised her by three more hours. So that is 9 hours a week total! We will see how she does.

Just in case some of you are wondering... Edayna's and my dd's are both on Y teams, same level and even have the same routines with the same music. How fun is that? Glad to hear that things are working out for y'all!
God bless you and yours
Deb

[Peacock]

Originally Posted by Hears The Water

Just in case some of you are wondering... Edayna's and my dd's are both on Y teams, same level and even have the same routines with the same music. How fun is that? Glad to hear that things are working out for y'all!

LOL - Every level 5 has the same USAG routine and the same music. It is pretty neat that we can share this, though!

How did Bailey do? Is she going to Zones, or is she done now?

LOL about the sore hiney -- I bring my own folding chairs when I can. Much more comfy than those bleachers.

Our team had a really good meet yesterday. Lauren did great, but still didn't place very high; lots of competition this year. Their level earned 1st place in the team award! And the coaches are giving them pizza tomorrow night at practice because nobody in level 5 fell on their beam routines!

Her old team was there too and they placed right about the same, if not higher -- they only practiced 4-5 hours a week while DD is practicing 8 1/2 now. Proof that more practice doesn't necessarily make for a better gymnast.

I'm expecting that at this private gym, if we're paying a higher rate for fewer practices (which is still half what we pay now) their coaching will be more intense - more one on one time, less waiting in line. Just a theory. We shall see! I'm taking her to a practice on Tuesday so we can observe.