Since gymnastics has become an important part of my family's life, I've heard many stories shared by parents of other gymnasts. Most had to switch gyms at least once.
... I opened my iPhone Yelp application while my daughter was splashing in the pool at her swimming class and typed "Gymnastics". There were a few gyms in the area, but for some reason a 15-mile-away one popped out first. I called them and said that we are looking to join their pre-team. They said to bring my girl to their pre-team trials being held only three days later. Bingo!
...And it didn't go well. All the other girls looked so much stronger (and a little older) than her. The gym itself was a wow compared to our old gym. Bright, spacious, and ...packed. There were about 12 girls trying to get in, and they had 8 spots. My baby couldn't do a push-up, a chin-up, or a back walkover. Bummer!
I observed the gym: the team girls of various ages looked really strong and well-shaped. But what did I know! I was about to start calling other gyms, when I got a call from the coach saying that my daughter got it. I was relieved, thankful, and a little surprised. I was also honest, and said that from what I saw, my girl looked the weakest. The coach reassured me that she is strong enough, flexible, but most importantly COACHABLE. I trusted her.
... And then it all started...
Our Gymnastics Story Part 3: Pre-team invitation. Yes, it finally happened!
A week after I had inquired about the pre-team, my daughter recreational coach approached me, and asked me if I would be interested in having my daughter evaluated by the team coach. I couldn't believe my ears, as it was exactly what I've been dreaming of the whole week. I gladly accepted, and towards the end of class, the teenager-like looking girl grabbed my baby, took her to the back of the gym, picked her up, and had her grab the tall bar above. My little gymnast pointed her toes (those ballet-developed habit), and... that was it. The team coach came up to me, introduced herself and said, " I'd loooove to have her on my pre-team". That was it. We got it!
I adored the team coach, mostly because her girls looked so good on the beam, that itt made me want to cry.I imagined my baby on it, tall and graceful, a few years later.
The said news was that the team coach left the city and headed down the state after she got offered a coaching position in a different gym, and we haven't seen her again nor got an opportunity to be coached by her. Instead, our pre-team coach, who looked even more like a teenager, appeared to be seemingly inexperienced, although very sweet. It wasn't too bad, but my daughter's progress wasn't much evident. And then we found a house about 20 miles away, outside of the city, and moved.
...To Be Continued...
I adored the team coach, mostly because her girls looked so good on the beam, that itt made me want to cry.I imagined my baby on it, tall and graceful, a few years later.
The said news was that the team coach left the city and headed down the state after she got offered a coaching position in a different gym, and we haven't seen her again nor got an opportunity to be coached by her. Instead, our pre-team coach, who looked even more like a teenager, appeared to be seemingly inexperienced, although very sweet. It wasn't too bad, but my daughter's progress wasn't much evident. And then we found a house about 20 miles away, outside of the city, and moved.
...To Be Continued...
Our Gymnastics Story Part 2: DISCOVERY OF COMPULSORY GYMNASTICS
I walked into the gym off-hours to sign up for a make-up class, and then I saw it. Six girls around the age of 10 were on the beam doing skills that made me think of Cirque Du Soleil.
Our Gymnastics Story Part 1: HOW GYMNASTICS HYSTERIA HAS BEGUN
My daughter's artistic gymnastics journey started when she was five and a half. One rainy morning I woke up with a feeling that it's time for her to embrace sports. My approach, however, wasn't standard. Instead of signing up my 5-year-old for different types of sports, I pulled out my iPad, opened the YouTube app, and searched for every activity I could think of: tennis, ballet, boxing (as suggested by her daddy:), karate, ballroom dancing, softball, and gymnastics. My daughter loved ballet, and said that she wanted to learn to dance in those gorgeous shiny dresses. But that was until she tapped on one of suggested links that by pure accident appeared to be about gymnastics. After she saw a then popular video of a 9-year-old girl
Artistic Gymnastics: from Recreational to Compulsory. Girls.
Gymnastics is a gracious, elegant, beautiful sport that requires focus, time, commitment, and, well, money. And unless you already have some experience with gymnastics, you wouldn't know being in the team is like or how to even get there.
When you decide to enroll your daughter for gymnastics, they usually place her
in one of the recreational classes depending on her age and abilities. Most start with the basics and then gradually move up. At the 2 gyms we went to those recreational classes were named "girls 1", "girls 2", and "girls 3", or in other words beginner, intermediate and advanced. They offered a few age-based classes for each level. I have a friend whose daughter completed all three in a year, yet it takes a few years for most. Age does matter here: the earlier you start, the longer it'll take to complete rec program. It has to do with balance and the ability to perform certain skills at a certain age due to ongoing muscle development.
At around 4-6 years of your daughter's age her coach or a team coach might approach you and offer her a spot in pre-team or a developmental group. Those are special practice groups
When you decide to enroll your daughter for gymnastics, they usually place her
in one of the recreational classes depending on her age and abilities. Most start with the basics and then gradually move up. At the 2 gyms we went to those recreational classes were named "girls 1", "girls 2", and "girls 3", or in other words beginner, intermediate and advanced. They offered a few age-based classes for each level. I have a friend whose daughter completed all three in a year, yet it takes a few years for most. Age does matter here: the earlier you start, the longer it'll take to complete rec program. It has to do with balance and the ability to perform certain skills at a certain age due to ongoing muscle development.
At around 4-6 years of your daughter's age her coach or a team coach might approach you and offer her a spot in pre-team or a developmental group. Those are special practice groups
Getting a deal on popular brand gymnastics leotards
Finding the right leotard can be a challenge.
Particularly because the ones manufactured by well-known brands like GK Elite can
be oftentimes pricey, and taken that many gymnasts workout 4-5 times a week (ah all
that sweat!), and some don’t wear underpants, to avoid intensive laundry days
you have no choice but to keep those leos coming.
While others shop for everyday outfits, a gymnast’s closet
in vast majority is filled with sport clothes and, well, leotards. When one
spends so many hours at the gym, a need to express with a unique style is
tremendous. The leotard becomes a gymnast’s way to stand out, fashionize, and
accessorize all at the same time.
I did my research, and found out that you CAN
save on popular brands leotards.
Here are some of the deals you can get: