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
designed to teach skills, mental focus, and body awareness in a way that prepares your child for the competitive level. It's usually an invite-only opportunity. What this invitation means is that they think your daughter is well-built for their gym standards, she's coachable and/or hardworking, flexible, naturally physically strong, mentally tough, and self-motivated. Typically these are the main qualities coaches are looking for in kids, although there might be more. Some gyms require that you purchase special pre-team leotards to wear to the training. This is also the time for you to figure out a no-show underwear problem. Just search online for leotard briefs or leotard underwear. Most stores that sell leotards have them.
Level 2 follows level 1 and focuses on preparing your daughter to actually compete in front of the judges as she progresses to level 3 competitive team. Level 1 skills are being polished and new and more advanced skills required for USAG girls level 3 are being introduced. By the end of the year girls are expected to be able to perform at least 80% of those and at least 75% of the strength skills depending on the gym standards. Strength test often includes 7-second handstand on the beam (a tough one!), 15 steps on the hands, rope climbing using hands only and no legs support up to a certain mark on the rope, 5-10 chin-ups etc. Front hip circle on the bars and roundoff back handspring on the floor are some of the hardest yet essential skills required to move up to the team.You may ask team coaches to do a few private classes with your daughter to help prepare her for the tests.
*Some gyms have their level 2 girls compete. Not all gymnastics meets (competitions) offer such opportunity for level 2 girls, they are primarily designated for compulsory levels 3-5.
Those who haven't passed level 2 tests successfully may be asked to repeat level 2 or even leave pre-team. Once again, it's up to the coaches who typically follow certain standards. Presumably, that's the first time when you and your daughter may experience the "competitive" part of gymnastics. It's a risk and a survival of the strongest. It's challenging yet fun.
And now in case she has been moved up to the team, the hard work begins, accompanied by increase in weekly hours at the gym (7-12 depending on the gym), conditioning, and sometimes tears. Your gymnastics bill goes up (mine doubled). You purchase a team leotard oftentimes embroidered with Swarovski crystals (ours cost us $230), team sweatsuit (around $100), team backpack (around $40). She must be 6 according to USAG to compete at level 3, and each competition has its fee as well (around $80). You typically have 5-7 competitions per season (that is in fall), and a state competition for those who qualify. This is an overview of what to expect once you've joined the team. As she progresses to level 6, a whole new life of an optional gymnast begins. For us, now training for level 5 at age of 7, it is all yet ahead.
This is what you need to know should you and your daughter decide to follow the path to Compulsory gymnastics. It is something I wish I'd known when my daughter had been offered a spot in a pre-team. To make it clear, neither of us has regretted our choices for a second, but having a clear plan and understanding of the process would have helped to avoid surprises and confusion. Please feel free to share your own experience, discuss and ask questions.
**We are based in California. Local gyms standards, competition seasons, and prices are different from other states'.
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