Anyone know anything about gymnastics?

Luckystar2

Since we are talking about sports...anyone familiar with gymnastics? Anyone grow up doing it? Thoughts? Was it good or do you think its a terrible sport (ha!)

I know nothing about gymnastics. Dd does gymnastics through our town off and on since she was a few years old. She didn't like it that much until they started using the real equipment and really doing things. She is in a session now and loves it. This is the most enthusiasm we have seen with her on anything.

If I had to pick a sport that seemed like "dd" this would be it. It is just so her. She loves to tumble and climb and the girl has the most amazing upper body strength.

Dh is really into sports so I know he wants to encourage her in something so this could be something to nurture. But I don't know anything about it. What ages do they start actually competing in? We plan to talk to her teachers at her last class this week to see what other options there are. The next session through the town doesn't start up for a while but we are not sure if they have other lessons or where else to look (we aren't in pa otherwise Id ask for recs for places). Just curious if anybody did gymnastics or older kids that are doing them...experiences, etc.

sarahandtim

This is right up Kris' alley. Message her if she doesn't chime in.

kris356

Thanks Sarah!

My sister did gymnastics elementary school through college, she got a full athletic scholarship to WVU.

It is expensive and time consuming when you get into competitive levels. Lets put it this way, my dad says he could have sent my sister to school two or three times for what they spent over the years. From October through April, late May is competition season. Every weekend. My parents did a ton of travel, lots of meets in Eastern PA, WV, Ohio. Some where local, there are invitationals. In high school, K got out early (she had a study hall last period) and went to the gym. She got done around 7:30, home around 8. Then dinner and homework. The summers was practice 7 days a week. She was never an Olympic level but she was a very good gymnast. 

Then there are the bumps in the road. My parents sent her to see a sports psychologist when she wouldn't tumble backwards on the balance beam one summer. My dad used to stand in doorways when K did the beam (he did the same thing when my youngest sister dove).  It is a mental sport in a lot of ways and you need to be thick skinned. It is also and individual sport with a team element.

But she had amazing experiences like travelling all over the country, making lifetime friend in college(its kinda like a sorority). They went to the NCAA finals twice in her four years.

Basically it is a commitment and your life will revolve around it once you get to the upper levels, including vacations, birthdays, travel. There is fundraising and additional cost besides tuition(travel fees, music, paying a choreographer for floor exercises, coach expesnses, meals out, hotels). 

kris356

Oh, an competing isn't real an age thing, it is a skill set level. Competition levels are based on skill sets, not age. So once you have a skill set, that is your level. The younger levels are mostly compulsary, same routine for every girl. When you get the Optional level, that is when every girl has a different routine on each event. 

Luckystar2

Thanks Kris! Definitely not what I'm used to but Dh and all his brothers were very into sports. So this would be no big deal for dh, Haha!

If it is something she really likes and is good at it Id like to encourage it. I guess we will see!

bride2003

I think gymnastics is fun for little kids, but depending on the place you go, it can get competitive very young and takes the fun out of it for most.  Our neighbor is 8 and I really think she is gifted.   She is naturally flexible & does amazing tumbling but the place she was going wants her there 5 days a week.  At 8.   So it can get crazy and they can burn out very easily.   While its great to see your DD love doing something, don't get too focused on one thing too early.  Introduce her to different things and she'll fall into something she really likes.  If she's naturally gifted then it doesn't matter if she doesn't start serious traning right away.  And it may be better if she doesn't b/c she'll save the wear & tear on her body which is really tough in gymnastics (concussions, stress fractures, etc..) 

valkaz

bride2003 said:

I think gymnastics is fun for little kids, but depending on the place you go, it can get competitive very young and takes the fun out of it for most.  Our neighbor is 8 and I really think she is gifted.   She is naturally flexible & does amazing tumbling but the place she was going wants her there 5 days a week.  At 8.   So it can get crazy and they can burn out very easily.   While its great to see your DD love doing something, don't get too focused on one thing too early.  Introduce her to different things and she'll fall into something she really likes.  If she's naturally gifted then it doesn't matter if she doesn't start serious traning right away.  And it may be better if she doesn't b/c she'll save the wear & tear on her body which is really tough in gymnastics (concussions, stress fractures, etc..) 

Completely agree! DD is in her second year of gymnastics. She likes it, but I don't see her going the competitive route - and I wouldn't really want her to.  An organized sport like that takes a lot of time commitment, and (I'm probably going to sound like an awful parent here) I'm not really willing to do that. We have too much other stuff going on in our lives to devote that much time to one thing.

If she was ridiculously gifted in gymastics, I guess maybe I'd consider it - but I don't think we have to worry about that.

Luckystar2

Trust me I am so not into sports and the time commitment, etc!! Dh is though so it's always me reigning him in. I'm totally ok with her doing a variety of things and not trying to force her into this. But she is showing real interest in it so was just curious more about it since I nothing about it.

Dh and his brothers are all very talented athletes so it's very big for dh. I want to nurture anything she enjoys but definitely don't want to push. I really would just like her to keep learning if she enjoys it.