Trampolining - anyone got experience of this?

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

My DD tried this recently and I got an email earlier from the coach to tell me she's not got what it takes etc. What I'd like to know is - are the reasons given something that she could overcome with practice/training, or do I take these comments literally i.e. that trampolining just isn't for her?

This is what the email said -
Unfortunately, the coaches (including a Senior Club Coach) that coached and watched her had significant concerns about her trampolining abilities. I have not heard from you so I wondered if she had come to this conclusion herself. She seemed to struggle with special awareness and core strength and essentially we feel that she would be at reasonable risk of hurting herself doing much more than she was trying to learn at the sessions. They did report that she was very pleasant and engaging but I am sorry to say that we don't think trampolining is for her.

The club was of a particularly high standard i.e. no one there who was obviously of a basic level so I'm just trying to see if it's worth looking for something where they can take a child with no experience and train from scratch or if this is an activity that requires a level of natural ability that my DD doesn't have, according to the coaches there.

The problem is DD loved it and was desperate to do well enough to join the club. She was oblivious to the fact she wasn't very good at it - I knew watching her 1st session there was a huge gap in what she could do compared to the level of the other students, but I just don't know if it's a case if finding somewhere that'll take her at this basic level to try and teach her, or if it's something we just have to write off as 'just not for her'.

[vulgarwretch]

It sounds as if this club is not for her. But if she loved trampolining it doesn't matter if she's not naturally gifted at it. I would look for a less competitive place to do it. You could even ask this club whether they know anywhere - if they are the type of place that's looking to train children to competition standard I bet they turn people away quite often, and they might know of alternative options.

It's hard to say based on their comments whether she would get good or not - certainly she could easily improve her core strength with exercise, spatial awareness may be more difficult. How old is your dd?

Do you have a biggish garden? Could you just look into getting a trampoline at home?

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Thanks for the reply - DD is 9. We don't have a garden/no access to a trampoline (which is I guess part of the problem). I think you might be right about the high standards aimed at competitions - DD was supposed to get 4 sessions to try it out but they've cut her off after 2 so they don't seem to have the appetite for someone who clearly had no natural ability and requires training from scratch.

I might go back and ask if they have any recommended lower level classes that would be better for DD. I'm not sure there is as I've tried finding others and there is only one that I could find which also has a lot noted about training for competition too.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

My DS goes to training at the local sports centre, run by the Sports Centre not a Club (two clubs operate there as well). He has dyspraxia and Asperger's Syndrome and is noticeably less coordinated and able than the others his age (although this is partly due to the fact that some have been doing it a lot longer than him). The coach is fully aware of all the differing abilities in the group (age range is 8-16 so the variation is huge anyway). She simply coaches each person at the level they are at and it works well. So, it might be worth trying to find a non-club setting instead.

I do think this is a poor response from the Club when it concerns a 9 year old, really they should be more inclusive of all abilities at this age.

[HolidayCriminal]

Try another club, I am sure there's one out there just right for her. You don't want them anyway if that's what they're like!

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad you've said what I was thinking - I wasn't sure if I was being a bit pfb or if there maybe was a window to look elsewhere because this club just wasn't 'inclusive' enough because of their own aims/standards.

Fingers crossed the other club I've found might be a bit more open to letting her train up from scratch to whatever level/ability she'll have.

Thanks again.

[LeapingOverTheWall]

we were involved in competitive trampolining - basically if that's what your club does, then they generally won't have the resources to coach beginners (coaches, training sessions). What we did was send beginners/not yet up to competitive standard people to leisure centre classes (we worked a feeder system as there was a crossover of coaches who were employed part time by the leisure centre to run beginners/recreational classes, and then coached for the club) and then once they were at a certain standard, we invited them to join if they wanted.

As a minimum we needed a new member to be able to front somersault, but also to be able to take direction (which was sometimes difficult with particularly boys who has taught themselves loads of tricks on garden trampolines but who were very resistant to attempting anything approaching technique and discipline).

In your shoes OP, I'd look at leisure centre classes who will take beginners, let her build up her stamina and core strength, learn the basics with good technique, and think about competitive clubs in a year or two, depending on how it goes. Some of the big clubs will run beginner classes (thinking of Jumpers in Gillingham for example) but that's because they have the purpose built facilities.

[DontCallMeBaby]

You may well find a club that will take her - DD trampolines at a leisure centre, but it's run by a club. They have a competitive squad, but do recreational from age 3, as well as disabilities groups, so very inclusive.

[fabricassimo]

I'm that they've written her off after two trial sessions, when she is basically a beginner. They don't sound ideal for you, not being able to accommodate beginners and rec level.

Good luck with the new club.

[QuintessentiallyQS]

Leaping (sorry for highjack) my son has taught himself lots of tricks on the trampoline in our garden. But he has been doing gymnastics for three years, so happy to take direction. He loves trampolining more than gymnastics, do you reckon a club might take him?

[LeapingOverTheWall]

worth trying Quint - but do ask around as some coaches are better than others, and some coaching styles don't suit some DC. At our club you would have been expected to spend a lot of time on straight bounces, tucks, straddles and pikes, and get those right before you could do anything snazzy. We were known for our technique though, whereas some other clubs were happy to let people move onto trickier moves before the basics were 100% solid flashbacks to DD spending what seemed like three months solidly practicing back drops and not much else.

re the discipline side of things - we always worked as the coach was the one in charge, you didn't talk back, you didn't muck around (otherwise you got pushups), the kind of discipline you get in rugby and martial arts classes -it's a dangerous sport if you don't follow all the safety rules and even sometimes if you do so paying attention is massively important.

I don't have much experience of gymnastics (other than via trampolining) but judging by the amount of hours competitive gymnasts need to do, being used to that kind of set-up would transfer nicely to tramp. And your BG membership transfers as well .

[fluturainpristina]

No experience with trampolining but I would definitely try and find another club and persevere, don't write it off just yet. I could be wrong but I imagine trampolining clubs get a lot of artistic gymnasts transferring across who already have relevant skills so they'll pick it up faster, that's absolutely not to say that it's not possible to take it up later. My DD does rhythmic gymnastics, she started when she was almost 9. We had a real battle persuading the local club to take her because they don't really do recreational classes- all their 9 year olds had started by at least 5 and were training for a minimum of 12 hours a week. DD had started dancing at almost 8 and took her grade 4 ballet after less than a year, so we eventually managed to persuade them based on this and she started off by slotting into sessions with the 6 year olds. She's now 10 and has a national medal. The club were wrong

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Thanks for all your input. I do think it's wrong to dismiss a 9 yr old just because she's not been putting in years of effort in gymnastics. Believe me I tried that route already! I think that's what puzzles me - I can see this as being a great way for my DD to have a real fun and enjoyable way to do a physical activity that will be good for her health and fitness irrespective of her ability - it's just sad that 9 yrs old seems (in the coaches minds) that she's not even worth training from scratch, because they don't see her as medal-winning material.

Still waiting to hear from the other club - also emailed a gymnastic club that seems really inclusive and has great facilities including trampolines so she might yet see the benefit of doing this with the hope she'll get to do trampolining regularly.

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Just got a lovely detailed response from the other trampoline club and they are prepared to train from scratch. They also said if competitive trampolining isn't for DD then they have recreational classes too, which is ideal.

Their response is in complete contrast to the 1st club, and more in line with what I'm looking for, for DD.

Really glad I didn't take the email literally now - so thank you all for your help.

[QuintessentiallyQS]

Good luck, I also had a response from the trampolining club I emailed, and ds will have a trial next week.

[sunshinecity17]

I have a good friend who didn't start trampolining til she was 11 and went on to compete at international level, so I don't think 9 is too old at all!

[JaneParker]

I was 134th out of 134 entrants in a school competition when I was 16 (i.e. not very good at all.....) but still enjoyed it. Perhaps she can just join a different club.

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Just a wee update - she went for a taster at the new (better) club on Sunday and they've said she'd be best to go into the recreational classes to build up from there. DD is delighted and looking forward to starting the class after the summer Hols so she can enjoy it as an activity with no pressure to be aiming for competitions. If she develops, great, if not, she'll just enjoy it for as long as she likes.