Gymnastics - so if you're not in the squad, it's basically a waste of time?

"Ah, a bridge! I am sure she hasn't been shown how to do that once in the three years."

That is nuts. My daughter was shown how to do a bridge in her first lesson.

"The other thing that really winds me up is that the rec classes are required to wear uniform (and the leotard is expensive) - whereas the squad girls can wear what they like. Sounds like money making to me?"

Dd's club doesn't insist on even wearing a leotard. They just insist on clothes that easy to move in, no jewellery and hair tied back. Many children just wear a t-shirt and a leggings. Dd wears a leotard that she has inherited from her cousin.

Opposite here re dress - squad girls wear squad club uniform, everyone else can wear what they want - but like sparkly leotards (dd)! Sounds like the club is using other gymnasts to fund squad?!

Dd did bridges as warm up practice from age of 5, btw.

Of course dc don't have to be in the squad to learn and progress, but it sounds like the club your dd goes to is a bit crap and your dd is not getting the chance to use all apparatus and progress.

Dd is 10 and in advanced improvers class - one below squad. They do floor, beam, trampoline, fast track for tumbles, bars, vault, on a rotating basis. But by seven she was certainly doing forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, handstands, bridges etc.

But dd practises a lot at home - bridges, cartwheels, forward and backward walkovers etc. does your dd love gym? A lot drop out at 7 ish. And 7 is v young for squad here!

I'd look around for another gym. Even if your dd isn't in the squad, gym is great - as you know - for strength and all round agility training.

Bridge is part of the warm up, along with various splits at sons club. He is Richmond.

DD2 didn't start until she was about 9

She is now 13, she does 2hr recreational class and loves it.
(She practices for hours on the trampoline and about the house, too)

She's just got silver floor (no idea what that means), but she can do front and back flips and walk overs, cartwheels, round offs and various basic vault skills. She's also brilliant at collecting bruises falling off the beam.

I think in three years, when I'm sure your DD was far more fearless than DD at 9, she should have learnt something more than she seems to have learnt.

opposite in our club.
My son wears a pair of shorts and the club t shirts. The girls wear anything, but many have chosen the uniform.

The squad wears uniform.

My DD goes to Dynamo in Hampshire. She gets to use all of the equipment, there is a viewing area upstairs so you can see what they're up to. Every year they have a 'novice festival' to give the non-competitive gymnasts an opportunity to do a competition.

I think that children need to develop strength to do a lot of interesting stuff. For example my daughter lacks the strength to hold a bridge for more than 2 seconds. Seven year olds make faster progress than a four year old because they have more muscle.

My impression is that if your child in the squad then its a massive commitment of 12 hours a week.

He is 8 btw. He also swims and plays basket ball.

DS does not want to be in the squad. He was invited to trial, but did not want to spend 3-4 days at 2 hours each.

My daughter is 5 and in the pre development group. I'm lurking as she already does 2 hours of gym a week. It's a good gym and she loves it. Gets to do uneven bars, beam, etc every week as it's a well equipped (if busy) club.

my query relating to op is about the sqad. Surely she can have a lot of fun without ending up spending hours a week at gym.

It gets quite expensive if you do a lot of hours which we couldn't afford.

Ds has been waiting two years to learn backflips. I think with gymnastics you have to learn stuff in the right order, and when your body is good and ready. The most important thing he has learnt in the last three years is to know his body and his limits. He is very aware of what he cannot do, whereas before he had no concept of fear and would constantly challenge himself. Now he wont, and I have my heart less in my throat.

My niece goes to this club

www.leatherhead-gymnastics.org.uk/

"Should I look into a different club then? I am taking her out of this one for sure. Are there any non-BG options, does anyone know?"

Where are you based? My daughter's club is BG but its nothing like you describe. It is an extremely sucessful club and has produced one of Britain's best gymnasts. My niece attends another major club and again she has made good progess, but chose not be in the squad.

I should add, in his sessions, they divide the children into 4 different ability groups. He is in the highest ability group. The lower ability groups seem to still work on perfecting the forward roll etc...

I do think the progress is really slow if you are not in the squad.
Ds is not in the squad, and he is learning at a very slow pace. He gets to compete, and has won gold, and is happy that he is still progressing. They considered moving him up a year group due to his skills, but he did not want to as he enjoys his group. His club has a few Olympic gymnasts, and he has progressed a lot the last three years, even if the pace is slow. He gets to use various apparatus, and can do front summer salts on the floor, not just the trampoline, and land on his feet. Handstands and cartwheels and rolls are two years back in time.

In your shoes, I would change clubs.