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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Can anyone advise on gymnastics club?

34 replies

Notwithittoday · 05/12/2021 14:19

Dd is 8 and has been going to same gymnastics since she was 4. It’s quite a large private club but there’s never been any displays or shows dd has been involved in. Yet I see their Instagram and Facebook updates where they have girls younger than dd in costumes and doing shows. She did one competition which was videod online last year which they said was regional and she got first place in two parts. We did have COVID obviously when she didn’t go but she’s been straight back to it. She’s very keen and has a bar at home and practises. She’s been watching a lot of gymnasts on you tube snd the olympics and keeps pestering me about doing more. I never did gymnastics so have no experience. Im not looking for her to be an Olympian but I’d like her to make progress and enjoy something she’s interested in. As far as I can see she seems good and is very light and flexible so I don’t think it’s an ability issue. I asked if there was other classes available or if she should do more and they said they would look into it in the new year. Speaking to other mums in the same class their girls aren’t doing anything either. I’m wondering if the girls I’m seeing on their social media are relatives/ friends of the owners or what? Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
megustalacerveza · 05/12/2021 15:45

Off topic OP but what bar does your daughter have at home? My friend's girl is a gymnast and I'd love to get her something like that for Christmas.

Mnusernc · 05/12/2021 15:39

They generally give you "the nod" and ask your kids to be in squad directly, and then squads range from a couple of hours a week to 20!!

Original poster
Notwithittoday · 05/12/2021 15:35

@lazylockdowner thank you for asking. This sounds about right. I’ll have to my big girl pants on and ask. I just don’t want to come over pushy parent but I genuinely don’t know how it works and it’s not apparent through their website etc

OP posts:
Original poster
Notwithittoday · 05/12/2021 15:33

[quote megustalacerveza]@Notwithittoday ah yeah...covid makes it tricky because there are now legitimate reasons not to want parents standing around. Were you able to view before that?[/quote]
Yes we were. You make a good point though. I’ve read some of that material now. Thank you

OP posts:
lazylockdowner · 05/12/2021 15:27

Just asked my daughter who is a British gymnastics apprentice coach and Sounds like your dd is in a standard recreational class and most likely the other girls will be in squads which requires hours and hours of training and conditioning. She advises speaking to the club manager/head coach and seeing what other opportunities are available for your dd and if there is or when there will be trials/tryouts for squads/display teams etc.

megustalacerveza · 05/12/2021 15:17

@Notwithittoday ah yeah...covid makes it tricky because there are now legitimate reasons not to want parents standing around. Were you able to view before that?

Original poster
Notwithittoday · 05/12/2021 14:29

@megustalacerveza

You'd have to ask them directly whether the girls you see are friends or relatives or what. Tell them your daughter wants to do those things and see what they say. Be very careful with this sport - there are still lots of dodgy practices and coaches around...not sure if you saw the stuff last year about all the abuse scandals. Do they let parents watch practice and are they open about training methods?
No not in the slightest and they stopped parents watching in the viewing gallery with COVID. They’re still operating a no parents beyond drop off at the door type policy,
OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 05/12/2021 14:22

Speaking to the club is really the only way forward then you know what you are dealing with and can decide to move her if you want more focus on competitions etc.

megustalacerveza · 05/12/2021 14:22

You'd have to ask them directly whether the girls you see are friends or relatives or what. Tell them your daughter wants to do those things and see what they say. Be very careful with this sport - there are still lots of dodgy practices and coaches around...not sure if you saw the stuff last year about all the abuse scandals. Do they let parents watch practice and are they open about training methods?