Gymnastics - what else can we do

Like your daughter, mine is also obsessed with gymnastics. We tried to discourage it, but she was still watching YouTube videos, watching netflix movies and reading books about it, then trying to teach herself on the trampoline or garden. In the interests of her safety we allowed her to join the gymnastics after school club once a week. Within a few weeks she was asked to join the squad at our local gymnastics club. Initially we said no, I thought she might grow out of it, but no such luck! She kept on trying to teach herself harder moves, used a piece of wood as a beam, obsessively practiced tumbling when we went to Jump. Even at school playtime she was learning hand springs on the AstroTurf. When we finally agreed to let her join the squad she was overjoyed. She's still obsessed, practices whenever she can, but in a safer and more controlled way ie not when she's supposed to be playing tennis in PE, or listening to instructions at Rainbows!

As your child already has that grounding, perhaps you can supervise her in learning trickier moves and building her strength? The trampoline tracks at Jump were really beneficial to DD when she was trying to learn new skills. Make the lead coach aware that she wants to join a squad and allow her to continue to shine in her class.

My daughter does recreational gymnastics ( one hour) traditional dance ( ballet etc) and Cheerdance and about to try acro. I don’t fancy proper stunt cheerleading as it’s too prone to injury. Gymnastics really has no longevity so you are right to look for other avenue's. My daughter likes it for now but dance can take her right through to adulthood and beyond and is also an avenue into theatre. The sooner you start at dance the better though. Gymnastics will have given her a good grounding for it.

what about diving or dance?

One thing you might consider op if your child likes horses is equestrian vaulting (eg gymnastics on horseback). It’s a growing sport.

https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/getinvolved/equestrian-sports/vaulting#:~:text=In%20training%20and%20competition%2C%20the,do%20well%20at%20this%20sport.

My girls are in gymnastics and artistic squads.

6 was the age my DD was picked for squad through a trial, does your club have competitive squads?

As another PP said i would ask.

Be aware though the commitment is huge, my DD trains at least 17-21 hours a week now at age 9.

At squad trials whilst they do look for natural ability they also look at focus, commitment, listening to the coach and corrections.

Definitely ask!

Definitely…it’s a sport where starting really early isn’t that important!

Maybe she would like to try ballet, too?

I agree with the above, I had to approach the head coach for my son when he was 5. I asked if he was able to trial for the squad, they assessed him and he joined. He was training 9 hours a week at 5. Once his football clashed with it though aged 6, he chose football instead but the coaches told me they had been about to up him to 12 hours so it’s very intense and expensive.

You just need to make yourself known and fast to the Head Coach if you want your child on a squad. I intervened years ago with a 7 yr old boy who was decent but just doing rec with his mum waiting for him to be noticed. She mentioned to me she was frustrated he hadn't been spotted. Very few coaching rec are bothered about actually talent spotting. He's just gone the British.

Speak to the Head Coach and say your child is interested in squad, can she go for a trial please? They will assess flexibility and strength and also the ability to take direction.

At 6 my daughter was doing 12 hrs a week - just a warning as that's fairly standard.

On an hour a week, you're right, she'll stay doing basics. Personally if you do think she's good and (more importantly) she loves it, I would ask for a trail and get her on squad. You can also ask if they do privates. Head coaches love parents with money! Also it's not just about the kid. They need to know the parent is ok to be involved and basically get them where they need to be.

At our girls' club, in theory they do scout the recreational groups for those who ready to move up into the competitive squad, but it can be a little disorganised and they can miss kids. Sometimes a nudge from a parent can get them to review or test a child to see if they might be capable.

Have you spoken to the coaches and asked about it already? Is it a case of they've said she's not quite good enough or has it not been discussed at all?

Parkour
Indoor climbing/bouldering
Trapeze
Aerial silks
street dance

Are there other gym clubs nearby? Different clubs work in different ways so might keep them in recreational classes for longer or even have beginner, intermediate and advanced recreational classes. She might do better with a club, that doesn’t have lots of national level gymnastics (judging by round here anyway).

Or consider acrobatic, rhythmic or aerobic gym?

I would think acro would be ideal

Is there another club locally that might be more adventurous? When my DD was that age her gymnastics class was pretty scary to watch. They were doing, beam work and box work as well as all sorts of tumbling, headstands, handstands cartwheels back flips, learning short floor routines. Are there qualified staff or are they only allowed to supervise very simple things? I guess it also depends what equipment is available. (She didn't become a gymnast).

Skating? I learned to skate when I was younger and have just started to get back into it. It’s brilliant 😊 roller and ice!

I would ask her current gymnastics coach - they'll know what else is going on in your area which might work

If you want something where progression is rewarded I highly recommend martial arts as you work through the belts, it's a really good all-round fitness option too.