Boring gymnastics question sorry

[BattenburgDonkey]

Very dull thread sorry! But the gymnastics club aren’t very helpful so I’m hoping someone here that’s done gymnastics or has kids that do it will be able to answer my stupid question. My 6 year old son does a boys gymnastics class, he really wants to learn to tumble/flip but that doesn’t seem to be something that the boys class covers. Does he need to use a gym that has a specific tumble class? Or does a mixed class cover it at some point?
I totally get he can’t just start doing flips, but I’d like to try and find the right class so he’s on the right track.

Ive never done gymnastics and parents aren’t allowed to step foot in the building so it’s hard to work out what they do. (And I’ve asked them questions before but they just arnt that receptive)

My kids gymnastics doesn’t teach tumbling/flips etc

My son used to go to boys gymnastics. He did a mixture of floor (some tumbling), parallel bars, rings, the pommel thing, trampoline and then lots and lots of stretching. He started at age 3 and gave it up at age 9. I think at 6 he was doing cartwheels but nothing else flip wise. I think a tumbling class might be better unless your boy is interested in all the aspects of gymnastics

Do you have any trampolining classes nearby? When my DC did trampolining they were divided into three groups, so each class was two thirds trampolining and one third floor work which was tumbles and flips.

Dd did gymnastics although I’m not an expert myself. It may be that your son is not skilled enough to do tumbles. However, the fact that parents aren’t welcome in the building rings alarm bells to me. Parents do need to be handled carefully as some are so pushy but you should be able to ask questions. Some clubs think they are doing you a favour by letting your child join and that’s not a healthy environment. Look around at different clubs in your area. I’d personally recommend clubs that do Team Gym as tumble is important in that.

Based on watching the older kids, ours def do tumbling (mixed sex) and they're flipping amazing. But def not at six, it's rolls and cartwheels. Also unsure if everyone does flips or if it slips off to a side group for those who seem to have an affinity for it.

Oout of interest, why single sex?

I wouldn’t expect a 6 year old to be tumbling. In order to learn how to tumble safely, gymnasts need to learn other skills first and develop strong core muscles.

He will learn to tumble if he continues but probably not for at least a couple of years.

DD did gymnastics and there were different levels of clubs, the recreational ones that aren't so challenging and then the more serious competition ones that filter them into squads and require more hours commitment. DD started late but was great at floor, but one of the more advanced clubs said she was too old at 10 to join! Someone else might be able to explain it in more technical terms, it was DD's local club that spotted she had outgrown it and suggested we went to a different one in a neighbouring town.

They recommend the single sex class, said he’d enjoy it more and he loves swinging off things and so they said it suited him, turns out no swinging for a while yet though, they just do floor and vault from what my son says (been going about 9 months). He’s athletic and flexible for his age, has earned all relevant badges for his age etc, he can cartwheel all day long, he just wants to eventually learn to do it properly (he’s very nearly 7). He frequently gets star of the week and they give nice feedback, so I think he’s well suited to whatever the boys do, it’s just not particularly what he wants to do.

They don’t allow adults in the building because 1) distracting for the kids and 2) covid

My son does a free style class but you need to be 7+ to attend. The classes are mixed but his class is all boys at the moment.

I wonder what the field class are allowed to do?

Can you email them? Explain if it's getting to what he wants then great but if it isn't an option for X years then you will look around for something more suitable

Girls not field

If it is flips, tumbling etc that he wants to do, you need an acro class, they teach acrobatic arts and is more this kind of thing.

Thanks il look into if there’s any acro ones nearby

Look for a club that is associated with the British gymnastics association. Boys will do tumbling in artistic and acro gymnastics. Also in team gym which is mixed sex. But he’ll need to learn the basics first. Ask about their development pathways. Check out their social media.

Without wanting to out myself, I've been a gymnastics 'Mum' for 7 years. My daughter was tumbling at age 6 and tumbling well.

However, you won't find 6 yr olds tumbling in a rec class.The majority of people send their kids to rec classes presuming that their kid will be 'spotted' and moved onto a squad. That simply (in my experience of 4 clubs personally and many many more through my daughter) does not happen.

If you want your child to be good at gymnastics, go directly to the Head Coach and ask for a trial for your child. They will take kids who have zero ability. They're not looking for skills right now - they're looking for potential. Strength and flexibility to be precise.

Rec kids bring in the income to the club. There is zero incentive for a club to actually watch the rec kids and 'spot' them. Unless your kid is literally Simone Biles and stands out a mile!!

Rec kids are paying £40 a month for one hour session a week. Squad kids will be paying £90 a month for 60 hours of training. See the difference? If you're waiting for your child to be taught skills in rec, you're going to be a waiting a long time. It simply won't happen, and if it does it won't be done to a decent standard, coaches just don't care about rec. They care that they're bringing in the income for the club. That's sad, but it's a fact.

Feel free to PM me. I can probably advise on a decent boys club in your area that will trial your son if that's what he/you wants to do. There was a kid in our club whose mum lamented to me about why wasn't anyone doing anything with her kid - guess what, in rec. I told her who to speak to. A month later he was in squad and making progress.

Gyms want parents who are pushy. If you don't push they simply won't have a club who you, or your child, is. Harsh but true. And anyone whose kids is in a squad will be nodding and agreeing with me.

'The majority of people send their kids to rec classes presuming that their kid will be 'spotted' and moved onto a squad. That simply (in my experience of 4 clubs personally and many many more through my daughter) does not happen.'

Happened to my child, who also did dance and was extremely flexible and strong. Also happened to others, they definitely kept an eye out for talent and potential in the rec classes. People were also occasionally spotted in the rec competitions.

We have several people in the national squad and an ex Olympian, so a decent club.

Honestly I’m not even sure what a squad is or if our club has them (it’s a proper club registered with the British gymnastics association, pay £40 a year for that aswell as monthly fees). It’s hard to learn anything when not allowed in the building to be honest, they don’t put much on their social media. You can’t chat to coaches before or after classes because they are in a rush. I don’t care if he’s good at gymnastics or not really, and I’ve fully prepared him that itl take years to become good at things, but he’s a great learner and picks things up quickly so I just want him to enjoy it. Some great advice here so il have a look around at other clubs and see what sort of classes they offer.

Ok so he will be in a rec class. Have a chat with him see if he wants to excel. If so, ask for a trial. Gym kids can progress really quickly but squads can be a lot of hours. My child was doing 15 hrs a week at age 6 - up to 22 hours a week at age 9. You won't get good without that level of commitment. BUT if he just wants to throw a few tricks, worth paying out for a few privates imo.

It's not great tbh that they don't let you watch or let you in. That's quite old school British Gymnastics. Like I said, PM me and I"ll advise on a better club that has a more open policy.

Really depends on the club like i said. We've been at 4 major clubs (one with 2 Olympians, medal winners and lots of Commonwealth standard ) - lot of rec kids, 30 per session, 4 sessions a day 7 days a week. You are very unlikely to get spotted. But you mentioned your child was flexible and strong - she must have stood out.

I'm just saying to the OP and anyone else reading this thread you're better off asking to be trialed than waiting for that magic moment to happen!

"Happened to my child, who also did dance and was extremely flexible and strong. Also happened to others, they definitely kept an eye out for talent and potential in the rec classes. People were also occasionally spotted in the rec competitions.

We have several people in the national squad and an ex Olympian, so a decent club."

Same as me. Eldest was spotted at 5, and put into squad, youngest was spotted in preschool and went straight into development. Eldest was artistic and did her national grades. She's now a coach. Youngest does a different discipline but she's still in squad, hoping she'll make it to British Championships one day (not totally out of reach for her).

Of all the girls in my children's squad, all except 2 have been picked. That said once in a squad, there is a lot of movement from one club to another. My eldest did gym at two different clubs and now coaches at a third, completely different club. They also spot children fir their squad.

I also disagree that you need to be pushy, although maybe that depends on the level and type you're working at. I've never been pushy, and neither have most of the mums at my daughter's clubs. But.. my daughter was only at national grades. Perhaps if she had been at compulsory it might be different, but that all seemed too much like hard work for us! I know one of the mums whose daughter was British Champion several years running at my daughter's club. She is far from pushy! But not artistic, which is a different beast!

That said OP, I'd recommend emailing and asking them what they think. Over the 17 years and 3 clubs, my children have been involved in, I've found the coaches quite direct!

Finally, a six year old won't be tumbling yet. My daughter was doing round offs at 6, tuckbacks at 7, round off flicks at 8, straight backs at 9... She now coaches Acro, I just asked her and she says there's no tumbling in Acro gymnastics but look to see if there is a specific tumbling class near you. It's a much smaller discipline mind, so classes are few and far between.

Forgot to say, at my daughters club, they regularly spot children and then invite them to trials. If selected from there, they go into a development squad on a temporary basis... then selected from there. In my experience all clubs do it differently and there is no standard method.

DD was also asked to trial from a rec class aged about 5/6 and moved into squad. It's a big club though with clear progression routes explained to parents when you sign up. I do agree with @CoastalWave though about rec subsidising squads - DD has given up now but I've since realised gymnastics is basically a huge pyramid scheme! She started learning the building blocks for tumbling at about 6, but not actually fully tumbling until about 8/9.

My DS used to tumble.

He started basic gymnastic classes at 4 and joined a tumbling club when he was 6.

He was talented, trained 5 times a week.

He was Yorkshire champion many times and British champion (at his level and age group) once.

He retired at 14. Is now 19 and at uni.

If your DS specifically wants to do tumbling then you should find a club that specialises in it. They may also do acro and other types of gymnastics but have a designated tumbling coach and equipment.

A 6 year old isn't considered strong or coordinated enough yet. Tumbling can be very dangerous, and it's very easy to end up with a broken neck if you don't have the strength and skill to complete the action. Most reputable gyms will judge when a child is ready, based on the individual. For instance, a child who trains a couple of times a week, and is fairly serious about it, might start learning at around 8, but the kids who do it once a week, for a bit of fun, more like age 9 or 10, depending again on skill and strength.

I do agree with @CoastalWave though about rec subsidising squads - DD has given up now but I've since realised gymnastics is basically a huge pyramid scheme!

Yes, totally agree with this too. Whilst o dread to think of the thousands of pounds we spent over the years, I do remember once I worked out that despite paying over £100 a month for DD to train the hourly rate worked out at just over 50p!