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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Acro gymnastics

15 replies

Atalune · 15/05/2019 22:40

Dd has been going artistic gym for about 7 months and we went to look at another club today.

They are an Acro club and they want her to start at the NDP level which I think is awesome but maybe too advanced for her? She’s definitely got the drive and I think talent.

The club is well thought of, get amazing results and competes nationally. It’s a great opportunity.

I worry that she’s only 7 and they want 10 hours of training a week! Yikes! It’s a big commitment.

So I guess my question is~ do you have kids who do this? Am I crazy to go down this road and give my life over to gymnastics?

OP posts:
Original poster
Atalune · 16/05/2019 08:32

Bump for the daytime gang Smile

OP posts:
nonicknameseemsavailable · 16/05/2019 10:13

does she prefer acro? I think that is your first question. I am out of touch now with gym but used to be heavily involved.

so I would say, does she prefer acro to artistic? will she miss apparatus if she changes to acro? are we talking tumbling or pairs/trios? those kind of questions.

if she is good and she wants to do it then 10 hours at that day isn't really unusual if a club wants to push them. It is one of those sports which is a big commitment although to be fair any sport they are good at will be a lot of hours a week. I had friends at school who swam and their training was tough (plus VERY early in the morning before school!) It also depends if it is doable for you cost wise as well as timing wise. is it a few long training sessions or lots of short ones? are there siblings to consider (remember it will only go up in hours not down)? are there other activities she would have to give up to do it.

I actually love sports acro and would say go for it if it is all possible for her.

Original poster
Atalune · 16/05/2019 10:41

Thank you for your reply. She does love both, but I think she prefers the team element of Acro and this helps with the competition element as she is not out on her own.

I think it’s the time commitment that it making us pause as it is a huge commitment and of course the inevitable costs. We “can” do it, but whether as a family we want to is another thing!

The club said some lovely things about her, so I do believe she has potential so I don’t want to stand in the way of that.

We might try it for a few months and see how it impacts everyone’s lives. They train for 3 hours on a Saturday morning from 7.30am 😟😅 and then a further 3 evenings for 2 hours! It’s a lot.

OP posts:
nonicknameseemsavailable · 16/05/2019 12:32

it is so hard, I know what you mean, you don't want to stand in their way but at the same time do you want to give up so much to do it.

I think your plan of trying it and seeing how it goes is a good one. She is still young but I think make it clear to her it is on a trial basis until x month, not from the point of view of can she do it but from the point of view of family life. That way if you do decide it is too much then it won't be a shock to her

Hollowvictory · 16/05/2019 12:36

I don't think your giving your life over to it. That happens when they're doing 20-30 hours. 10 hours is manageable bit your dd will be tired! And will get very fit and strong. And eat like a horse.

Original poster
Atalune · 16/05/2019 13:49

Thank you for your comments- I am definitely thinking of doing it on a trail basis for now. I’m a bit intimidated by it if I am honest!

I am going to give us the weekend to think about it some more.

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Guiloak · 16/05/2019 19:46

You need to think of the future and how many hours the older kids do at the club. 20 hours a week for 12 year old not unusual at a good club. It does get them fit and is an advantage if they want to do other sports later. Also you often start off as a top when you are small and light and usually end up as a base when you are older which is not as much fun. Try it and see

Original poster
Atalune · 16/05/2019 20:32

That’s interesting, about being a top then moving on to be a bottom.

When you’re a bit older can you switch from Acro to another gymnastics discipline then? Or does that not happen so much?

I can’t quite unpick if it’s me pushing her or her pushing me. She came home today from school and said she really wants to do it. I spoke to another mum and she said it’s a great club but it’s demanding!

Oh it’s so hard!

OP posts:
Original poster
Atalune · 16/05/2019 20:33

I’m also quite into the fact that she will be doing a sport that will make her really powerful and strong. That really appeals to me. And it doesn’t have or doesn’t seem to have any of the body issues that say ballet does.

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Hollowvictory · 17/05/2019 09:59

It doesn't have the body issues of ballet and the focus is on strength and an athletic physique not a skinny one, but I do know girls told to lose weight at artistic gymnastics and they do bring nutrionists in there us a lot of focus on healthy diet (in a good way bit if you aren't lean they will tell you!)

Gymmummy1234 · 26/05/2019 11:32

Hi, I have an almost 9 year old who did recreational gymnastics at a leisure centre then tried artistic at a local very big club but didn't really enjoy it so we tried acro.
Well 18 months on she loves it and now competes and although she misses bars says she is staying in acro forever, although she may change her mind when she is older and becomes a base but for now she is loving it and is super strong.
I think the key things she likes about acro is that you don't compete on your own and at our club it's still fairly low hours (currently does 6 hours and max hours if she moves up to the top squad is 10 hours) so she can still do other activities.

HelenaJustina · 26/05/2019 11:35

My DD has just turned 8 and is in her club squad development program. She trains for 6hrs a week currently. It is a commitment but she dropped Ballet/tap. (Still does swimming and one other sport club x 1 weekly)
She absolutely loves it, she’s small for her age and a ‘top’ some of the stuff she is doing now is scary! But she is incredibly fit and strong.

saraclara · 26/05/2019 11:39

My daughter did what was then called sports acro. She loved it, and for a sporty and strong girl, it's much more rewarding than individual gymnastics.

FloridaLife · 05/06/2019 12:58

My 8 year old DD competes in Acrobactic gymnastics and loves it. She trains 14 hours a week at the moment and often says on days off that she wishes she was at the gym! She’s teeny so will probably be a top for quite a while and will likely increase hours each times she moves up a grade.
I think it’s a great environment to compete in and they all have such great team spirit.
If she loves it then go for it Smile 10 hours a week isn’t too bad but be prepared for hours to increase as she gets older/moves grades.

Woody68 · 21/06/2019 09:24

Ndp grade 1 is very easy - the equivalent of the old prep A.
Acro is super fun - much more social than artistic because they are competing in pairs and trios rather than individually it is certainly not my experience that girls find being a base less fun than being a top

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