[FionaM]

you will have to let us know what happens.

[mards]

all was OK with management - i think the coach was very UNHAPPY - but not letting on... Maybe it will mean good changes. - less kids to teach now - more time??

Gym Mums have a look at this site http://www.chalkbucket.com/

its great!!

[FionaM]

thats a great website mards.

DD had her gymnastics presentation night the other night and received the encouragement award as well as a state representative award.
She was happy with the award especially as there was only 3 encourgement awards awarded for the whole rythmic program.

we have finally been informed of what is to happen next year and DD is happy with the coaches she has and she will go back to levels for next year.

DD is once again (3rd year in a row) is asking for a rythmic apparatus from santa for xmas.

just have to work out size and type and order it all asap.

hope everyone is well

[mards]

Hey FionaM - that is great for your daughter! Fantastic results!! - What level is she competing next year? My DD is going to level 2 - she is so excited!

A friend of mine makes and sells Leos for Rhythmic - https://www.facebook.com/AuroraLeotards

She also has a website too http://auroraleotards.com/

Anyway Chalk Bucket is awesome - just wish more Aussies are on it - Wouldnt it be great if kids here could get scholarships for Gym to get into Uni - we can only dream!!

Cheers

Mards

[FionaM]

Hi Mards
long time no chat.

My DD is currently at a cross road in gymnastics - she loves RG but is not really happy with the coaches (the coaches are young and actually trained with them last year and i think they just dont have the experience to be coaching level 5 girls) and also there is only 1 other child in DD's level, who is totally different to DD. Now I dont mean that in a nasty way but just has way too much to say and really intimidates DD.

I have spoken to the owners of the gym (who i think are just now in it for money and not for gymnastics as what they used to be like) and apparently they have spoken to the coaches etc. That was over a month ago. I dont really think things have improved.

She has 3 coaches over the 3 sessions per week and apparently 1 coach says its perfect and then another one says its not right all in one session. DD is getting really confused and loosing her confidence in doing her routine.

I watched her complete a routine last week and you can tell the whole situation has taken its toll on DD and she just wasnt the gymnast that she has been for the last few years.

I really dont know what to do.

The head coach is still on maternity leave but there is no indication of when she will come back. Ive put a call into the gym this morning so we will see what response i get.

im even considering look at other gyms but dont really know what to ask.

anyway sorry about the whinge, but just wanted to talk to another gym mum.

[babygirl03]

Hello

It's good to read of others with kiddies doing rhythmic gymnastics

Fiona - sorry to read of the predicament your dd is in. It mustn't be fun for her to be overwhelmed by another with such an extrovert personality and also not have a choice of other gymnasts to interact with, plus losing a much loved coach.

My 9yo loves the team she's in. There are 6 of them and while one of the girls has a tendency to exhibit some rather 'loud' characteristics as well, she has got a staple mate that she prefers to hover around. This other girl and her had made it into the squad team a year earlier while dd and another 3 girls only came into the competition stream end of last year / start this year. Hence, the friendship situation for us is more that the 2 earlier entry girls tend to keep to each other while dd and 2 of the other 3 girls stay as a threesome. The 4th girl in the group is a very disciplined child and is very focused with her training so rarely chatters although her being the oldest at 13 while the rest are 9-10yo may have something to do with it too.

Dd does 3 sessions a week as well. This totals 5hrs with a Ukrainian coach that takes them on Monday doing bodywork and the other 2 sessions taken by an ex-gymnast of the club. While she's fairly young, she's got great work ethics and commitment and is well liked by the girls. The Levels 6 and above girls has the Ukrainian coach on the other days and a Russian ballet teacher for the Monday session.

I've got my fingers crossed for you that your dd's gym will work with you to sort things out soon. It can't be good to have coaches that don't work together well.

[FionaM]

babygirl03 - its great to connect to another RG mum.
it sounds like your DD is in a great team and has great support with her.

My DD has been in a great little group up until the begining of last year when her and another girl were moved to another level.
it was disappointing from a friendship side of things as my DD got on with the girls in group really well.

I really think tonights gyms session will be a deal breaker for my DD. so i am really hoping that she goes well.

The owner of the gym has rung me back and i raised these concerns again so really the ball is in their court to hopefully get DD to stay at the gym.

It is really hard as a parent to sit back and put your child in that situation that she doesnt want to go and to make matters worse i am at work today and my mum is droping her off.
I will get to the gym a bit earlier and see what is happening.

thanks for listening.
can i ask are you in sydney ?

[babygirl03]

Sorry to read that her upgrade had such an impact on the friendship aspect. RG girls are all expected to work so hard at squad level and the girls motivating and supporting each other is what makes it fun for them and to also thrive that it's sad when your child has no one else to connect with.

My dd was in a great little group in her previous level too. There were 15 of them of which 4 including dd upgraded to squad. Due to the fairly large group, these 4 girls (or rather 3 as the aforementioned 13yo is very focused) actually had different friendships and weren't particularly close to one another but now it's like they've been friends forever.

I hope things will work out for your dd one way or another. How did she go tonight? Can you let her try out in a different club, anyways? Given you're in Sydney, I've got no suggestions though as we're in Adelaide.

[FionaM]

thanks for your support babygirl03.

She looked like she was enjoying herself when i turned up, chatting to the other girls (who are in different levels on the floor) and DD informs me that her & the other girl did different apparatus tonight, so maybe that is a good thing that they are focusing on different things.

I spoke to another parent (who i actually went to high school with) and she said that her daughter had problems with a similar girl in the gym (who is now no longer there) and she just kept telling her daughter that it is an individual sport so just focus on doing your best and have fun with the other girls.
I told DD that last night and it seemed to click for her.

Apparently the owner of the gym and also one of the coaches (that coach has coached at commonwealth games level but unfortunately is only at the gym 1 session a week) spoke to DD and im hoping that it was a good boost for DD.

The owner suggested yesterday that maybe moving her down a level would help to avoid the other girl but when they will be training on the mat together (there is only 5 of them from level 4-6) so i dont think that would be beneficial and DD can complete the routines in the level she is in.

i think i will just play it by ear.

thanks again for listening.