DrillsAndSkills.com

[AussieGirl]

What are your thoughts on gyms that keep gymnasts in the same level for several years for the purpose of winning meets or those that push gymnasts to move up to the next level as quickly as possible, even when perhaps they are not ready.

Should gymnasts be allowed to repeat levels as many times as they like? Do you thinkit is beneficial to repeat levels? Should there be some sort of way to stop gymnasts from repeating levels for too long (ie must move up if they achieve a certain aa score)

[Coach Blair]

No, because AA scores can mean they are competent in their level but do have the next level skills.
Keeping gymnasts in one level for team scores is lame but reflects into gym pride ( $$$ - cause parents love when they're kids get trophies and so do the kids ). Sometimes, they can't move up because there is no room or coaches available. Sometimes, gymnasts would prefer to keep competing at the same level, say a second year, so they can medal and do well compared to their first year.
Moving up gymnasts happens because say they want them doing optional before the career is over ( say older L6 wanting to go 7 ). On the other hand, I've been seeing a lot of 7s and 8s and 9s competing skills they don't really have. I'm talking about tsuks or yurchenkos where they barely miss the edge of the vault when flipping, or uck giants, low saltos ( this happens a lot in 6/7 ), etc.
A lot of times, it isn't necessarily the gym, but the coaches. The problem with competing kids in levels they are not ready for is that besides the safety, a lot of kids cannot handle not scoring as well compared to a previous level where they rocked and medaled. Sometimes, this is done for ease of the training group ( training one group the same level vs some 5, some 6 - which is difficult because it can **** off parents and kids ).

See, there are a lot of factors in it, all.