General Info

When should gymnast move up a level?

Moving up a level can have great advantages & also some disadvantages. Deciding whether or not to allow your child to move up a level can be a difficult decision for both parents & coaches.

Some advantages for gymnast moving up a level, includes the opportunity to work on more difficult skills. This could also be a disadvantage for your child.

While moving up a level can boost their confidence for the moment, being in a level they don’t feel or are not ready for could hurt it for a longer period of time. Also, moving up prematurely may also intimidate your child, leaving them feeling self-conscious and less confident.

Before your child takes the jump to the next level, consider these factors:

Level of skill: While they may be able to move up a level because they mastered a certain skill, they may not feel ready for the skills they will be working on in a higher-level. They may be intimidated by these new skills, causing a lack of confidence. It might also be better to keep them at the same level to clean up the skills they have learned, so they feel more prepared when moving up to the next level

Level of maturity: Gymnasts who are still younger and haven’t matured emotionally may have a more difficult time moving up a level. Because they will be performing more difficult & complex skills, they may lose confidence when they perform as well as they hoped. Make sure the gymnast can handle the challenges of tackling harder skills.
Their level of commitment: When moving up a level, your child will be learning more difficult skills. This increase of difficulty will need a tough mind. Especially if they are already struggling with their self-confidence, focus, or their mental skills. To master the harder skills a gymnast needs to commit more hours to training their body and mind. This extra commitment will affect the gymnast, but also the entire family. Make sure that this is something that your gymnast and you, as a parent, are ready to commit to.

They are on their own path: If your child is ready to move up it is because the coach thinks they are ready. Likewise if your child is not ready to move up, it is not the end of the world. Gymnasts develop at their own pace. If your child repeats a level, that does not mean they have failed a level. Usually if a gymnast repeats a level it is because they need a little more time to work on a mental or physical skill.

Make sure to consider these factors when questioning whether your child is ready to move up a level. Make sure they are ready for the skills they will be learning, the new level of commitment they need to have, and whether or not they want to move up.  Feel free to approach any one of us if you would like a feedback of your child if you are in doubt.