Finding the value in the dedication of the slower progressing gymnast

I think as long as a child is allowed to go to gym and learn new skills as long as they want to, then that is good enough for me. Not everyone gets to compete. That is just how it is. It's just like a kid signing up for football year after year and never seeing field time during a game, but they love the sport, so they continue to go to practice and try.

I have kids in both situations. I have a just turned 7 year old who has competed one season in the JO program and is uptraining for new L4. I have a 9 year old who has never seen competition and won't more than likely. But she goes to gym for the intermediate rec class. Was she a little sad that she doesn't get to do what some of her friends and her little sister does? Yes. Does she continue to go because she loves gym? Yep. Will she possibly make it into the Excel program this year? Maybe.....IF she has the skills she needs.

But she is in the school choir and has a beautiful singing voice, does little sister? Nope. Should she get to be in performance choir because she likes it? Nope, she doesn't because she doesn't have the skills necassary. But she can be after school choir club.

I also have an almost 6 year old who is no where near where her sister was 1 year ago. Should she be on team, just because she wants to? No. She can't do a cartwheel, she can't do a handstand, she can't do a pushup. Could she if she worked hard enough? Possibly, but the point is that right now she doesn't have the skills necassary to compete.

I have a 10 year old son (who is not involved in gym) who plays football and basketball every season. He has the biggest heart and the most try out of almost all the kids on the field/court. He's getting better slowly but surely (because he has a passion for those two sports). But has he ever been chosen for the traveling competitive team for our town? Nope, because he doesn't have the skills to be a part of that team. But he can continue to play in the rec leagues. When he reaches middles school he can be on the team, but that doesn't mean he will ever see field/court time during an actual game.

Not everyone can be a superstar in the gym, on the podium at meets, be the quaterback, or even get on a team at all. That is life. Participate in what you want because you love it, not because of the "status" you might attain from being in it.

I also agree with the people who have mentioned how far the US medals out at meets. It's ridiculous. I firmly believe it should be top three on each event and top three AA. That's it. I'm also of the belief that it would be more eye opening for parents than for the kids If we taught our kids to value the sport as a whole whether they get to compete or not, kids will stay involved with it if they love it. Instead we have parents who see their child being pushed aside and they pull them, even if they love it, a lot of the time. That is my own personal experience anyways.

Source: http://www.chalkbucket.com/forums/womens-artistic-gymnastics-wag/40517-finding-value-dedication-slower-progressing-gymnast.html

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