Competing Group & Individual

[jme2107]

My daughter & her teammates want to compete in group this season & she would like to still do Individual (level 9) Do girls do this or typically pick one? The whole group thing is so new to me any info or feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[andrushok]

My daughter was doing both in levels 5-7. In higher levels girls sometimes switch to Group only. However, I know girls who do both. So, I think your daughter can try both and than decide. Based on my kids' experience group is a lot of fun!

[Rosi]

Hi
I think doing both is great for the athlete. Since the difficulty is higher in individual she will become stronger for both individual and group. When you do group your difficulty is only as high as your weakest gymnast - that is why us (North Americans) need to pull our strongest girls into group to get a chance at an Olympic Medal.

My daughter does both and she loves it. Her coaches don't give her a choice so ...

Hope that helps.

[VMmom]

Hi
I think doing both is great for the athlete. Since the difficulty is higher in individual she will become stronger for both individual and group. When you do group your difficulty is only as high as your weakest gymnast - that is why us (North Americans) need to pull our strongest girls into group to get a chance at an Olympic Medal.

My daughter does both and she loves it. Her coaches don't give her a choice so ...

Hope that helps.

While a group may only be as strong as the weakest gymnast, not every individual makes a good team member. In group the timing, synchronization, and apparatus handling must be accurate and consistent. The trajectory must be consistent as one is throwing from one gymnast to another. As an individual you can notice when your toss is slightly wrong and adjust accordingly. In a group situation someone else has to notice that the toss is off and adjust, which is more difficult. Also, individual routines are tailored to the gymnast, only the elements she can get credit for are put into the routine. I would think that is more difficult when choreographing for 6 girls (5 regular and 1 alternate). The routines are a full minute longer so endurance is a factor and at least in one routine they work with more than one apparatus. The group routines at Visa Championships were awesome this year.

I think the girls need support from everyone in rhythmic. Unfortunately, these girls are not even listed as National Team members on the USAG website, despite the fact that they are national team members and represent USA all over the world. Maybe if there was more recognition, more girls would want to be in group. If the USA group does qualify to the 2012 Olympics, 6 girls will represent this sport from the USA, maybe then it will get more recognition/respect from the whole country.

[dlr27]

Do Capital Rhythms and Tampa Bay still have FIG junior groups?

[MotherFrog]

No Capital (formerly Rhythmflex) split into two gyms: Capital and Elegance. Olga Kutuzova (coach of the year) and Julie stayed with Capital. Stay tuned for some updates on Capital. Meantime, you can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CapitalRhythmic ...for updates on Julie, Olga, our girls, Capital Challenge, etc.

[thedadtaxi]

..."I think the girls need support from everyone in rhythmic. Unfortunately, these girls are not even listed as National Team members on the USAG website, despite the fact that they are national team members and represent USA all over the world. Maybe if there was more recognition, more girls would want to be in group. If the USA group does qualify to the 2012 Olympics, 6 girls will represent this sport from the USA, maybe then it will get more recognition/respect from the whole country."

Bravo. It takes an incredible talent to be able to participate in group. Why oh why USAG consistently leaves these girls off their announcements
is amazing. How in the world are they increase interest in the sport when even they do not fully acknowledge the efforts of these girls and their coaches.
It is so silly.

[MotherFrog]

...Unfortunately, these girls are not even listed as National Team members on the USAG website, despite the fact that they are national team members and represent USA all over the world.

Dadtaxi - totally agree. Aviator reigned supreme for a few years as juniors; last year I believe we sent an FIG team to Jr Pan Ams and they did beautifully. If anything grant the non-level 10s their level 10, include them on the national team roster and be done with it. Regarding our senior team ... It is HUGE to wear Team USA colors, or to be Junior or Senior national champions that were (wait for it...) crowned at the US NATIONAL GROUP Championships! I cant make this stuff up....

[dlr27]

California Rhythms might be the only club with a FIG JR team. They were at JO's.