Team Gymnast

She did it! Haley is now a Team Gymnast. Not that we are surprised by this at all… but it’s very exciting.

Three years ago, Haley joined her gym as a level 1 gymnast, one hour, one day a week. She loved it. She decided she wanted to pursue being a Team Girl. When she moved up to level 2, she started going two days a week for an hour each. She noticed that other girls were staying longer, and she wanted to as well. She worked hard and practiced at home and moved up to level 3, which was twice a week for an hour and a half. But that wasn’t enough for her! We got her a bar for Christmas and she asked for private lessons (which we’ve only done once). She refused to take a season off for another sport and never, ever wants to miss for family vacations or other events. So Haley moved up to level 4 and started going twice a week for two hours.

Team tryouts rolled around on June 8, and we knew she wanted to try out. The coaches tell the girls that many times they won’t make it on their first tryout, because of nerves and all sorts of things. The tryout contains 41 skills (plus a bonus skill) and they are judged as if they are competing by the three Team coaches. It is three hours long.

Haley crushed her tryout. She got mastery or proficient in 41 skills (missed middle splits but got the bonus back handspring) and held mastery in 23 of those skills. Other parents were commenting to us how incredibly strong and determined she looks on the floor. Her hard work paid off, and she was invited to trial weeks.

Trial weeks are two weeks of workouts with the team – three days a week for three hours each, which would be her new practice schedule, year round (48 weeks a year). The trial period ensures that each girl – and family! – is really ready for this commitment. We talked to Haley about what she’ll be missing out on at times, and how this means she must be diligent about nutrition and rest. Nine hours a week is a lot!

We received the email on June 28 that Haley was offered a permanent spot on Team. She accepted, of course. This means she’ll start competing when she is ready sometime next school year (it’s different for every girl, and the coaches won’t send the girls out until they are competitive in their scores), but she is officially a Team Girl. She even has a locker at the gym with her name on it!

We are so proud of Haley for meeting her goal, because it took determination and sacrifice and passion and perseverance… and those are some awesome qualities.