Question QUESTION: I have a 10 year old son who loves the gym. Currently we live about an hour
east of Toronto, Canada (with no traffic!!!). I have a small gym in my
community that has been supporting my son's growth, they only have about
5 boys and my son is the only one that is competing Provincially- he will go
National next year. However, I find that this gym is not maximizing his
potential- I send him to camp every summer in the Pennsylvania (which is a
small fortune!) for 4-5 weeks each summer- and usually within a month back
he has lost many of his skills. He loves the gym, and I believe that he has
loads of potential. Girls in this position seem to have many options and
directions to go full time, or have many gyms in the area, but nothing for
boys! My gym just got a set of p-bars about 2 months ago, he was practicing
on the floor with wooden child climbing bars for the last year and a half. He
does very well, he is dedicated-still a boy, so he does get goofy, but he
always has fun. What are some options for my son to be the best he can be?
I have heard of private schools in Canada that offer a boy of his age
scholarships in basketball, etc, but nothing for gymnastics. I feel like I am
limiting his potential. He needs an education, but if I take him in the city for
gym, with travel time, he would loose half a day of school every day, and in
the winter here, it would not be realistic. No one takes the sport very
seriously here, and I want him to have the opportunity. He currently gets
about 12 hours a week in the gym, and that's all they can offer him, as she
only has him at that level, so it is not profitable to give him more gym time.
The gym is only about 1500 sq feet, and it is always crammed!
What are some options for us. I have 3 other children as well, so it has to be
reasonable- I would consider sending him to the USA for school and
training- I'm just not sure of what is available and age appropriate. He would
live at the gym if he could- he does all gymnastics all day for 5 wks of the
summer in the US- I just can't afford it all summer!
Thanks
ANSWER: Janet,
You are probably more familiar with the gymnastics scene in Toronto than I am. I can tell that there are a number of clubs in 3 US cities that are somewhat close to you. Buffalo New York, Cleveland Ohio, and Detroit Michigan. If your son lives and trains in the US, he could compete USAG all the way Jr. nationals under the USAG program.
Unfortunately, I don't know of any gyms that offer boarding options. I think your best option is to find a club an coach that you are happy with(whether in Canada or the US), and then try to find a family that might be willing to host your son. I have know a few gymnasts in Florida (where I live) that have made that kid of arrangement and had it work well.
A lower cost alternative to summer camps might be to vacation in a city that has a gym with a good boys program and simply have your son train with the team there. The gym where I coach has done that a number of times.
Best of luck with it,
Dean Dryer
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Do you know of any gyms or programs in the US that would offer a scholarship to a boy his age, for school and gym?
He has only been offered scholarships here for private schools that offer ballet programs- not his primary interest, but at least offer a program during school hours with physical activity in conjunction with education. I don't mind relocating him to a gym and making living arrangements, it's the cost of school and the gym on top of it all!!
Answer Janet,
Unfortunately, I do not know of any gyms that offer that sort of program. Virtually all of the gym clubs in the US are private, for-profit operations that don't often give scholarships. I'm sure that you could find a public school for him regardless of where you end up so that wouldn't be very much of an expense, but I don't see how you can avoid paying for his gymnastics.
