Follow Up On The HOPES/Pre-elite Topic

okay well here's the deal:
me and gracefulone were talking, and we both agree that 8 year olds should stop rushing to HOPES/Pre-elie. I mean, i hate that USAG developed that. Its great for some gymnasts, but now everyone is doing it. Now, a bunch of 8-10 year olds, [who belong in level 8 and 9] are rushing off to national competitions [with their level 8 and 9 skills] and not taking the time to perfect any form. I mean look at Skylar Memmel: she really doesn't have good form on many things. She is just too young and is doing skills most level 9's can do around the country, if not less. Her cast to handstands have a huge arch, and she is competing a yurchenko pike. I mean come on! Now that they let level 8's do yurchenkos, as soon as a little kid gets one they try to qualify for elite.

And they just totally are skipping level 10! which i personally think is a bad idea. I think a good way to go into elite, is to go through the JO Nationals [and other JO escapades] and then try for elite. I just personally think that if i was a coach, thats how i would do it. I think that proves that a gymnast can handle being at a high level. I mean it's not like if these girls went to level 10 that they would be 'held back' because they are only doing skils of a level 8 or 9.

Now of course i'm not entirely blaming the coaches, because i'm sure a large quantitiy of those coaches are getting mentally abused by over obsessive mothers that now believe that their daughter is quote unquote "the next star"

well i got news for ya mommy dearest: SHES NOT

not to say someone coming out of this system doesn't have as much of a chance as anyone, i mean look at Ivana Hong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0qyyQECAe8

^^thats at the 2003 American Challenge where she demonstrated good form and technique, until she chucked and crash landed a double lay. Not her best, but still she is a fairly successful gymnast today.

All i'm saying is that these girls should wait a few years, get the form and the consistency and then move up. Competing at such a high level will wear them out, especially if they are going to do it for 8 years!