In general though, recruiting is incredibly important. Just like any other sport.
On the women's side, collegiate gymnastics is seldom at the highest level. Girls usually peak between 16 and 18. (Or even 14 or 15. Therefore, the controversy over age limits and the Olympics.) Occasionally, Olympians are 19 to 21. Once a young woman's body fully matures, it becomes incredibly difficult to do the highest level routines. Only those few blessed with a specific body type can do international level gymnastics in their 20's. The time required to do Olympic level routines is ridiculous. We're talking 40 hours a week. Not enough time in college. The best recruiting grounds for collegiate teams are between the high level 10 and lower echelon senior national team level. These kids realize that they are not going to get to the Olympics, but they can leverage their skills onto a collegiate team. There is a fair amount of attrition during college. On rare occasions, you might see a collegiate gymnast go to the Olympics, but more likely it is an older gymnast who is going to college but training with a club team.
On the men's side, most Olympians are 21 to 26. There are only 17 D1A teams, and most of the best 18 to 21 year old gymnasts in the nation are on the best collegiate teams. Nine of those teams have the majority of the top guys. Including Stanford and The School near Oakland. The scores for most teams are down this year. Probably some guys taking a year off from school to try to get to the Olympics. Stanford lost a really top group of gymnasts to graduation last June.
There aren't that many boys in age group gymnastics in the US. Northern California, which is its own state for gymnastics purposes, has about 200 level 4 male gymnasts, 160 level 5 gymnasts, 70 level 6 gymnasts, 50 level 7 gymnasts, 45 level 8's, 50 level 9's, and 50 level 10 gymnasts. Steep pyramid. Training is really hard, injuries are many, bodies change in puberty, and social sacrifices have to be made. No money and no glory.
The boy's state championships are this weekend in Berkeley, by the way. My son is competing tomorrow.
On the women's side, collegiate gymnastics is seldom at the highest level. Girls usually peak between 16 and 18. (Or even 14 or 15. Therefore, the controversy over age limits and the Olympics.) Occasionally, Olympians are 19 to 21. Once a young woman's body fully matures, it becomes incredibly difficult to do the highest level routines. Only those few blessed with a specific body type can do international level gymnastics in their 20's. The time required to do Olympic level routines is ridiculous. We're talking 40 hours a week. Not enough time in college. The best recruiting grounds for collegiate teams are between the high level 10 and lower echelon senior national team level. These kids realize that they are not going to get to the Olympics, but they can leverage their skills onto a collegiate team. There is a fair amount of attrition during college. On rare occasions, you might see a collegiate gymnast go to the Olympics, but more likely it is an older gymnast who is going to college but training with a club team.
On the men's side, most Olympians are 21 to 26. There are only 17 D1A teams, and most of the best 18 to 21 year old gymnasts in the nation are on the best collegiate teams. Nine of those teams have the majority of the top guys. Including Stanford and The School near Oakland. The scores for most teams are down this year. Probably some guys taking a year off from school to try to get to the Olympics. Stanford lost a really top group of gymnasts to graduation last June.
There aren't that many boys in age group gymnastics in the US. Northern California, which is its own state for gymnastics purposes, has about 200 level 4 male gymnasts, 160 level 5 gymnasts, 70 level 6 gymnasts, 50 level 7 gymnasts, 45 level 8's, 50 level 9's, and 50 level 10 gymnasts. Steep pyramid. Training is really hard, injuries are many, bodies change in puberty, and social sacrifices have to be made. No money and no glory.
The boy's state championships are this weekend in Berkeley, by the way. My son is competing tomorrow.