[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

I'm hoping someone will have experience with this. I'm trying to find out how likely it is that one of my secondary characters would have a meet on the first Saturday in January. She's in San Diego, if that matters, and not on track for the Olympics. Pre-COVID, I'd have found this via Google. I have looked. Thank you for any help.

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

My friend, Amy Sonnichsen, had a daughter who competed in gymnastics. You could ask her: https://www.alsonnichsen.com/ 

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Thanks, V.

[Hopeful Posts: 227 Status: Offline I love kid books!]

Debbie--My daughter actually competes in the Xcel gymnastics program which is for the kids who are not aiming to go to the Olympics.  In a normal year, she will have meets roughly once a month starting in mid-December.  So, having a meet the first Saturday in January would not be unreasonable.  I found this online for some Xcel meets that occurred in California in 2020 : 
www.clubchampionboosters.org/2020-xcel-results.html

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Thanks, Hopeful. Does she practice Saturday mornings when there is no meet?

[Hopeful Posts: 227 Status: Offline I love kid books!]

It's usually whatever the gym coordinates that year.  Last year, my daughter competed at the Xcel Silver Level and her gym scheduled the Silver team for practices 3 times per week which included Saturdays from 12-3 PM.  This year, she is competing at the Xcel Gold Level and her gym scheduled the Gold team for practices 3 times per week which includes Sundays (not Saturdays) from 4-7 PM.  On weekends when they actually have a meet (which really isn't that often), our gym usually cancels any weekend practices.  That's even if their meet is on a Saturday and their practice is on a Sunday.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

It sounds like I could have her pick up her boyfriend after practice and her lunch out with her mother. It's good to know that meet dates aren't the same from year to year (first Saturday in whatever month.) I think I'll go with this. And thank you again.

[Hopeful Posts: 227 Status: Offline I love kid books!]

Just as an FYI:  even in Xcel, which is not geared towards future Olympians, meets are very loooooong affairs.  You'll be at a meet for 1/2 day minimum, sometimes even longer.  The meets are usually either on a Saturday or on a Sunday but I've also seen them on Friday afternoon or evening.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Thanks, Hopeful. I got the same info from the source V gave me above. She said they run about four hours and then there are awards. Since they don't happen every weekend, I'll just have her coming from practice.

[sarah-blotevogel Posts: 2 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

not sure if you still needed help with this question but I am a gymnastics coach and would be happy to offer advice if you had any additional questions. Yes, clubs are already competing by the first or second weekend in January. On weekends when they aren't competing gymnasts will have practices on those Saturday mornings. In our gym we host "mock meets" every Saturday (that they aren't at a meet) where the kids wear their competition specific leotards with their hair done just like if they were actually competing on meet day. They only get a limited number of warm ups on each apparatus and they have to salute and act just like at a competition. The coaches are all certified judges as well and they get a score and award placement for each event. Hope this helps! Feel free to message with any more questions!

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Thanks, Sarah. That's great info. I've opted to have her at a warmup in the morning and not have a meet that weekend. She meets her boyfriend around 1 PM on the way home. Does that sound reasonable?

[sarah-blotevogel Posts: 2 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

It does. Practice for someone her age/skill level usually have morning sessions from 8-12

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

It does. Practice for someone her age/skill level usually have morning sessions from 8-12

Great. Thanks.