It the world of Gymnastics you have two types of programs. The Junior Olympic program and the Excel program. Coaches and gymnasts can talk together and decide which program fits best for each athlete.
-Junior Olympic Program-
In the Junior Olympic program gymnasts are prepared to move through levels 1-10 setting them on a straight path journey to College Gymnastics and the Olympics. The judging is more particular in respect to earning points and the girls get judged a lot harder. In the Junior Olympic program athletes really have to prove them selves and word extra hard to receive good scores. This program is known for well rounding the athletes and preparing them for every level to come. The video link below (copy and paste into your browser) is Shawn Johnson's 2008 Olympic Floor routine. This video is relevant because J. O. really does prepare athletes to be well rounded and for those that progress rapidly J.O. prepares them for the college and Olympic levels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tooPCeR3IIY
-Excel Program-
On the other hand we have the Excel Program. In the Excel program routines and skills don't have many bounds compared to the J. O. program. With this program, routines are catered to the athletes strengths rather than making them all do the same skills. This program is great for athletes that love the sport but are not necessarily the best at it. In Excel everyone gets awards and the judging is more low key enabling athletes to receive higher scores even though their skill may not be completely up to par.
Where would these programs present an ethical issue? Well, let me tell you. I have been a competitive team gymnastics coach now for about 4 years. I have found that I like the J. O. program because it helps well round the girls and I have found that I like the Excel program because it caters to the needs of those athletes that struggle to do well in the sport but still have a passion for it. The problem with all of this is.. over the years I, as well as other coaches, have found that some gyms will put their really talented athletes in the Excel program so that their athletes can take the top places. These top performing athletes are easily scoring 9.7 and 9.8's (the highest score you can get is a 10) in the excel program with all of these other girls that are just trying to barely make it by in the sport. This leaves all those athletes meant to be in Excel still at the bottom of the podium. This is not ethical at all considering the top performing athletes from selective gyms are clearly good enough to be in the J. O. Program where their talent belongs. These top performing athletes should not be in the Excel Program earning first place like it's a cake walk. These athletes should be in the J. O. program competing with other athletes that actually challenge and push them to make it to the top. Below is a J. O. Excel comparison to help show the difference between the two well known programs.
How do we solve this? Coaches and gym owners must take a step back and think about the ethics of putting top athletes in the Excel program. We all need to evaluate the fact that it's not just about gyms being known to take first, but that their athletes need to be put in proper placement that pushes them to improve and be challenged. These programs were made separate to help all who want to be apart of the sport have a spot and we need to keep it that way.
Lets re- evaluate and put things back the way they were intended to be.
Lets make these programs great again.
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