What's all this obsession with perfection of the USA Gymnastics compulsory routines?  Level 4, Level 5, whatever.  Where did all these professional compulsory gymnasts come from?  Who is sentencing America's gymnasts to a lifetime of compulsories?

Basics are Fine
We're not arguing with perfection.  Only with the concentration of perfection on such a limited number of skills for such long periods.  We're not arguing with mastering basic skills.  We're not advocating skipping progressions.

Locked at a Low Level 
It always seems such a pity to see teams with gymnasts who have stayed in the compulsory levels for an abnormally high number of years when they could and should have moved on to the optional level.  Such proud team coaches reciting to any who will listen, their record number of team and individual championships.  At level five.

Set a Goal To Win at Every Level, Especially Optionals
There are, of course, teams whose gymnasts win at every level.  A good program must be good at the younger ages and lower levels if it is to produce high level athletes (unless they just steal them from other coaches).

Everyone Important Knows What’s Really Going On
But gymnastics is a sport of progression and coaches who hold gymnasts back so they may win at a level below their natural competition level are fooling no one in the know in the sport, including those gymnasts themselves.

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