No Statistically Valid Selection System
The selection method has some real problems and yet is often used.  One of the major problems with selection is that no one has ever come up with a valid selection process.  The Russians invested enormous resources and research time in trying to come up with valid selection criteria and were never able to get better than a .48 correlation with any of their systems.  In other words, a flip of a coin would have been slightly more successful in choosing who was going to end up a great gymnast.

Selection Systems Have Other Problems
A selection system also works best when you have a very large group from which to choose.  In our sport that means having a gym in a well populated area.  In a small town gym, there just aren’t enough possibilities to choose from to expect to find a high talent level gymnast.  Not that it can never occur, but the chances are certainly much lower.

Recruiting Other Gym's Students a Dubious Tactic?
Some coaches and gyms recruit talented gymnasts from other gyms to increase their odds.  This was a common practice of such Elite programs like Bela Karolyi’s and the Parkettes, who would use their current successes to convince parents and gymnasts to switch gyms.

Pairing Up Gymnasts Works
The selection process functions by selecting “talented” gymnasts and pitting their natural talents and competitiveness against each other, “standing back” and watching them “push” each other to success.

Early Obvious Talent?
The selection process seems to work so obviously because even those unfamiliar with the sport can often pick out the talented gymnasts who learn fast and zoom ahead of everyone early in their careers.

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