“I spend all my salary”. How much it really costs to raise a gymnast daughter

is raising a gymnast daughter

And no one promises that it will turn out to be Alina Kabaeva. It is on the carpet gymnasts demonstrate the wonders of grace and plasticity in sparkling leotards. Athletes, slender as canes, with beautiful posture and the ability to present themselves in a dignified manner, please the eye with their mere appearance. A beautiful fairy tale, not life.

But uninitiated in the backstage of rhythmic gymnastics are unlikely to guess about all the undercurrents of this sport. If you’ve been wondering where to put a decent part of your paycheck, you’ve come to the right place. For the past few years, I feel like I’ve been working solely to pay for my daughter’s gymnastics.

Girls are brought into this sport at three or four years old, when the muscles are still elastic and the coach can “mold” your child. At this age it seems that there is nothing special in rhythmic gymnastics. Sports uniform, leotard, white socks, jump rope (up to 1 thousand rubles), kneepads. And, of course, a monthly payment for lessons.

Here the range of prices depends on the regularity of attendance, hours and the coach himself. However, group monthly training – the minimum item of expenditure: about 10-15 thousand rubles. We will return to training and the main costs.

The first year the coach pulls gymnastics, practicing the simplest elements. And then begins the most interesting. With each year of training costs are growing. New necessary items and accessories are added.

What does a gymnast need and how much does it cost?

Half treads

A basic training kit consists of many essentials. One of the most essential consumables is half-fingers, they need to be replaced constantly. If you thought it’s a one-time thing for six months, you’ll be disappointed, as I was in my time. At one point, I realized I was frequenting the gymnastics store. When I realized that I have enough for a couple of weeks of daily training, I asked a reasonable question to the seller: say, maybe take a more expensive model, but they will last longer? To which I replied: two weeks for half-fingers – still very much. On average, the price of half-fingers starts at 350 rubles. Here and count how much comes out a year one “shoes” gymnast.

Sports uniform

If the child is engaged in a club that has its own form, be prepared to lay out another 2 thousand rubles for a set of “t-shirt-shorts“. And if you need to take a tracksuit, then all 5 thousand.

Skipping rope, elastic bands and kneepads

Then there is the same jump rope, which must be changed annually for growth; kneepads (professional from 1 thousand rubles). Gymnasts stretch with special rubber bands. Minimum – two. Simple take undesirable: torn, and no use. So, we take professional, well-known brands and give for one about 1 thousand rubles, for another – about 2.5 thousand rubles.

Hoop

And also a hoop. If the object itself can be bought up to 1 thousand rubles, then the winding is a special story. Just for training you can make yourself – it is not so difficult. But if the athlete has already entered the competition with the object, it’s time to turn to the pros. Winding and/or airbrushing will cost from 1.7 thousand rubles. The same story with clubs. True, the decoration of this object starts from 3 thousand rubles. Masters promise that it is for a long time. For the season should certainly be enough.

Ribbon

With a ribbon is easier – it was bought and that’s it. It is possible, however, to buy another spool for it to fold. It will cost in the neighborhood of 2 thousand rubles.

Ball

A special ruin – a ball. Beautiful, shiny and smooth, it is, of course, wonderful. On the carpet of someone else’s child. Or in a store window, until you see the price tag. You can’t just take any one. You have to go with certain brands that have proven themselves in the marketplace. And to lay out for this pleasure from 7 thousand rubles. And it also needs a case and a pump. The usual pump is again impossible – the nipple is delicate, so another couple or three thousand rubles to the seller. Among other things, we also buy different types of weights. At least this, fortunately, you can buy in sporting goods and do not splurge. As well as covers for all items.

Backpack

Do not forget about the backpack for all this splendor. If you buy a gymnastic, with the emblem and the name of the athlete, you will have to lay out from 4 thousand rubles.

Leotard

And finally we came to the most beautiful and costly – leotards. Beautiful outfits on the carpet are not sold in stores. Sparkling and shimmering swimsuits masters sew with their hands. All these thousands of stones decorating the gymnast’s outfit are sewn and glued one by one. The richer the leotard, the more expensive it is. Especially now, when European quality stones and fabrics are no longer supplied to Russia. Prices instantly skyrocketed.

It also depends, of course, on who made it. Famous craftswomen charge more, and the queue to them is scheduled for six months in advance. For your child, of course, you want the best and most beautiful. So you lay out for a swimsuit with rhinestones of a famous brand from 50 thousand rubles. And this is for a child of five or six years.

Buy a swimsuit to grow up impossible – it is simply impossible to perform in it. At best, the outfit will be enough for a couple of seasons, but not a fact. And then again will have to splurge. Therefore, many try to sell their swimsuits inside their own club, on well-known sites or through seamstresses who made it. This way you can at least somehow repay the amount spent and invest it in a new outfit. By the way, the older the gymnast, the more leotards she needs. And you thought you could limit yourself to one? No, one salary or even a week’s vacation in the Maldives will not be enough.

Makeup and hairstyle

By the way, in preparation for the competition, you can still turn to a makeup stylist. If you, like me, do not know how to make smooth gymnastic buns or spend an hour of time on them and an infinite number of nerve cells, you can go to a master class (about 15 thousand rubles) or go to a specialist. He and the bundle will collect, and paint. At a price – as you agree. But bright professional makeup usually cost a couple thousand rubles minimum.

How much cost individual training

But all this is trifles. Equipment is bought after all for a long period of time, if, of course, the athlete does not spoil or lose anything. The biggest expenses are in other areas.

For a child to achieve notable success, it is not enough just to take him to group classes. If you want to raise your Averina or Kramarenko, you have to pay money for individual lessons with a coach. And then you’re as lucky as you like. On average, 5-7 thousand for training will have to pay. There may be more than one or two per week. And a month…

In addition, gymnasts, like other athletes, there are training camps. It depends on the coach or club. Duration, place, and most importantly – the amount, all this is decided individually. But in any case, we are talking about tens of thousands of rubles for a week or two. In addition, you will have to pay for the production of the program for the gymnast. They are often individual.

The amount varies from 5 thousand rubles and more. If you brought your daughter in the sport to get discharges or nurture hopes that the child has a future in sports, it is mandatory to participate in competitions. Each of them, if the child is still without a name and sponsor, is paid by the parent. For the output – from 3 thousand rubles.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a mesmerizing sport, if you admire it from afar. But if you suddenly got here, it is worth remembering the important thing. While you invest money in the gymnast, thinking that you are investing in your future, be prepared for the fact that one day she may declare that this sport she does not need. And she won’t even thank you. Or simply will not take place as an athlete. To this, too, you must be prepared not to bite your elbows and do not regret the money spent.

But be that as it may, even if the gymnast will not meet Irina Viner or the child will choose another way, the years spent in the gym and on the carpet – an unforgettable experience that will be useful to the girl in the future. And for this she will definitely thank you. In time, of course.