The parents of former Stanford University Gymnast Shelly Goldberg shopped around for the right gym and coach for their daughter. They asked specific questions, for example, how the coaches might react to a poor performance in practice. And they turned away from a highly rated program to one considered less prestigious, based on how coaches answered those questions.

Parents too often are swayed by names or brands, thinking they are providing the "best" for their kids. But there is a tremendous amount of nuance involved in identifying the right situation for a youth athlete. Especially in a sport with as much individual, one-on-one coaching as gymnastics, the right fit is paramount to success in the gym and in overall personal development through sport.