All Star Cheer Vs Gymnastics Team

[Mouey77]

My CP used to be a level 5 gymnast, until age 7, when she switched to cheer. They are very different in competition styles and how kids are placed.

If she does not have skills in every event as a gymnast she will not compete that level. They have to start out as compulsory (lev 1-6) which requires a certain set of skills for every event. Therefore she would compete in gymnastics at the lowest level of all events...for example of she can only do a level 1 vault it won't matter if she has strong level 5 floor skills (round off bhs) she would still compete level 1.

Gymnastics is an individual sport while cheer is a team sport. Therefore a cheerleader with level 2 tumbling or flying may still be placed on a level 3 team. The coaches look to make a strong team and that takes a variety of strengths. A CP does not have to be equally strong in every part of a routine (although that is ideal).

Either way...the gym you choose should also have the capability to challenge your child regardless of what level she is competing.

Good luck with your decision!!


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That definitely makes sense. There is no way her skills on the other 3 events are strong enough to compete level 4 or 5 for gymnastics! Gah!! Would it be ridiculous to let her continue tumbling once a week for the next year at the cheer gym and give the gymnastics team a try? If she doesn't like it, then she could switch to cheer the following year, but will hopefully have maintained her tumbling skills. I think we (I) have commitment issues! :)

 

[cheerfannj]

I was a gymnast and cheerleader and my daughter is an allstar cheerleader. If your daughter loves all events (bars, beam etc and likes the individual accolades i would stick with gymnastics. If she really only likes to tumble and can dance, cheer


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[cheermommaRN]

^That sounds about right for the cheer I think. Not that it's the end of the world, but I was thinking she might lose those tumbling skills if she doesn't use them on the gymnastics team. I know she can relearn, but it feels like the year will have been a waste of time and $. It's really up to her, but like I said, she isn't indicating a preference. Just that it would be fun to do both...

If she does gymnastics she will not use those tumbling skills. The skills she has in tumbling would be considered level 5/6 in gymnastics...if she is on a level 1 team and they have not discussed "uptraining" her and letting her work on the higher level skills during practice then she will be doing forward rolls all day long. Also unlike cheer gymnastics has strict age guidelines for competing each level, since she can't compete level 4 until she turns 6, they may be offering level 1 to get you in the door and then move her up depending on how fast she levels up on the other events.

 

[CheerBank]

That definitely makes sense. There is no way her skills on the other 3 events are strong enough to compete level 4 or 5 for gymnastics! Gah!! Would it be ridiculous to let her continue tumbling once a week for the next year at the cheer gym and give the gymnastics team a try? If she doesn't like it, then she could switch to cheer the following year, but will hopefully have maintained her tumbling skills. I think we (I) have commitment issues! :)

She's young. At this point I would expose her to as many different sports and activities as you can and when she is ready she will make the choice. My older ex-cp started in gymnastics and took a cheer tumble class when she was 7 1/2 because she wanted to get her bhs for town cheer - she walked out of that tumble class saying "THIS is what I want to do - no more gymnastics" and never looked back. We started all-star cheer that very season. Her best friend stayed with competitive gymnastics through middle school and was never interested in cheer.
One of big overall difference is that gymnastics, although she would be on a team, is very much an individual sport whereas cheer is all about the team and not the individual child. If your child prefers the limelight and showcasing her skills, you might want to stay with gymnastics.

 

[Mouey77]

Well, she had her first "team practice" for three hours tonight. I know it's a lot to go from one hour once a week to three hours twice a week. She complained a lot and tried to convince me her stomach hurt and she needed to go home, right before asking for some tootsie rolls. She was not happy to hear that she goes back later this week. I know we need an adjustment period, but now I'm leaning towards letting her try out for cheer. My gut feels it's a better fit.

 

[shoptilldawn92]

at that age i don't see why she cant do both i did both for a few years and it really helped me decide and grow my knowledge of skills and technique

 

[cheermommaRN]

6 hours a week for a level 1 team?! That is way to much, my cp was doing 6 hours when she was level 3!
I can't imagine how long their level 4 team practices are...


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[Mouey77]

I figured the meets would conflict with cheer competitions. And I think the minis team also does twice a week practice.

 

[Mouey77]

6 hours a week for a level 1 team?! That is way to much, my cp was doing 6 hours when she was level 3!
I can't imagine how long their level 4 team practices are...


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Yes! But up until this year, it was the level 2 and 3 team. Not sure that makes a difference.

 

[piglet]

Did y'all decide?

 

[glitterandbows12]

Hi,
I am trying to help my just turned 6 yr old daughter make a decision between cheer and gymnastics team. She began taking gymnastics around age 3 1/2 or so. The gymnastics gym had a Preschool ages 3-5 group. She loves gymnastics, but this past year when she turned 5, I decided to let her take tumbling as well at a cheer gym across the street.

She was one of the oldest in the preschool group at gymnastics gym, and she had really pretty cartwheels, whereas some of the kids could barely do rolls. The gymnastics gym indicated she had "talent" but was unwilling to consider moving her up until she turned 6. She has loved tumbling at the cheer gym, and has made some great progress. They just moved her to level 3 tumbling.

The cheer gym is having tryouts this weekend and they really want her to try out. Meanwhile, the gymnastics gym finally offered her a spot on the competitive team, but it's level 1 (last year this was level 2, but they have a new system this year). From what I understand, the tumbling might not move as fast as she likes. I'm not even sure they do back walkovers at level 1?

So, is there any benefit to doing the gymnastics team a few years and switching to cheer, or should I let her go ahead with cheer? She thinks she is going to do both, and that is not happening.

From my experience gymnastics teaches you better technic in tumbling, and they work on specific skills for longer times, but cheer helps you get tumbling faster. This may just my inner cheerleader speaking but I think she should try out for cheer :)

 

[CoreMom]

I'd put her into cheer for this season and if she totally hates it, than you could switch her back to gymnastics. :)

 

[AllstarCheerKenzie]

I did gymnastics for 11 years, I competed the last six years. I just switched to allstar cheer. I was a former level 7 gymnast. I needed a change and always wanted to cheer. Her tumbling might be good but u need to be equal with all skills on each event in order to be placed on a certain level. if she just likes to tumble but is not too happy with the other events, then i would put her in a cheer program. she is young enough to try either one then switch if she wants... good luck.

 

[CheerlyHere]

It depends on the quality of the gyms and your end goal. If you're thinking she/you want her to end up a cheerleader, then it really depends on how well tumbling technique is being taught at the cheer gym (and maybe the gymastics one too since those aren't always great). If the gymnastics gym has better technique, then have you considered having her take a tumbling only class at gymnastics instead of Level 1 team? Which level would she be on if she doesn't do team?

 

[Gymguurl_dreeew]

In my opinion I think she should do cheerleading. If she is working on a back tuck and she's only going to be level 1 in gymnastics I'm afraid that maybe the coaches won't let her work harder skills. In gymnastics the level you learn back tucks is 6. ( 5 with the new system) so if she joins cheerleading shell probably progress quicker.