All-Star Gym Getting Rid Of Team

[JMTD]

Recently our gym got rid of one of our teams. These kids were moved to other teams based on age and corresponding levels. One team they were added to is now over the number limit. To my knowledge this is not a common practice at my gym. We have been there for years and this has never happened before. The problem is all the teams at that level and higher are now full. That would mean the kids that are being removed are going to have to go to lower levels. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[12stepCheermom]

Same thing happened at our gym when our level 5 went away and what remained of it got moved to a level four team. That one wasn't full but a few kids did shuffle around in any case. In all honesty it would've been nice to do a lot of shuffling to move all kids (from top to bottom) onto level appropriate teams because there are pockets on every team that are probably better suited a level down. But I can see where that would've caused a lot of drama.

The sad thing is, I'd rather have my kid on a "lower level" team that can kill it and win than have them on X level just to be able to SAY they're X level and not have a competitive team. If they got rid of a team, in their opinion it probably wasn't going to be competitive over the year.

Unfortunately, lots of parents and kids don't think that way. They think since they hit a handspring one time in the last 3 weeks they "have" one and should be level 2.....when they'd really be far more successful at level one for another year.

 

[JMTD]

Their reasoning for getting rid of the team was due to injuries that were going to be season long and kids had quit on the other teams. So getting rid of the one team would help fill the rosters on the other teams. Also, we aren't talking about moving down one level it would be moving down two levels.

 

[Mamarazzi]

I don't know how these things end up working themselves out, but they do. Our gym consistently over-fills every team every season. By the time comp season comes around, somehow or another, it all works out.
One of our teams started with over 40 this season and actually had to switch to a Medium team since they lost so many athletes. Whether more injuries occur, people just don't want to keep cheering, or they don't want to keep cheering if they're on that level, people will drop. It always happens.

 

[CheerBank]

The sad thing is, I'd rather have my kid on a "lower level" team that can kill it and win than have them on X level just to be able to SAY they're X level and not have a competitive team. If they got rid of a team, in their opinion it probably wasn't going to be competitive over the year.

Unfortunately, lots of parents and kids don't think that way. They think since they hit a handspring one time in the last 3 weeks they "have" one and should be level 2.....when they'd really be far more successful at level one for another year.

This is exactly where our gym is right now. Our jr 3 kills it. This is the team that has the hardest workers, the kids striving to get their level 4 & 5 skills, the kids who never miss practice, etc. Our highest team right now is a sr 4 but the jr 3 is eventually going to evolve into a beast jr 4 and maybe even 5 before they all age out together to seniors. Our parents get this, but some of our current sr 4 parents do not.

 

[JMTD]

The problem is not that the kids on the higher level don't work hard. I think that when they put the kids on the new team they did not inform them until two practices in that the team had to many kids and some would not be on the team in the end. The parents haven't even heard from the gym yet about this situation they have just told the kids.

 

[CheerBank]

The problem is not that the kids on the higher level don't work hard. I think that when they put the kids on the new team they did not inform them until two practices in that the team had to many kids and some would not be on the team in the end. The parents haven't even heard from the gym yet about this situation they have just told the kids.

Are they reassessing all the kids or just this team?

 

[12stepCheermom]

The problem is not that the kids on the higher level don't work hard. I think that when they put the kids on the new team they did not inform them until two practices in that the team had to many kids and some would not be on the team in the end. The parents haven't even heard from the gym yet about this situation they have just told the kids.

So I have to ask...

...you sound pretty upset about this. I'm assuming you're not one of the ones from the dissolving team, because it sounds like they're staying the same level and possibly displacing others that have been on that team already. But I may be wrong about that.

So, I'm guessing that you're either upset that you might be losing team mates you've bonded with for new ones which isn't sitting well, or you're concerned you will be displaced and moved down to another level.

If its the second, I would suggest looking at your total cheer package in regard to the team you're on. If you're one of the ones to get displaced, will that actually be a good thing? Will it give you a leadership role by putting you at the top of that team? Will that team be more successful with you and others displaced moved down onto it? Are you currently struggling to (or don't have all) the skills for the team you're currently assigned? If so...this might be a good thing. You can be at the top of your game with no pressure you're holding a team back, you can take time to build those skills over the year for next years evaluations and you can be the leader of the new team. If you define yourself by the "number" on your teams's division, you're not cheering for the right reasons.

That's all if you're a displaced athlete. If you're one missing a team mate, you are still at the same gym, you can still support each other and you can take this opportunity to make friends with new people too.

Being the positive person I generally am, there's always a bright side, and if the coaches haven't told parents anything then my absolute BEST advice is to stop making any assumptions (because they may not even know what they're doing yet and it may change four times before they publicize the final answer) and just have faith that what your coaches are doing is in the bet interest of you and the rest of their athletes.

 

[JMTD]

I am not sure if they are reassessing all the kids on the team or just the new kids. We have not been told anything except they have to many on the team and some kids are going to be removed. The team the level below is mostly younger kids and is it really fair to ask someone to drop two complete levels. I do have faith in the coaches however it is frustrating to not know what is going on. We have no idea when we may know and we continue to practice with the larger number. So every time someone gets moved you wonder if it is going to be them off the team or if they are going to take someones spot. It is just very stressful.