All-Star How Are Your Lower Level Teams Treated?

[SL&AM]

That's what I was thinking that could have been the case. But didn't want to give out wrong information.

My explanation kinda sucked so I'm glad you got what I meant. I feel like, on one hand it needs to be more fun for these kids because the coaches are literally building their love for the sport, the love of the performance, and competitions...etc. CP came from 2 years of dance, and she quit that because she thought it was too slow and boring. When the local all-star program decided to open up a Mini team I figured what the heck, do you wanna try it? She said yes, but I don't think she truly fell in love with it until the first time she stepped foot on the floor at a Mardi Gras Spirit competition. After that competition, everything became about how she was doing, getting better, practicing, knowing when the next 'stage day' was...etc, etc. She's been doing it for her 3rd year now and it's been those founding years that have kept her interest and dedication to it.

On the other hand, I also feel like it's a competitive sport and it needs to be treated like that at an age appropriate level. And, I think challenging these kids is a great thing too. Last season, CP got challenged in class and in tumbling, but I never felt the actual routine was challenging and I watched how that effected her team. It did bother them, despite their age. So far, she's really loving the challenge of this new team even though she's basically brand new to the gym and coaches. She came out of her second practice, after realizing she was going from flying (which she was doing) to basing and said, "Mom, I know I'm built to fly, but now I gotta build myself up to base. I can't let my flyer fall." She's 6.

 

[Fierce_Elite]

My explanation kinda sucked so I'm glad you got what I meant. I feel like, on one hand it needs to be more fun for these kids because the coaches are literally building their love for the sport, the love of the performance, and competitions...etc. CP came from 2 years of dance, and she quit that because she thought it was too slow and boring. When the local all-star program decided to open up a Mini team I figured what the heck, do you wanna try it? She said yes, but I don't think she truly fell in love with it until the first time she stepped foot on the floor at a Mardi Gras Spirit competition. After that competition, everything became about how she was doing, getting better, practicing, knowing when the next 'stage day' was...etc, etc. She's been doing it for her 3rd year now and it's been those founding years that have kept her interest and dedication to it.

On the other hand, I also feel like it's a competitive sport and it needs to be treated like that at an age appropriate level. And, I think challenging these kids is a great thing too. Last season, CP got challenged in class and in tumbling, but I never felt the actual routine was challenging and I watched how that effected her team. It did bother them, despite their age. So far, she's really loving the challenge of this new team even though she's basically brand new to the gym and coaches. She came out of her second practice, after realizing she was going from flying (which she was doing) to basing and said, "Mom, I know I'm built to fly, but now I gotta build myself up to base. I can't let my flyer fall." She's 6.

That would be nice. But then they're going to be those parents "Don't yell at my kid and so on and yet steady fussing at the coaches about what you just said. tougher competitions more challenges means tougher coaches IMO

 

[SL&AM]

That would be nice. But then they're going to be those parents "Don't yell at my kid and so on and yet steady fussing at the coaches about what you just said. tougher competitions more challenges means tougher coaches IMO

True, but in my limited experience, I think some of the craziest parents have kids on the younger teams, and tend not to care if their kid is yelled at.

 

[NJ Coach]

True, but in my limited experience, I think some of the craziest parents have kids on the younger teams, and tend not to care if their kid is yelled at.

I once had a mom tell me to make her daughter cry. Have to love the crazies...:confused:

 

[Fierce_Elite]

True, but in my limited experience, I think some of the craziest parents have kids on the younger teams, and tend not to care if their kid is yelled at.

The only practices that I've seen have been from the Twinkles documentary, and Cheer perfection for the younger teams. All of the moms seemed crazy on Cheer perfection.

But there's no telling how much of that was edited.

 

[SL&AM]

I once had a mom tell me to make her daughter cry. Have to love the crazies...:confused:

This doesn't shock me at all. I've heard it before sadly.

 

[NJ Coach]

This doesn't shock me at all. I've heard it before sadly.

She was dead serious too. Now, I have never made a child intentionally cry, but for a parent to invite me to do it was shocking. This was in my first year coaching so I was shocked. Sadly, nothing shocks me anymore.

 

[FamousxMindset]

Gyms should more pay attention to their lower level athletes, especially from a business standpoint. The parents are usually willing to enroll their kids in classes consistently, and privates as well.

 

[SL&AM]

She was dead serious too. Now, I have never made a child intentionally cry, but for a parent to invite me to do it was shocking. This was in my first year coaching so I was shocked. Sadly, nothing shocks me anymore.

We had one mom last year that was just like that. Sadly, it didn't shock me either. This go around, I sit in the back, keep my head in an iPhone, and smile when necessary. Outside of that, I just don't talk or socialize.

 

[retiredl5cheer]

I'm sure that may be part of the reason. But if your junior 1 is paying the same as your senior level 3, shouldn't they essentially receive the same attention? At some point you will need them to fill your level 3, right?

If they're paying the same, they should receive the same attention. At my former gym, the lower level teams were significantly less expensive, which was reflected in their practice times and competition schedule.

 

[Cheermom1969]

Since my gym has been drug around the ground recently, I'm going to lift them up a bit. My cp was on level 1 team the last two seasons and is now on a level 2. She has had the same coaches the upper level teams have, with the same hours of practice and the same intensity. No coaches at our gym look down on the lower levels. And the owners don't either. I've seen both Tannaz and Jeff and coaches from our other locations come by in warmups to see how the team is doing and talk to the kids and then go out and cheer them on.

Yes, level 5 gets most of the spotlight but I've come to accept that, mostly. But I can't say that in terms of coaching, our lower levels don't matter.

 

[Carriejoe]

Gyms should more pay attention to their lower level athletes, especially from a business standpoint. The parents are usually willing to enroll their kids in classes consistently, and privates as well.

Agreed. We are at a pretty large gym and our coaches are involved with various teams from levels 1 - 6. I'd have to say that our level 1-2 tumbling classes are more full and have longer wait lists then our level 4-5 classes. Just shows that you have to build your athletes to grow into your higher levels and that these parents are willing to put in the time/money to do that. (not saying the higher level ones aren't too….I know I am based on my monthly bank statement).

 

[driverto6]

All of our coaches coach different levels. I know when CP was on Minis I paid a little less because they practiced less. They were just too young to be at the gym 4 days per week so that made sense to me. All teams are coached to win and minis are treated the same as every other team!


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[Mom2Cheergirls]

Our old gym it used to be good all teams felt equally important and coaches would come and watch and help out and give a fresh pair of eyes to tweak things - it was a great family - but a different cheer director came in and put all the emphasis on the older teams ANY youth or mini team (and we had ones higher than older teams) were pushed to the back burner. Long time folks tried to explain this to her - that these kids needed gym time and that they had enough kids to field another younger team. Coaches were brought on to help specifically with younger teams because of issues in staffing and they had no experience with younger athletes and it showed. We felt fortunate that some a couple of dedicated folks were working hard with all our kids but they were being pulled so many directions. All of it fell on deaf ears. It was frustrating.
Now new gym and back to the family feel again. I have kids on the highest level the gym offers and I have kid who is on the youngest and lowest level and on that still nuggets some in the back. I feel all our treated equally and the positive energy and desire to strengthen and help my struggling one by so many different coaches as well as older cheerleaders in the gym ... it is wonderful because she feels it and believes in herself because of how that gym treats her. She can even say how at the old gym no one cared if she got a skill or did it right they would just say do it again now when she gets it wrong people tell her how to fix it so she can get better. She is working harder than ever but she loves it and is happy and I believe this gym will be stronger and better because it is building these kids from the start not just focusing on the older stronger teams.

 

[cheer25mom]

I don't think our lower level teams get the time and attention they need, and u dint think they are held to the some expectation as upper level teams. Less is expected so they get less out of them.


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