All-Star How Do I Tell A Girl She Can't Fly This Year?

[kaylalalaxo]

Have her try different basing positions while you are practicing stunts, maybe she will enjoy trying new things and getting a new perspective of things. I personally wouldn't want to get 'called out' (even though you are not calling the girl out by any means) in front of my teammates...but sit down with her and her parents and very carefully explain the situation without trying to step on anyones toes, and suggest that she not always be the go-to flyer. You could also ask the other coaches how they would handle it and go from there. Good luck! :) Hope I helped!

 

[topthat143]

this is the hardest thing ever ! i say its like cutting the wings off a butterfly :( .. but i always spin it in a way that the topgirl still feels like shes a star on the team basing or backing .. and she has beautiful baskets so i will try and put her in that or maybe in the pyramid .. however you do it be gentle! i was a topgirl so i know how it feels when one day you look around and your the "biggest"

 

[emmabug95]

@nicole demick
1. If you have a meeting to discuss a potential problem, then you are recognizing there is a problem
2. Do you have a meeting every time you make a base a flyer or move someone from the front row to the third row?
3. Be matter of fact and do wants best for the team, if she's mad that she's not flying she's clearly not there for the team's success.

Then maybe don't have a personal "meeting," but just pull her aside so she isn't called out in front of everybody?
You made a very good point though

 

[kaylalalaxo]

It wouldn't let me edit my post, but explain to her that her upper-body strength is needed and that she might have a chance of flying in the pyramid (if thats what you want) but make a strong note that you are not moving her down because she is "too fat" or did something that she shouldn't have....because that isn't the case, but tell the athlete and her parent what you just told us! She might be happy to try something new, you never know! ;)

 

[socratesofcheer]

As the mother of a flyer, I disagree that you shouldn't talk to her about why she is being moved. Moving someone from the first row to the third is, in my opinion, much different than taking a long-time flyer and moving her to a base.

It's different BECAUSE your daughter is a flyer. If she was a long time point dancer and got moved your opinion might change.

 

[omgitssydthekid]

This EXACT same thing happened to me this year. And now that I'm now learning to base and backspot, I feel like I am one of the weakest links on the team because I'm learning stuff everyone else already knows how to do stunting wise. It's a different experience and it's a lot less stressful but I think I will miss flying because it's my senior year. Yesterday I missed practice because of work and my coach had me come in today to work on my backspotting with more experienced bases/flyers but I ended up flying because they were a flyer short and it just reminded me how much I miss it. I like backspotting but I just wish I didn't have so much catch up to do. Its hard to go from backing straight up stunts to tick tocks/full ups/and other level 5 skills but I am getting better at it(: so if anybody has any tips, feel free to throw them my way!!! But my advice is to break it to her gently basically, and talk to her one on one for sure. Good luck!!!

 

[GO_PRO]

tell her she has been an amazing flyer but you also think shed be an incredible base. make it sound fun. and maybe she could still work as the middle of the pyramid? but not to stop stretching because you never know if youl be needed as a doubler on an older team?

 

[soFIERCE08]

i don't think you should have a private meeting with her. by calling a private meeting, it almost escalates the act of moving her spot, when in reality, moving positions is part of cheer.

i think that at the next practice tell the team that you are going to move around some stunt groups and give people a chance to try some new positions out. give her a group and tell her she is going to switch between basing and flying. take some special time to critique her basing but add in lots of positive commentary too. maybe she'll realize she really enjoys basing. however, if she is obviously upset by the change, then explain to her after practice that this is what is best for the team. and i wouldn't mention a size issue at any point.

 

[5-6-7-8]

I am not a cheerleader, just a parent, but if I were in the situation, I would appreciate a quick aside from a coach. Not make a big deal about it, but discreetly let me know whats going on and why. No discussion, no debate, just, "hey, you are a great flyer, but on this team, I need you to base."

 

[Kimpii]

My gym has a saying: Laget före Jaget!!!
It basicly means The team before "me/i" or the individual person.

We always try and think:
1. What is best for the program
2. What is best for the specific team
3. What is best for that specific person

Sometimes my girls have a hard time understanding why we kick someone of, or why they don't get to fly, but when we explain our way of thinking they allmost always understand.

 

[aggie1983]

I realize this is not the topic and I am sure this does not apply in your situation, but it kept going through my mind - my cp has always been a base or backspot and she would choose a heavier tight flyer over a tinier looser girl any day. She has based a girl almost her height and not that much lighter than she is and she always brings her up as the easiest girl to fly she ever had, because she was beastly tight.

 

[Mo-Lissa]

I realize this is not the topic and I am sure this does not apply in your situation, but it kept going through my mind - my cp has always been a base or backspot and she would choose a heavier tight flyer over a tinier looser girl any day. She has based a girl almost her height and not that much lighter than she is and she always brings her up as the easiest girl to fly she ever had, because she was beastly tight.

Shimmy, shimmy shimmy!!!!! Just cause your taller or 10 pounds heavier, why should the token 75-80 pounders without elite skills take awesome flyers spots because they are bigger!!!! TRUE AWESOME BASES can base kids the same size!! Love to see stunt groups with girls all the same size rockin it out!!! If the young lady in question is the better flyer....find the group for her then make the groups for the little flyers, should be hard if they are so tiny!