All-Star How To Get Girls To Tumbling Class.

[eliteallstarcheerleading]

I have a level 2 team full of new athletes, they all expressed interest in having a separate tumble class, especially as we don't have much time during normal training to work tumbling heaps.

We have emphasised the importance of this class, as we have hired a brilliant tumbling coach. It's been two weeks and we have had the same 3 students turn up. One is a top international junior gymnast and doesn't need to train her tumbling for level 2! Happily get her working harder skills though.

Problem is its Sunday night, but it's the only time the gym is available.

At the moment its costing us alot of money to keep this class open, but its a class that everyone went to would get SO much out of it.

I've spoken to the girls and they all want to come, so I am presuming its the parents not wanting to fork out money for an extra class, even though we have kept the price of the class as low as possible!

The girls need to work on there tumbling, so I don't know what people suggest?

 

[dawgshow]

Have you talked to the parents directly? I would guess that it's not the cost but the time that's keeping parents away, but they are the only ones that can answer for certain. What time is the class and how old are the girls?

Is there anyway to offer the class directly before or after practice? That way, patents don't have to drive another day.

 

[eliteallstarcheerleading]

Unfortunately no. Which sucks. This was our only option and it seemed to suit everyone!

 

[eliteallstarcheerleading]

Oh and this is there only other practice asides from there actual 1 day of training! Most squads get two nights a week, so I didn't think it'd be a big deal!

 

[12stepCheermom]

I don't know what the answer is for that. At our gym every team has two, two hour practices. But we also (included in tuition which is on par with everyone else around) get a one hour tumbling class each week. They assign you to a class based on your first, second and third choice and there's also an open tumbling class every week.

My kids go to both so they get two hours of tumbling each week.

But, it's ALWAYS the same kids. There should be probably 15ish kids per class and my sons was basically a private, there were only two other kids that came each week.

It's great for us because it is like a private and we take advantage of it, but it's also really frustrating when you have kids on the team that are supposed to go....that never show up. It's supposed to be optional if you have the tumbling skills for your level and required if you don't....but it's always the same 10-15% of kids that are always there and it's a free class with our awesome tumbling coaches that basically turns into a private lesson and there are multiple time slots and people still don't show.....so I couldn't begin to tell you the answer to that. It was the same way when they did those classes by team rather than by level....the 5-6 that showed were usually the 5-6 that already had the skills.

I personally like that they do it by level now, I love that it's included in our tuition and I love that my gym rats get lots of one on one attention, but I hate that so many people blow off the opportunity to work on tumbling skills, because after choreography it's about the routine and gaining tumbling skills really doesn't happen if you're not actively working outside of the standard practice to gain skills.

 

[eliteallstarcheerleading]

I don't know what the answer is for that. At our gym every team has two, two hour practices. But we also (included in tuition which is on par with everyone else around) get a one hour tumbling class each week. They assign you to a class based on your first, second and third choice and there's also an open tumbling class every week.

My kids go to both so they get two hours of tumbling each week.

But, it's ALWAYS the same kids. There should be probably 15ish kids per class and my sons was basically a private, there were only two other kids that came each week.

It's great for us because it is like a private and we take advantage of it, but it's also really frustrating when you have kids on the team that are supposed to go....that never show up. It's supposed to be optional if you have the tumbling skills for your level and required if you don't....but it's always the same 10-15% of kids that are always there and it's a free class with our awesome tumbling coaches that basically turns into a private lesson and there are multiple time slots and people still don't show.....so I couldn't begin to tell you the answer to that. It was the same way when they did those classes by team rather than by level....the 5-6 that showed were usually the 5-6 that already had the skills.

I personally like that they do it by level now, I love that it's included in our tuition and I love that my gym rats get lots of one on one attention, but I hate that so many people blow off the opportunity to work on tumbling skills, because after choreography it's about the routine and gaining tumbling skills really doesn't happen if you're not actively working outside of the standard practice to gain skills.

Thank you for this, glad to hear a similar situation. All my other teams have tumbling included, but we decided against it with this group as they are run out of a school predominately.
After competitions they realised how important it is to train hard at tumbling. They were amazed by the level 5 tumblers. But they are typical teenagers and are lazy in alot of ways. But having 3 turn up to tumbling just isn't good. Alot have paid for the term so I can't cancel the class, but I need to somehow get more girls going!

 

[12stepCheermom]

Thank you for this, glad to hear a similar situation. All my other teams have tumbling included, but we decided against it with this group as they are run out of a school predominately.
After competitions they realised how important it is to train hard at tumbling. They were amazed by the level 5 tumblers. But they are typical teenagers and are lazy in alot of ways. But having 3 turn up to tumbling just isn't good. Alot have paid for the term so I can't cancel the class, but I need to somehow get more girls going!

What about "inspecting what you expect?" maybe do some goal setting with the team, but then check in with them every week in some one on one personal way that makes them accountable for what they've done that week to reach their goal. You can do it in a positive an supportive way but if it's a regular thing it will (in theory) put the pressure to them to give you a better answer if they know the question is coming.

If they're just being lazy, knowing you're going to check in on their personal goal progress might get them off the couch, if it's not laziness you might find out the real issue.

I wouldn't do it publicly. No crazy sticker charts on the wall or anything, just so they know you're going to be asking...consistently.

 

[UEAcheerchick]

My gym makes tumbling class part of "mandatory practice" it's part of the monthly tuition also so parents don't think to much into it. Granted mandatory practice doesn't begin until August 6th, but most people still go because they are being held responsible for their skills. The whole off season is pretty much a tryout up until choreography and if you're not putting in the effort to progress tumbling wise, you risk getting moved down. This has worked very well for my gym and We usually have everyone show up. I think you just have to make the girls WANT to progress their tumbling. Make them WANT to put in as much as they can for their team. Once you have kids willing to put in the effort maybe have a parent meeting and give them a similar talk. Let them know who their kids will be working with and how big of an opportunity that is. Make them aware that if their child is lacking behind it will indeed affect the team not just the individual and even if they are at their level, they should take this opportunity to improve so that they can be a stronger tumbler or be able to make a higher team next season. Hope this made sense lol

 

[INeverStopCheering]

We offer tumble classes 4 nights a week, included in tuition(outside athletes pay $8). They are not restricted by age or skill level, and you can come to as many of them as you want. We have 6 to 8 coaches on hand each night to split the class into appropriate groups.

The same thing happens. In a class of 25 to 35 kids, 20 of them are the same each class. And 10 of those are high school cheerleaders or competitive dancers who come to class to get skills for their own programs. It's becoming a problem on my 4.2 team where not nearly enough people have back handsprings, but no ones coming to class. I would sit them down at the end of practice and ask them honestly why they aren't coming. Tell them you did this special for them and you're disappointed they aren't going. Then turn it into a desired activity. Maybe before or after the next class the team will go out to dinner, make t-shirts, or do some other bonding activity. Maybe the girl who attends the most classes/has improved the most at the end of the period will receive some sort of treat.

Don't be afraid to be honest with them. If you don't get this skill, you are holding your team back, and you will be in the back of the routine because you don't have the skills.

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

If you want everyone going to a separate tumbling class, I would have a meeting with the kids and the parents after practice one night. I would explain to them that they are due to be competed at level 2, however the tumbling skills are not where they need to be. You can only dedicate so much time to tumbling during regular practices, and the team isn't progressing as expected (hey- it takes time to get skills!). I would give them the option to either factor in tumbling into their monthly expenses and treat the tumbling class as their second night of practice, or let them drop to level 1. I would have this conversation with both the parents & kids because if the parents are concerned about the money, and this is the first season for most of them, they will probably have no problem going level 1. The girls most likely will though. Let them have the conversation amongst themselves after you present the case to them, and just offer an unbiased opinion if needed. This takes the decision out of your hands and puts it in theirs.

 

[cheermomforever]

unfortunately, that is the way it is sometimes, we have a conditioning tumbling one night a week which is included in the monthly tuition. It is a great class and gets them in shape for competition. You can tell who does it and who does not, after they compete for the 2 1/2 minutes. As everyone says, most of the time it is the same kids and the ones who do not come are often asking why they are not on a higher team! I look at it as my daughter is getting stronger from it and will feel better because of it.

 

[Deleted member 15407]

Well, all i know is that my gym we will be required to go to a tumbling class at least 2x a month.
Sometimes my team will have cheer practice go from instead of 6:30-8:30, to 5:00-9:00. (First 2 hours just cheer, Second two hours tumbling). Are you the owner of the gym? If so, you can just stay past opening hours for cheer and tumbling.

 

[auscheerflyer]

This probably won't help you so much this term, but this is just my experience and could help your team moving forward.

I switched teams this year and noticed a big difference in attendance to tumbling classes based on the way it was paid for.
With my team last year your term fees included 1 x squad training class + 1 x tumbling class, so on average I'd say around 80% of people would actually show up to the tumbling class.

This year my new team has 2 x squad training class (which include some tumbling) but tumbling classes are an extra $15. I would say only 5% or less of us go to the extra tumbling classes because people view it as an 'extra unnecessary cost'

Perhaps the answer would be to include it in the fees next term, explain that the squad has 2 compulsory trainings per week (1 x stunt/routine 1 x tumbling) and hopefully that would improve attendance?

 

[CheerBank]

This probably won't help you so much this term, but this is just my experience and could help your team moving forward.

I switched teams this year and noticed a big difference in attendance to tumbling classes based on the way it was paid for.
With my team last year your term fees included 1 x squad training class + 1 x tumbling class, so on average I'd say around 80% of people would actually show up to the tumbling class.

This year my new team has 2 x squad training class (which include some tumbling) but tumbling classes are an extra $15. I would say only 5% or less of us go to the extra tumbling classes because people view it as an 'extra unnecessary cost'

Perhaps the answer would be to include it in the fees next term, explain that the squad has 2 compulsory trainings per week (1 x stunt/routine 1 x tumbling) and hopefully that would improve attendance?

Our former gym offered tumbling on Friday nights for an hour. It was included in monthly tuition and was the only night the coaches could get a tumbling coach to work with the kids. Because it was on a Friday night, was only an hour and most kids did not live as close to the gym as we did, rarely was anyone there aside from my daughter and maybe one other. We had privates for almost half a year before the coach decided to discontinue this tumbling class. So having it included in the tuition in our case did not make a difference for most of the athletes or parents.

 

[auscheerflyer]

Our former gym offered tumbling on Friday nights for an hour. It was included in monthly tuition and was the only night the coaches could get a tumbling coach to work with the kids. Because it was on a Friday night, was only an hour and most kids did not live as close to the gym as we did, rarely was anyone there aside from my daughter and maybe one other. We had privates for almost half a year before the coach decided to discontinue this tumbling class. So having it included in the tuition in our case did not make a difference for most of the athletes or parents.

Hmmmm good point, I suppose it really does depend on the team/gym etc. I'm lucky enough to live 5 minutes from my gym so for me it's no problem at all to go for a 1 hour class even at an annoying time like Friday night, but I can understand how that would deter other students. Very lucky for your CP to basically get cheap privates for half a year though :)