All-Star Hybrid Show Team? Help!

[epitomeofbeans]

We haven't been able to get enough girls to make a level 1 team, but the 6 we have are VERY talented. We have a Sr.2 and a show squad. We are wanting to combine the level 1 with the show team and allow anyone from level 2 with level 3+ skills to join so they can perform their best skills at competition. Is this legal? Has this ever been done before? Since it's a show team (not level specific) should we just follow USASF general saefty guidelines? Thank you for your time!!!

 

[Helen uk uni cheer]

We haven't been able to get enough girls to make a level 1 team, but the 6 we have are VERY talented. We have a Sr.2 and a show squad. We are wanting to combine the level 1 with the show team and allow anyone from level 2 with level 3+ skills to join so they can perform their best skills at competition. Is this legal? Has this ever been done before? Since it's a show team (not level specific) should we just follow USASF general saefty guidelines? Thank you for your time!!!

You do know that you can form a team with just 6 girls usasf says a team is min of 5 I have seen a team of youtbe with six members and it look really good and I think suitable for level 1

 

[epitomeofbeans]

I know it's possible to compete with only 6 but I've never been to a competition where a team that size has been entertaining or placed well. I'm all about getting creative with the routine to make up for it, but with the results from local competitions I've seen, if hate to set them up for failure :(. Thanks so much though, and do you know if it's legal to mix skill levels on a show team? Like some girls with forward rolls in front and standing back in the back type thing?


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[SparkleSpankies]

I think a performance team as long as you are not getting judged based on level wouldn't matter. I still think the girls would benefit more if you could recruit or maybe place on a higher level to be pushed.

 

[cheerforeverever]

You could always throw together a show team for an in-gym showoff (so that all the kids can show off their skills), but honestly I would not recommend you doing that all season at actual competitions.

Per the rules, you would essentially have to go out as a (sad) Level 3 exhibition team...............
"Teams that perform in exhibition or evaluation only at an event must adhere to the USASF Age Grid and Level Rules as would any other team. Exhibition or evaluation only status does not allow a team to violate the safety rules or age restrictions that have been put in place for all athletes. Any exception to this rule must be obtained in writing from the USASF. "


Some things to think about.............
A. This is competitive cheer. These girls are signing up to compete. I would be concerned that:
(assuming they are older than tiny age)
-the parents will be unhappy spending so much money to just have their child do a routine for no result
-the kids will lack motivation because they are not pushing to improve their placement throughout the season
-the kids will not get the experience of a true competition. Gracious winner, gracious loser and all in between

B. As I judge, if I saw a show team throwing level 1 skills mixed with level 3 skills, I would be confused. If I had never seen your gym compete before, questions like: Are they trying to be a level 3?:confused: Do the coaches understand the rules and scoresheet? Are they a really small, new gym that doesn't know what they are doing yet? etc............would all honestly run through my mind (ESPECIALLY if this was a competition past regionals season). It just makes your gym name mentally associated with (putting it in a nice way) "small, not as professional, etc.".

I would either:
-make these girls the absolute cleanest, beast team of 6 that level 1 has ever seen (1man or 2man your socks off)
-have some of the level 2 girls cross over if allowed at the comps you compete at (to max pyramid)
-recruit more and then put these girls in the prep division (assuming the new kids would be more inexperienced)

 

[retiredl5cheer]

Yes to everything @cheerforeverever said. You may also lose 6 paying customers if they signed up for competitive cheer and get "show team." I really only agree with exhibition teams for tiny. Anything other than that seems like a waste because you pay the same fees. I'd rather pay and lose than pay and have never been given the chance to try and win.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Yes to everything @cheerforeverever said. You may also lose 6 paying customers if they signed up for competitive cheer and get "show team." I really only agree with exhibition teams for tiny. Anything other than that seems like a waste because you pay the same fees. I'd rather pay and lose than pay and have never been given the chance to try and win.

Yes.

If parents WANTED a non-competitive experience for their kids, they could sign them up for sideline/Pop Warner and save a great deal of money.

 

[cheerforeverever]

@epitomeofbeans if you got 3 level two kids to help out or recruited some beginners, that = 9 kiddos.
Stunt wise, that is:
- two prep groups
- 3 two man groups
-4 one mans plus a tumbler/extra (is it possible to level 1 one man cupie? ;) LOL)

Plenty of HS teams compete with that # and formations look perfectly fine. They just NEED to be extremely clean to get those overall impression points. Cleanliness + stunting beastliness will beat the larger, sloppier teams.

I would try it and see how they do at regionals. Go from there. You don't ever have to take all your teams to the same competitions (i.e. BIG competitive nationals such as NCA), especially young level 1 kids that are still learning the ropes, so why worry about placement as if it is all the stakes....... Don't cut them out of the running by not even letting them try. They may surprise you & they'll certainly learn a lot more, even if just competing at small, local competitions.

 

[epitomeofbeans]

Thank you for all your advice! It is a brand new gym and we tried our best to recruit girls for the level one team. We have several girls from our senior team that would like to be able to perform their best skills at comp as well (they have standing tucks, fulls, etc. but are competing at level 2 bc that's the skill level a majority of the girls are at). Some will of course compete in individuals but we thought this would be a good thing for the others. We have a lot to discuss! Thank you for your points :)


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