All-Star IASF age grid changes for 2022-2023
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This proposes to bump the bottom age of international open teams up to 16.
I wonder if USASF will follow suit with the other open divisions?
I doubt it. We’re talking about the same governing body who thought it was a great idea for Jr Teams to be composed of HS seniors and first graders.
I wonder if USASF will follow suit with the other open divisions?
I doubt it. We’re talking about the same governing body who thought it was a great idea for Jr Teams to be composed of HS seniors and first graders.
I don’t necessarily know of any other youth sport activities in which grown adults (21+) can be on teams with kids as young as 8th grade. It’s not developmentally appropriate. But again we’re talking about the same governing body who thinks it’s developmentally appropriate for first graders to have high school age teammates.
I love the changes, but I read comment after comment of parents infuriated. Most are in a rush to get their kid a chance to be on a worlds team.
The thing:
Worlds teams will be there. This is not a race.
I feel like social media plays a lot into the race though.
Elite camps and groups like Gen Next and such, tend to push a “Oh my gosh look who has level six tumbling when they are only nine years old!!” ideal that is not realistic. Amazing but definitely not the trajectory of a typical kid.
I feel like it shapes a kid’s thinking that if you haven’t made a new level a year, you’re failing - and that the goal is to be on J6 by double digits and a Worlds team your first year eligible. That’s definitely cool but it’s not realistic. And I’m sure it is frustrating if you see people around you in real life meeting those goals but everyone isn’t going to be that kid.
Worlds teams will be there. This is not a race.
I feel like social media plays a lot into the race though.
Elite camps and groups like Gen Next and such, tend to push a “Oh my gosh look who has level six tumbling when they are only nine years old!!” ideal that is not realistic. Amazing but definitely not the trajectory of a typical kid.
I feel like it shapes a kid’s thinking that if you haven’t made a new level a year, you’re failing - and that the goal is to be on J6 by double digits and a Worlds team your first year eligible. That’s definitely cool but it’s not realistic. And I’m sure it is frustrating if you see people around you in real life meeting those goals but everyone isn’t going to be that kid.
When we began in 2010 the age grid had age maximums, however, they had no age minimums. A Sr. team was 18 and under, a Jr team was 14 and under, etc. The age grid has continued to evolve as the sport and gym population continues to grow.
2010 USASF age grid
Yep. People thought I was crazy when they first added age minimums. People were flipping out that 6 year old could be on a team with a 14 year old. I was like, up until now a newborn technically could have been on a team with an 18 year old. I know they did seniors first around 11/12 is when they made it 10-18. But juniors and younger took a lot longer.
I vaguely recall a period of time when when you could have been like ten or 11 on Worlds and 5 on J6 but I wasn’t sure if I dreamed it?
That sounds about right. I started L5 in 2006 and there was definitely a 5th grade flyer on my team.
I have mixed feelings but overall I like the idea. Will be interesting to see if USASF follows. It looks like the IASF grid keeps all divisions ages within 4 years. Right now USASF's is all over the place, with Junior being the worst (a TEN year age difference!!) I think in the long run it is a good idea, just very curious how it will go if both IASF and USASF adopt the new grid..
It's crazy to think about but the oldest folks on open teams or retired folks who are multi time World Champions are that way because they have literally been Worlds eligible half their lives.
**Or more if they were around when junior teams went to Worlds.
Crazy idea:
WHAT IF WE MADE SOLOS AND INDIVIDUALS GREAT AGAIN?
Maybe parents would be less pressed about kids being age limited to certain teams? (i.e. not age appropriate for Worlds under proposed new grid but outpacing the teams for their age level.)
The concern - "There is no Y5, or J5 or J6 at my gym. Only J4 then worlds. My super talented 13 year old will have to wait to go to Worlds if the grid changes. She does not want to be on J4 for the next 2 years."
Solution - Get kids back to competing solo again so they can compete the skills they have when a team doesn't exist for them or they are not age eligible for it yet.
Could be true for any level, too. Kid not age ready for Y2 but is most skilled athlete on Mini 1 with all Level 2 tumbling? Stay on M1 and compete a level 2 solo.
WHAT IF WE MADE SOLOS AND INDIVIDUALS GREAT AGAIN?
Maybe parents would be less pressed about kids being age limited to certain teams? (i.e. not age appropriate for Worlds under proposed new grid but outpacing the teams for their age level.)
The concern - "There is no Y5, or J5 or J6 at my gym. Only J4 then worlds. My super talented 13 year old will have to wait to go to Worlds if the grid changes. She does not want to be on J4 for the next 2 years."
Solution - Get kids back to competing solo again so they can compete the skills they have when a team doesn't exist for them or they are not age eligible for it yet.
Could be true for any level, too. Kid not age ready for Y2 but is most skilled athlete on Mini 1 with all Level 2 tumbling? Stay on M1 and compete a level 2 solo.
The bar of intensity and speed has continued to grow in AS and there's no denying the size of flyers has gotten smaller in the process. While HS cheer has done fine with the narrow height/weight gap, its intensity and speed isn't the same as AS. We came from a gym that preferred putting age groups together by HS, MS, and elementary, and it was competitive for a long time. However, as the skill bar continued to rise, we saw first hand how much difference those smaller flyers on other gym teams made when it came to stamina, speed and skill ability.
I see pros and cons. I can't/won't speak for other gyms, but as our gym adapted to allowing the younger minimum on Sr teams, the athletes just naturally sought out their age/maturity groups for friends during breaks and comps. While practicing, talking was at a minimum. The bigger challenge, IMO, is SM, private messaging, and porn exposure on phones that defy age, walls, and states. These governing bodies will follow legal advice and then try to appease parents and gym owners, but I hope coaches expectations of athletes physical ability and routine intensity will be reflected with the changes.
I see pros and cons. I can't/won't speak for other gyms, but as our gym adapted to allowing the younger minimum on Sr teams, the athletes just naturally sought out their age/maturity groups for friends during breaks and comps. While practicing, talking was at a minimum. The bigger challenge, IMO, is SM, private messaging, and porn exposure on phones that defy age, walls, and states. These governing bodies will follow legal advice and then try to appease parents and gym owners, but I hope coaches expectations of athletes physical ability and routine intensity will be reflected with the changes.
Were there any proposed changes besides bumping the bottom of the open age? Any changes to World's age for senior teams? I'm not in the "worry -zone," just curious!
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