Is This A Polite Way For The Gym To Say We Are Unwanted?

[Sterling von Shimmer]

She is 15, about 4'11 (4' 10 and 3/4 at her appt last week) and 82 pounds of solid muscle. She marked any team, any position, on tryout forms but I don't think she knew that a senior 1 even existed. She has her standing full and 2 to full standing. She was working on the roundoff, arabian, round off, back handspring, double, punch front, round off, back handspring full at her last private. She has both segments on the tumble track and floor and they are trying to get her to string them together . She needs to be a little faster on the part after the punch front, but it is only something he decided to try with her starting 3 weeks ago. She tumbles at a gymnastics place as well (it is closer to home than the gym and they have always been ok with that) where she does things like adding in arabians, whips, arials and double back tucks as little tricks. She told me they are working on a standing double at the gymnastics place- they try to keep her tumble lessons geared toward cheer as they know that's what she does. They tried all last year to get her to join their power tumble team. Maybe this turn in cheer will make her say yes this year.

She did just tell me that she told them she would ideally like a level 3 or 4 since she plans to take almost all AP courses in school next year. Maybe this was why they gave her such an easy team? They have an international jr 3 (I think age wise she could have been there) and a sr 5 and sr 6 in addition to the non tumble team that I think she could have been on by age.

I'm not sure what the culture is at your gym, but maybe you could ask for a sit-down so they can explain her placement to you. Given everything you've said, I wouldn't let up until they allow it because it sounds like they owe you an explanation. One of two things will happen: they'll realize they've made a massive mistake, or they'll have to come clean about how they feel toward you. But I'd guess a mistake has been made. If they're a new gym looking to make a name for themselves, they really should be eager to retain your kiddo and link their name to her tumbling. I would. Additionally, if they really didn't want you there that badly I think they would've preemptively spoken to you before tryouts so as to avoid the always-awkward situation of cutting a talented kid for non-quantifiable reasons.

 

[Eyes On The Prize]

I'm confused and maybe need more info.

You stated:
- Daughter is 15, 4'11, 82lbs, solid muscle.
- Her favorite part of cheer is tumbling, she has level 6 tumbling.
- They have International JR 3, SR 5, SR 6, and SR 6 NT.
- They wanted her on the NT (I assume L6) team but she stated she didn't want to do level 6.
- Was placed On SR 1.

Your constraints now are:
- You want L5 or below.
- 15 is SR or international JR.
- She's teeny, I can't imagine she's going to be basing on a senior team.

She said no L6, so now her options in that gym are International JR 3 or SR 5. (Is there no Senior 3 or 4?)

How are her flying skills? Even though she's an elite tumbler, her size may work against her if she's not an experienced flyer. There are less places for her on a team compared to other girls who might be able to do a number of stunt positions. If she's not quite an L5 flyer and all the girls who were placed on SR 5 are more experienced, then maybe she didn't fit into their plan for that team? Placing her on JR 3 either may not develop her flying skills as much as they want (if the flying is the issue she's being held back) or may not be the fit they're looking for for that team. Maybe S1 was the default placement for her by process of elimination. Maybe it's less of a "we don't want you" and more of a "we don't know what to do with you because of the constraints of your situation."

I would talk to the coaches and ask what the thought process was for her placement and how to proceed. If there truly is no place she would be happy at the new gym, is there another gym in the area that might have a team that will accommodate her better?

 

[Staceysgirls]

She has only ever been a flyer...and I assume based on their desire to have her on the NT lvl 6 that they felt she had adequate flying skills. She has a needle, a nice bow and arrow and a lovely heel stretch.... she's always solid and works well with bases. When she tried out she said she was trying out as a base and they laughed and asked her for her stretches, so I again can only assume they feel she is competent in that realm.

I am at this point assuming that they were trying to accommodate her request for a not too intense team to balance her AP classes next school year. Since they fielded no sr 3 or 4 and she didn't want a 6 I guess the 1 was all that was left. We left the door open to the future...will tumble there and certainly encourage people we know to check them out. I hope they grow bigger and stronger each year and have a fabulous season this year. We would like to have been a part of this first season, but it wasn't meant to be. We called a few other gyms inquiring about stopping in for a tryout and there are a few candidates. She has her eye on a gym that is not too intense and has a sr 3 and 4. They have indicated they would be happy to make space for her so we shall see. Maybe the power tumble team at gymnastics will be a nice change of pace...or maybe even a year off.

I feel a bit better overall with a few days space. I initially kept thinking we'd must have done something awful to make them want us to go away but I could not figure out what.

 

[quitthedrama]

In reading through everything it sounds like the gym did their best to accommodate your very specific requirements. FWIW, most gyms that treat their worlds teams the same as their lower level teams in terms of expected commitment level and/or practice time and whether her tumbling skills are higher than a level placed it would make no difference to a gym's expectations of an athlete's commitment. I'm not sure your requirements are realistic for any gym.

 

[BlockHead]

Our gym was working on level placements a few weeks ago (team placements will be announced in a few weeks) There were some kids that they were on the fence about. And there were some kids that specifically tried out for a level and the gym knew it just wasn't time for that athlete to be at that level. Our coaches personally called the families to let them know what they were thinking in regards to placement. Perhaps your gym could have taken some time to communicate this to you and your daughter instead of shocking you with placement results.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[Staceysgirls]

I am a bit surprised by the idea that indicating on a form that asks, that you would like a level 3 or 4 team means there are some "very specific requirements". Is it ludicrous to think that an athlete might not feel she can commit herself to a level 1 team when she has been a solid 4 (now 5) levels above that level for multiple seasons? I think being honest and saying it would not be fair to her teammates to commit half heartedly to a team is appropriate and therefore politely declining the offer the correct course of action. I also think it is fairly mature to ask for a level that is EASY for her (not that it is an easy level or somehow less of a commitment), is less of a challenge and would require less effort for her in order to balance an unknown (school work in AP courses) with a known (cheer practices)- her personal level of effort for a particular level. If the gym did not want this sort of information why ask the question on the form? It certainly wasn't expected that her request would be the final determination, but there was no reason not to respond to it. At the tryout when they asked her about a level 6 she told them honestly why she had said she hoped to be placed on a 3 or 4- that it was a solid place for her to stay involved with what she loved while allowing her to be sure she could balance it with her classes.

If "no gym would accommodate" an athlete being honest about where they are in their lives, then maybe cheer isn't the right place for her.

 

[DonnaM]

FWIW, my CP asked to move to a limited travel team for similar reasons-She was on a team last season that did the big national comps, and practiced more than any other team in the gym. That just didn’t work this season-she has some serious academic commitments.

Her coach called me the day before teams came out, asking if CP would be ok with a Travel team, but one with fewer added practices, and with understanding that she would have to miss significant chunks of time for two pretty major academic events. (Which was the reason why DD had requested prep-their schedule avoiding her having to miss any competitions or choreography). Since it wasn’t what she wanted, they wanted to make sure it was ok before they made teams.

I cannot imagine many situations where an athlete would want a level 3 or 4, but be happy with a level 1, and I also don’t think it is unreasonable to not want a World’s team if that team practices or travels more or farther. For most kids, the payoff for AP classes will be higher than being on a level 6 vs a level 4 cheer team.

 

[CheerBank]

I am a bit surprised by the idea that indicating on a form that asks, that you would like a level 3 or 4 team means there are some "very specific requirements". Is it ludicrous to think that an athlete might not feel she can commit herself to a level 1 team when she has been a solid 4 (now 5) levels above that level for multiple seasons? I think being honest and saying it would not be fair to her teammates to commit half heartedly to a team is appropriate and therefore politely declining the offer the correct course of action. I also think it is fairly mature to ask for a level that is EASY for her (not that it is an easy level or somehow less of a commitment), is less of a challenge and would require less effort for her in order to balance an unknown (school work in AP courses) with a known (cheer practices)- her personal level of effort for a particular level. If the gym did not want this sort of information why ask the question on the form? It certainly wasn't expected that her request would be the final determination, but there was no reason not to respond to it. At the tryout when they asked her about a level 6 she told them honestly why she had said she hoped to be placed on a 3 or 4- that it was a solid place for her to stay involved with what she loved while allowing her to be sure she could balance it with her classes.

If "no gym would accommodate" an athlete being honest about where they are in their lives, then maybe cheer isn't the right place for her.

It sounds like she needs a half year team with fewer comps and less commitment rather than a lower level team that would be “easier” for her. Or maybe just do school cheer if that is an option and continue tumbling at another gym. Any full year team would still have the same number of practices per week and travel commitments as a higher or Worlds team (with the exception of Worlds of course). It’s not like a lower level team would afford her additional time to study during practices.

 

[DonnaM]

It sounds like she needs a half year team with fewer comps and less commitment rather than a lower level team that would be “easier” for her. Or maybe just do school cheer if that is an option and continue tumbling at another gym. Any full year team would still have the same number of practices per week and travel commitments as a higher or Worlds team (with the exception of Worlds of course). It’s not like a lower level team would afford her additional time to study during practices.

There are not nearly as many World’s bid events as Summit ones. There is only one Worlds competition within 4 hours of us this year, but many Summit ones. And if the OP’s DD thinks a lower level team will have a more achievable schedule, I’m guessing there is a reason. At our gym, there are certain coaches that tend to add practices and lengthen practices, and others where that almost never happens.

 

[emo_wifey]

There are not nearly as many World’s bid events as Summit ones. There is only one Worlds competition within 4 hours of us this year, but many Summit ones. And if the OP’s DD thinks a lower level team will have a more achievable schedule, I’m guessing there is a reason. At our gym, there are certain coaches that tend to add practices and lengthen practices, and others where that almost never happens.

Yep, it really depends on the gym. We used to have all AS teams go everywhere together except Summit and Worlds, but now we are changing to lower level teams traveling less. This year our tryout packet shows 1s 1 out of state, 2s and 3s 2 out of state, and 4s and up 3-4. @Staceysgirls hope you find something that works for her and makes you happy.

 

[Mom2Cheergirls]

I think you had specific requests on teams. Their need and your daughter's requests did not match up in the make up of a team. They offered her a level 6 non tumble World's team but when that did not work presented another option. She may like tumbling the best but she may not have been a best fit on the their Sr5 for various reasons. I think it is wrong to present this as them not wanting your daughter. That is not correct - they wanted her and had a World's team where they wanted her. She and you did not like it so you politely said no. Then you go elsewhere.