Opinions On Levels

[Kirra’s_mom]

My daughter was on a Prep level 1 team this year. She has been working on her tumbling all year and now has all level 3 skills. Do you think it is too soon for her to join a level 3 team?

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

My daughter was on a Prep level 1 team this year. She has been working on her tumbling all year and now has all level 3 skills. Do you think it is too soon for her to join a level 3 team?

That depends on so many variables. I do have some insight about progression though:

Don't rush.

So often, a parent thinks: "Oh ok we got the tumbling for Level 3 so we're good to be placed on a level 3 team."

I will tell you that being Level 3 is more than having Level 3 tumbling.

She has to not only be consistent at Level 3 tumbling but also have consistency at Level 3 stunting, baskets, etc.

That usually takes time and means not skipping levels. So yes, keep working it all do not be surprised if she is asked to be on Level 1 or 2 again. Patience is everything.

 

[alpaca]

I know of a level 3 team the had phenomenal tumbling scores. But they didn't have the rest of it and regularly scored at the bottom of their divisions at comps. It was a real kick in the butt for the morale of those girls. Believe coaches when they tell you that tumbling isn't enough.

 

[DonnaM]

My CP went from L1 prep (she hadn’t wanted to travel, and we only had L1 for Junior prep) to L3 travel because we didn’t have a S1 or S2. (Small gym). I don’t recommend it. A very strong L1 or good L2 athlete with some L3 skills becomes a nugget on L3 when most of the team has all L3 skills and most L4 skills, and is working L5. And the level of pressure and stress from moving from prep to travel was tough, too. If she had gone to a S1 or S2, or a prep season on a 3.1 or 3.2 (which would have been ideal) she would had a much better season. She was under a lot of pressure, mostly self-induced to get skills, and actually ended up blocking and struggling with skills she had been close to mastery on, but wasn’t 100% automatic on yet. She felt like she wasn’t worthy of being on the team, and a few of her teammates made similar comments, and she never felt like she belonged. She actually spent most of the season cheering for and supporting our youth and junior teams because she just plain didn’t feel comfortable with her team. As she put it, she still loves cheer, but she did NOT want to do that again.

She’s currently trying out for a school team which has a lot of novice athletes, and competes game day. They usually compete at something around a level 2 on skills. She is SO much happier being on a team where the skills are comfortable and she can just learn the specifics-and actually has been able to throw tumbling on a mat in the tryout clinics that she was unable to throw on a Spring floor, because of the lack of stress.

 

[catlady]

Most competitive gyms now require a good portion of the elite level tumble skills (triple bhs, round off tuck, running bhs tuck, running front tuck , aerial, and specialty pass) and then level 3 or extremely strong level 2 stunt skills to make a level 3. As a mom, I hated the years my now retired cp's made teams as the weaker links. It meant a lot of privates and extra days in the gym trying to catch up and trips to the urgent care and PT.

 

[BlockHead]

It depends. How does she do with stunting? How are her jumps? Can she keep up with a level 3 dance?

One of CP's really good friends was on a Prep 1 team 2 season's ago with only a cartwheel. The following season, she was able to make level 3 (she is a tumbling beast). She tried out for level 4 for her 3rd season, and it sounds like she might have made it. She is just one of those lucky kids with natural talent.

Talk to your gym owner about your concerns. They will place her where she will succeed.

 

[Staceysgirls]

My daughter went from half year lvl 1 youth prep as her intro to all star cheer to senior level 3. She was at a small gym. She picked up all the tumbling really easily and was tiny so they had her fly. That season she moved her tumble skills up to level 5 and flying skills to a 4, but the next season repeated a year on lvl 3 and then half way through the year took over for an injured flyer on sr 4 as well. She is a pretty serious kid, but all those older kids were a drag for her. I think it is more than the number level that is important but also the age level. If I had to do it again I'd take the youth 2 over the sr 3 she did her first full year of all star cheer. friendships and other relationships matter!

 

[dawgshow]

My daughter was on a Prep level 1 team this year. She has been working on her tumbling all year and now has all level 3 skills. Do you think it is too soon for her to join a level 3 team?

So...where was she placed?