All-Star Practice And Breaks

[WisconsinIsFierce]

We don't have to "work for water," but we do have to finish certain things before getting a drink. Maybe that's what people mean by that. I think that's normal. For example, if they say hit five stunts then you can get a drink, you do just that. Coaches should be responsible enough to give their athletes enough water breaks to be healthily hydrated.

 

[BuegeSmalls]

We usually ran the routine and then were able to get a drink and then had to set it back up. Or we did it twice full out for a drink. But when we weren't going full out it would be like the whole team has to hit the stunts or everyone has to throw and land their tumbling.

Sometimes we had two teams using the same mats so one would go, one would get water.

 

[mstealtoyou]

The best time's to get water are when you're switching out with another team and when half the team runs certain sections and the other half takes a breather and cheers them on. As far as "official" water breaks our teams don't really get one.

I guess I've never really thought about it. But, my CP has never mentioned that she felt deprived from water or overly thirsty after her practices so it must work ok for her.

 

[cheernerd5678]

Level 3 Jr. She has the same coach as last year when she was a Mini 1. Their is no mini team this year (their are three other girls on the team her age the team total is 12 and 3 of them (cp or the younger) cross over to the Y2 team which is even smaller). It is possible they had breather breaks, I didn't stay and watch this particular practice. But often they have in the past had breather moments. Also what does IMHO mean :)

Haha in my honest opinion :) and maybe since some of the girls are older the coach doesn't realized they need more water breaks, maybe mention It to him?

 

[CheerBank]

I definitely think the frequency of breaks depends on the ages and what they are working on at the moment. While water breaks are a good time to regroup, it can also break up the momentum of what the coach is working on. For some younger teams (inlcuding jr ones) a 5 min water group quickly turns into 10+ until you get everyone back on the mat and refocused. However, water breaks are absolutely needed and should not be held over the kids as something they need to "earn".

 

[Jessicalynn]

When I was cheering we would get water after a full out unless we had a bunch of issues then we had to get back up and do it again and then we could have water .
I dont think younger girls should go an hour and a half with no water, eventually they will just be thinking about getting a drink not what is next in the routine

 

[cheermominar]

Thanks for the answers, cp has never complained to the point of wanting to vomit before. I did wonder what the coach would have thought if she did vomit on their mat/floor.

 

[quietmom]

So, practicing until you want to vomit is sort of normal? I admit that's not really what my orig. post was about (practice 'till you vomit-is maybe how I should have titled it). cp is 8yrs and the other night she told me she was ready to vomit after a hour and 1/2 without a break. They've had some pretty intense practices but this was the 1st time she said anything of that sort.

I may become very unpopular for saying this, but sacrificing health is never worth any prize. Period. It is not normal or healthy for any coach to do practices without breaks. If an athlete is vomiting, they need to be removed from the floor and sent home to rest. Short term gain is not worth long term damage to a developing body (and yes, even teenagers and college students are still growing and developing). Water breaks and brief rest periods should never be used as incentives and should never be restricted as punishment. No trophy or title is worth health problems down the road.

 

[cheermominar]

I do think it odd/funny. Last year my son did Jr. High football. I asked him how often they received breaks during practice. From the sounds of it they get/got them more then cp's cheer. Granted school started in Aug. the hottest time of the year, and if you live in the south you know what I mean by hot. Also, this may be a question for another started thread, but how many gyms ask for a physical or dr. notice? My son needed one for football, but then when we've done city ball or soccer that was also never asked for. For those that cheer for a school did you need to present a dr. notice clearing you for it?

 

[12stepCheermom]

I do think it odd/funny. Last year my son did Jr. High football. I asked him how often they received breaks during practice. From the sounds of it they get/got them more then cp's cheer. Granted school started in Aug. the hottest time of the year, and if you live in the south you know what I mean by hot. Also, this may be a question for another started thread, but how many gyms ask for a physical or dr. notice? My son needed one for football, but then when we've done city ball or soccer that was also never asked for. For those that cheer for a school did you need to present a dr. notice clearing you for it?

That's because high school sports are regulated by governing bodies that set rules and enforce rules consistently with fines and sanctions that are a deterrent to breaking the rules. They also set rules to ensure compliance with athlete safety.

Allstar Cheer (not being a recognized sport) has none of that, and that is the difference. I can only speak for NC, but Cheer is recognized by the NCHSAA so our high school teams follow the same rules as all other high school sports.

 

[mollymags]

I do think it odd/funny. Last year my son did Jr. High football. I asked him how often they received breaks during practice. From the sounds of it they get/got them more then cp's cheer. Granted school started in Aug. the hottest time of the year, and if you live in the south you know what I mean by hot. Also, this may be a question for another started thread, but how many gyms ask for a physical or dr. notice? My son needed one for football, but then when we've done city ball or soccer that was also never asked for. For those that cheer for a school did you need to present a dr. notice clearing you for it?

I cheered in college and we were required to get yearly physicals. I think they were also required to live in the dorms, though?

 

[XtremeWpg]

I send for water breaks whenever they look incredibly frustrated, or I'm getting really frustrated with them. Sometimes its just for 2 minutes to disengage and come back, but I know they (and I) appreciate that moment of separation!

 

[ssccxnce]

normally on days when my teams use to goof around and not hit our stunts we would have to hit 3 times as a team perfectly. if somebodys group fell we would start from one until we got to three. once we got there we would take a 5 - 10 minute break. regular practices if we were learning a new stunt or transition the stunt group could work it a few times till they felt comfortable then go grab water go back and work the stunts again.

 

[kristenthegreat]

If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated..

 

[Cheeranswers]

wow i guess i didn't realize how great i have it at my gym.. basically my coach will say "grab a two second drink" (never actually like that) after everything.. so if we start with jumps, before going to partner stunt we get a drink. if we're working our partner stunts not all together after a while she'll say "hit 5, and then get a drink" as for during tumbling, we can get drinks whenever we want.. i had no idea gyms got monitered with the amount of water breaks they get..