All-Star Privates: Can A Cheerleader Be Successful Without Them?

[Hi! It's me!]

For my cp privates are a necessity. Gotta love a kid who is sooo polite that she kept letting kids go in front of her in the tumbling line so she could continue to converse with ANYBODY! :rolleyes: In privates she has managed to really focus on her skills without the distraction of her social life. She keeps her current level skills clean while really working on the next level. So in my cp's case her privates are needed.

 

[srt418]

How does everyone feel about privates?

Are CP's who don't have them at a disadvantage?
How much is too much to pay for a skill?
What about the families that can't afford a private?
What about families that can't fit them into their busy schedules?
Do coaches tend to bond more with the CP's that they work with in a private?

I coach privates weekly. Here's my 2 cents: privates are best when you have a cheerleader that's on a team and is clearly just not getting the skill. Or when a cheerleader has a mental block. I think they're great in general, but when I see one of those 2 situations, I talk to the parent about privates.

I would say the only time a CP is at a disadvantage is your gym just has too many kids in one tumbling class. then that puts you at a disadvantage because your CP might barely be having that one on one time with a coach.

It's up to the parent and the athlete to decide on too much to pay for a skill. When it's just the parent that wants a skill and the kid doesn't care, then they're paying too much.

Families that can't afford a private should seek all other ways to learn tumbling (if they can get to the gym). By doing tumbling classes, open gym, or (if your gym allows it) come in to practice a few minutes early and work on basic drills.

Families that can't fit a private into their busy schedule is their own problem...not sure why that's even an issue.

I bond best with hardworking cheerleaders from both tumbling classes and private lessons. However, I do remember things better from privates. So Suzie might only do tumbling classes. I might remember that she has backhandspring but not a frontwalkover. Sally does privates with me. I remember all of her tumbling AND what she typically does wrong. So when I see her at practice while I'm just hanging out, I remind Sally to do ____, while I don't remember what Suzie does wrong until I see it.

 

[srt418]

By the way, privates and tumbling classes were absolutely necessary for me when I cheered. I learned drills in classes and privates kept me focused and mentally fit for tumbling.

 

[Num1Stunta]

As a coach...

How does everyone feel about privates? I love them. I love to do them, and I think the kids benefit greatly from it!

Are CP's who don't have them at a disadvantage? Not a "disadvantage", per say... But, kids who DO take privates have an advantage, if that makes any sense at all. 30 minutes of direct one-on-one time is equivalent to what the athlete is going to be getting in 3-4 regular hour-long classes, depending upon the gym.

How much is too much to pay for a skill? How bad does your CP want that skill? I know of a child at my prior gym who worked for 2 years on her BHS and is now 3 years into working her tuck- no tuck yet, and I believe she is 15 now. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of money that has been spent on those skills, especially knowing that she was doing 2-3 privates a week at some points. She was a great kid everywhere on the scoresheet, but simply couldn't progress her tumbling. She has been on Level 3 teams since she got her bhs, but wants level 4. I guess when you're a parent, you want to feel like you're doing whatever you can to help your kid reach their goals, so they think nothing of dropping tons of money on privates. There should really be a time when a coach can step up and say, I really think this is as high as she can go. IMO

What about the families that can't afford a private? Personally, if a kid really wants them, and I know they can't afford it, I'll do it reduced or free. Pricing at my previous gym was $30 for 30 min... $10 went to the gym, $20 to the instructor. I had a few kids who I did privates with who I only charged the $10 for the gym's share. Most of the time, your coaches are the ones putting in the time, so they're the ones who will bargain with you on prices. (maybe not all, but that's me)


What about families that can't fit them into their busy schedules? I have never seen that be the case. If you're at a gym where your coaches have access to the facility at all times, there is usually someone that can squeeze you in. I've done privates on Saturday nights, Sunday mornings, even 9 or 10pm on weekdays. Money talks lol

Do coaches tend to bond more with the CP's that they work with in a private? In my experience, YES. When you're stretching, you talk about their day and whatever else is on their minds. Then, during the private, you are getting to know everything about them as an athlete- what makes them tick mentally, where their confidence is or isn't, what are their strengths and weaknesses, what frustrates them, what their goals are, etc. I do my best to know all the kids I coach on that kind of level, but that 30 minutes you have with them during privates definitely make it easier:)

 

[Angelica]

Yes they can be an advantage. So worth the money I just wish they werent so dang expensive.

 

[cheermommaRN]

I thought you needed privates to be successful in cheer but cp has gotten her bhs and robhs in just a little over a year and a half, with only 2 private lessons. I just don't have the money for them, and I've seen parents pay thousands of dollars for their cp to get a skill and after 3 years they still don't have it. Finally I asked a fellow cheer mom that has a very talented cp if they did privates...guess what...they don't. They just take advantage of tumbling classes and her cp is very driven.
I have seen kids progress quickly with privates and I would probably find the money if cp was once again on a higher level team then her present skill set. Luckily we are on a level 2 team and she has all the tumbling she needs to be successful this season. Our plan is to do as much tumbling as they will allow her, and maybe add an extra class. We are also changing it up a bit and heading out to World Cup for her to take some tumbling (we will be in the area for 4th of July holiday).

 

[Mamarazzi]

I think privates are a great way for the athlete to increase skills more quickly than without, or in a class, for some. My cp has done classes, semi-privates and privates, and we found that whether the money was spent over a period of months, or weeks, it basically took the same amount of actual instruction time to get the skill.
I've only ever spent $25/half hour per week for a tumbling private, $30/half hour for flying private.
Privates are her "reward" for doing well in school, behaving, etc. We can't really "afford" them either, but that's how we've decided to give her something tangible for succeeding outside the gym. That privilege has also been taken away when grades weren't so hot.
We can always fit an extra half hour into our schedule, usually combining privates time before or after practice.
I don't know if my cp "bonds" with her privates coaches, but she probably trusts them more than the other coaches at the gym.

 

[Mo-Lissa]

We have been in cheer for many years..... My cp has taken privates through the years, but maybe around 3 0r 4 a year. She takes advantage of her tumble class, tumble clinics, and open gyms. If she has taken privates it is stretch privates, she really enjoys that. I do not feel she is at any disadvantage, she thrives more when she is with other kids to push her. Some kids do better that way than the one on one. If we do tumble privates, it is usually if we are on vacation so she can see other gyms and meet new people.

 

[Fameous MOM]

I am a big fan of privates. I really prefer semi privates with kids working on the same skills. The coach is able to go in great detail and fix all of the small things that he may not notice when he is having to run a large class. The semi privates are great because the kids motivate each other. I wish I had the money to do them every week. :)

YES!!! My daughter shares a lesson with another girl and they feed off of each other! The one girl did a one to a full and darn if my daughter (who would not try it) tried and landed it! Then last night my cp did an arabian through to a full and then the other one did it. I think semi private is great! My daughter has come a long way in a short time with private lessons!
If you can't afford them than I would not stress. It may take your cp a little longer. Once we get our choreography the kids are not tumbling as much during practice so I do the lessons to keep her moving!

 

[cljacks99]

YES!!! My daughter shares a lesson with another girl and they feed off of each other! The one girl did a one to a full and darn if my daughter (who would not try it) tried and landed it! Then last night my cp did an arabian through to a full and then the other one did it. I think semi private is great! My daughter has come a long way in a short time with private lessons!
If you can't afford them than I would not stress. It may take your cp a little longer. Once we get our choreography the kids are not tumbling as much during practice so I do the lessons to keep her moving!

That is EXACTLY what I do as well! We do private tumble lessons starting in like October which seems to be when they dont seem to get as much tumbling time. I do them like once or twice a month now just to keep her technique from getting sloppy..

 

[mybabywantstotumble]

this will be my CP's first year and has no formal tumbling experience. this past weekend my cousin signed her up for a tumbling class then a 2 hour private with her CP's gym owner. by the time we left, my daughter now has her BHS with a spot. i do think it was worth it, however my cousin paid for it. :) my CP was placed on a higher level team than i am told she should be on based on tumbling skills because they want her to fly. i don't want the other girls on the team to hate her because she isn't on their same level so i will probably put her in some privates so she can get more experience. not sure how much they are yet though, hopefully not too much!

 

[TheVipersMom]

How does everyone feel about privates? I am so torn on them. I see people with 4, 5 and 6 yr olds that put their children in privates at least once a week so they can get the next tumbling skill. I don't think the kids need or want to take them, it is kind of sad in a way......the parents are so competitive that they want their child to be the first one to get X tumbling skill.​

My daughter has done privates at least once a week for an half hour since she started exactly 1year ago today. It doesn't matter how much it cost, I'm paying for it because she wants to do it! My daughter loves doing privates because she loves the attention. My daughter gets recognized for her hard work so she pushes harder. She was on tiny1 last year, started a month late and by like august she had more skills then everyone on the tiny team even the girls who started when they were 3 and were in their 3rd year. Some kids just don't have the passion an focus for it but my cp does.
My daughter tells everyone who will listen about how awesome Whitney Love is and pretty sure like no one knows who she is talking about.
My daughter wants to be just like Whitney!

My daughters hard work an dedication are obviously paying off because she made youth2 this year and the only kindergartner on the team, everyone else is like 4th grade and she loves the attention she gets now when she tumbles. We are not a huge gym so we don't have a large talent pool to select from so besides a couple 8year olds, my daughter is the only one who just turned 6 an can throw a ro BHS on the floor. Although we don't have open gym or anything where they can go tumble but we did only during spring break.

So yes I do believe privates help, but also if this is something my daughter didn't want I don't feel like any amount of privates would have gave her that skill.

So I dont agree, I say its worse to put a 10 year old in privates that isn't dedicated and doesn't care about what's going on. Then a 5 year old who says she is going to own a gym one day and coach a team because she wants to be just like the owner of our gym and be the best cheerleader in the world.

As long as my CP loves cheer then I'm going to help support her. I see so many high school girls in our gym trying to get a BHS for tryouts at their school that say, "wow I wish my mom would of put me in it when I was 5."

So maybe she grows up an said mom I want to play basketball, well she will be one flexible basketball player but will also see what can happen when you apply yourself!​

 

[cheergoogle]

We do privates on occasion with my CP. Usually when she is close to a new skill or just needs a boost in her tumbling confidence. I am debating whether to get her a stunting private this year as she will most likely be too big to fly on Mini 2 but absolutely loves flying.

I posted this topic because I don't recall there being a discussion on privates. Thanks for all the insight and replies.

 

[LittleMiss]

My daughters hard work an dedication are obviously paying off because she made youth2 this year and the only kindergartner on the team, everyone else is like 4th grade and she loves the attention she gets now when she tumbles. We are not a huge gym so we don't have a large talent pool to select from so besides a couple 8year olds, my daughter is the only one who just turned 6 an can throw a ro BHS on the floor. Although we don't have open gym or anything where they can go tumble but we did only during spring break.​

So yes I do believe privates help, but also if this is something my daughter didn't want I don't feel like any amount of privates would have gave her that skill.​

So I dont agree, I say its worse to put a 10 year old in privates that isn't dedicated and doesn't care about what's going on. Then a 5 year old who says she is going to own a gym one day and coach a team because she wants to be just like the owner of our gym and be the best cheerleader in the world.​

That is wonderful for your daughter that they placed her on a level 2 where she belongs.

Perhaps my POV is different because the gym my daughter is at is large and all of the children have access to some of the best tumble coaches. The way the program is structured is each child is entitled to 1 free open tumble a week and practice is 2hrs x3, at each practice they spend 1 hour as a group tumbling with 1 or 2 coaches. Most 6 yr olds in the gym have a RO BHS some are working on or have tucks. We all want to see our children advance at things but sometimes I think pressure is put on kids way to young. Kids are discouraged that they have the higher tumble skills but lack the other skills needed to advance. I witnessed this a few weeks ago with many of the children that my daughter cheers with and it is difficult for kids to understand, "You can tumble your little butt off, but you need to work on your jumps, stunting, and following the routine." I know several that quit because they were so upset, others that said they wanted to but the parents talked them into staying.

 

[Num1Stunta]

I thought you needed privates to be successful in cheer but cp has gotten her bhs and robhs in just a little over a year and a half, with only 2 private lessons. I just don't have the money for them, and I've seen parents pay thousands of dollars for their cp to get a skill and after 3 years they still don't have it. Finally I asked a fellow cheer mom that has a very talented cp if they did privates...guess what...they don't. They just take advantage of tumbling classes and her cp is very driven.
I have seen kids progress quickly with privates and I would probably find the money if cp was once again on a higher level team then her present skill set. Luckily we are on a level 2 team and she has all the tumbling she needs to be successful this season. Our plan is to do as much tumbling as they will allow her, and maybe add an extra class. We are also changing it up a bit and heading out to World Cup for her to take some tumbling (we will be in the area for 4th of July holiday).

OOOOO you'll be in my neck of the woods ;)
They have some great instructors there, a lot of my former kids go there and love it!