All-Star Small Gym But Not "small Gym"

[crazycheermom]

I thought USASF rules stated less than 75 cheerleaders and one physical location = small gym. Is that wrong?

 

[SheCheers]

I thought USASF rules stated less than 75 cheerleaders and one physical location = small gym. Is that wrong?

This is correct, even in texas ;)

 

[crazycheermom]

I do think it is sometimes hard to convince kids/parents that Susie can be just as successful on a "lower" level team. And that can really hurt when you are in a small town where the other gym in town will put ALL kids on a higher level Sr. team. that competes at small events only and rarely competes against more than 2-3 teams. Therefore, they can boast most weekends about "winning". People who don't know the ins and outs of the cheer comp then assume the other gym is more successful.

 

[SheCheers]

I'll use my gym as an example. We are considered large, but haven't been very far past that 75 athlete point for many seasons. And there are athletes who have been placed on levels lower than their tumbling level because mainly they need to work their way up, sure you're 7 with a running tuck, but you've never stunted beyond mini 1, so you can go youth 2 and work your way up. It's very rare an athlete will skip a level. But because they're on an appropriate team for their skill level and age (for the most part) they build a strong solid team with high difficulty that hits and wins. This is what keeps the parents happy. If you start placing athletes on teams so their mom wont be mad, you'll end up with a bunch less successful teams and therefore even more unhappy customers. If one or two quit because of their team placement it's better for the gym as a whole to let them go. Can't please everyone and when they head over to craptastic who will cater to that and they lose, they'll be back (if you'll take them. Lol).

 

[THEJOEL]

I'll use my gym as an example. We are considered large, but haven't been very far past that 75 athlete point for many seasons. And there are athletes who have been placed on levels lower than their tumbling level because mainly they need to work their way up, sure you're 7 with a running tuck, but you've never stunted beyond mini 1, so you can go youth 2 and work your way up. It's very rare an athlete will skip a level. But because they're on an appropriate team for their skill level and age (for the most part) they build a strong solid team with high difficulty that hits and wins. This is what keeps the parents happy. If you start placing athletes on teams so their mom wont be mad, you'll end up with a bunch less successful teams and therefore even more unhappy customers. If one or two quit because of their team placement it's better for the gym as a whole to let them go. Can't please everyone and when they head over to craptastic who will cater to that and they lose, they'll be back (if you'll take them. Lol).

This for the win!! :chestbump:

 

[debesq97]

Agree - it's all about team placement and working to the team's potential, rather than to the few who have higher level skills. At the end of the day, wouldn't you rather your CP be on a team that maxes out and hits, rather than one struggling to compete at the higher level?

"It's about the hit, not the win....I read that somewhere." ;)

 

[BelieveinM.E.]

I agree with what most said. My Y2 has 9 kids on it, My S4 13, my S3 18. We break up to make smaller teams that fit the athletes need. I agree where it may be frustrating and harder to work with than if I had 100 kids to chose from, but you work with what you have. My 9 kids Y2 kicks tail, regardless of if they are against a 20 kid team or a 9 kid team. They work hard, and size doesn't bring them down. I don't see us leaving the "small gym" division anytime soon, considering we'd have to add like 35 more athletes, but sometimes-I wouldn't have it any other way :)

 

[BowsnBling]

I have to say that it does not matter how many kids are on the floor, if they are age appropriate and skill appropriate they will score where they should. I have a friend that had 5 kids on a Jr. 2 team one year and they won Spirit Sports in Palm Springs, massive competition. It truly matters on so many other things then what you are mentioning. I hate to say this but has your coach led you to believe that you lose to 'big dogs' because you are a small gym? There in lies the problem.

 

[FamousxMindset]

Also, if the coaching is sub-par, they probably will never be successful. I see so many high school teams around here with raw talent, but the coaches are random girls that just cheered sideline and graduated and now are magically qualified to coach comp. Then they do terribly because the coach doesn't know what she's doing. Woof.

You are wonderful.

 

[NEliteSteven]

You are wonderful.

Back atcha! :-)

 

[cheermominar]

All I can say/add is that I was a bit surprised to find out our youth team will be up against Cheer Athletics in NCA. Maybe I just miss read the schedule wrong. I consider us a step down from a small gym.

How small is small, gotta look down to see this one. :oops:

 

[Valvalmom]

I have to say that it does not matter how many kids are on the floor, if they are age appropriate and skill appropriate they will score where they should. I have a friend that had 5 kids on a Jr. 2 team one year and they won Spirit Sports in Palm Springs, massive competition. It truly matters on so many other things then what you are mentioning. I hate to say this but has your coach led you to believe that you lose to 'big dogs' because you are a small gym? There in lies the problem.

Absolutely not, quite the opposite. They just had a pow wow last night and told the kids not to fear the big dogs. My concern is that these mega teams are able to stack many full sized teams maxing age and skill level (and I won't even breach the issue of sandbagging). For us to do so would create teams of 6-7 kids each.

Our gym tried hard this year to keep the skill levels on-level, but we ended up with a mass exodus of parents that could take their kids to the gym down the road and get their kids on higher level teams.

 

[dawgshow]

Absolutely not, quite the opposite. They just had a pow wow last night and told the kids not to fear the big dogs. My concern is that these mega teams are able to stack many full sized teams maxing age and skill level (and I won't even breach the issue of sandbagging). For us to do so would create teams of 6-7 kids each.

Our gym tried hard this year to keep the skill levels on-level, but we ended up with a mass exodus of parents that could take their kids to the gym down the road and get their kids on higher level teams.

If it was a mass exodus, then either be thankful that those parents left because they would be headaches or wonder if something else is going on in the gym. Just from my experience, if a LOT of parents leave at once they've either been promised the moon and will be back once they realize that they won't even reach the atmosphere or there are problems at the gym that may not be common knowledge.
It's tough, I know. Look for the post "I hope you lose" It has a great message and may apply to your situation. It sounds like your coaches are doing a great job handling it!

 

[Valvalmom]

If it was a mass exodus, then either be thankful that those parents left because they would be headaches or wonder if something else is going on in the gym. Just from my experience, if a LOT of parents leave at once they've either been promised the moon and will be back once they realize that they won't even reach the atmosphere or there are problems at the gym that may not be common knowledge.
It's tough, I know. Look for the post "I hope you lose" It has a great message and may apply to your situation. It sounds like your coaches are doing a great job handling it!

Amen!!!