I cant say I agree with the statements about level 5 teams are what brings those lower level girls in. They will aspire to be on any higher level team, which they should. But that shouldnt mean that those higher level teams are treated differently, or given better treatment and perks. It kills me to see those things go on.
I am a coach at a smaller gym, with quite a few larger, well known, very good gyms close by. The ONLY kids we lost from last season, were ones going into a specialized school program that would conflict with practices, or ones who were moving. Not only that, but our numbers almost doubled from last season. This is without a level 5 team...or even a level 4 for that matter. We only had levels 1 and 2 last season, and we werent going around winning every competition (though our kids did a fantastic job, which is all we can ask of them). So how did our gym grow?
Simple word of mouth from our parents. Every single child in our program is loved and treated EXACTLY the same, no matter what age/skill level, and the parents know it. They know that when we do reach the point of having a level 5 team, things will still be the same in that aspect. If we feel a team needs an extra free class to work on skills, then it will be offered to every level. Every coach as well as the owner goes to each teams practices (not every practice, but many). The numbers will continue to grow for us, along with skill, as long as we continue to do what they have been doing all along.
The mini and youth level 1 girls, will eventually be your senior level 5 girls. You need to work with them and build them into that team. Not giving them a good amount of help and instruction along the way, treating them unfairly...will only lead to you not having a senior 5 team when those girls are age eligible. It is a good way to just run your entire youth program or lower level program out of the door, because I feel like the kids and parents will start to notice unfair treatment. Sorry its long, it just boils my blood to see it happen. My youth 1 girls worked as hard as any other team last year, ended on the high note of competing level 2 at their last comp, and now make up a youth 2 and a youth 3 team for this season. Had we not paid attention, or not given the same treatment, they would probably still be level 1 this season.