All-Star Summer Practices - How Is It Going And How Important Are They At Your Gym?

[anythingforcheer]

Wondering how summer practices are going at your gym? I understand that it's vacation time, summer fun and everyone has a right to take those planned times, but I'm more concerned with just missing practices at your convenience. It appears that summer practices are on the very end of the totem pole for some. It's quite complicated to focus on solid tumbling: choosing fliers/building stunt groups; technique; sharpness/cleanliness when so many people are absent and then upon return still get the choice spots in the routine and it doesn't matter about those who have committed the entire summer.

 

[The_cheer_obsessed]

At my gym we just do basics that we have to prepare for choreography. For example; Learning how to full-up, switch up, proper jump form, and ideas and skills that we want to master and perform at competition. If anyone is missing, we would switch in/out of a person's position. for example; If we are missing a base, we would have one base cover for her and the rest of the group go to a different group, then switch in and out with their position. We just focus on technique during the summer.

 

[Deleted member 8658]

i believe summer practices are very important because its time to get use to your new team and start working with them. you also need to learn the skills that you will need for the rest of the season. it also gives you a chance to get ready for coreography and be ahead of most teams.

 

[flyer4life]

Summer practices are extremely important because they get you ready for the competition season. It's a lot of conditioning, working the basics, and playing with stunt ideas. My coaches try to keep the same stunt groups every practice and luckily, my whole group has been there every practice! It just sucks that it's so hot, but I can deal with it.

 

[MissCongeniality]

I totally get what you are saying cheerfanaticmama! I think summer practices are great because the kids can focus on tumbling etc. and really clean up and learn new skills. It also gives them something to do. And yes there are going to be vacations... They are important too!

But I think what drives many of us crazy are the kids who waltz in at the end of August having not been there since May (or perhaps having shown up to say "Hi" once or twice in that time period) and Voila! they are front and center when it comes to choreography. Often times this isn't a sport that rewards committment per se. Yes if you are committed you will get the skills that allow you to be a better cheerleader. But sometimes there are those with just amazing natural talent who don't have to work so hard at it. So does the coach reward the child who showed up all summer but has fewer skills OR does he/she give that spot to the child who just came in with a higher skill set? The reality is the coach has to do what is best for the team.

And yes I will tell you that the talk among the parents hauling our kids to practice all summer (and paying for May, June, July) is that next year we are going to save the $ and time and show up in August! Not that it will ever happen as my CPs love the gym and want to be there all the time, but it is tempting!

 

[lilmonstermaker]

Summer is a great time for kids to start gelling as a team and work on some of the basics for their level as well as experiment with some new things before choreography. The gym sets the tone with their attendance policies and the attendance of the coaching staff. Many of the coaches at my CPs gym work for UCA or do choreography so many of them miss slot of summer practices. Knowing this I allowed my CP to do a play this summer and she has missed a lot of cheer practice. I discussed it with the owner and her coaches beforehand and made sure my CP knows that even though her play will be over before choreography there is a chance she won't initially get prime spots due to her absences.