All-Star Switching Gyms?

[Helen uk uni cheer]

Personally I like to keep anything really to do with cheer private. Im not a typical what people would call cheer and im not exactly skinny but I love the sport. Not many people knew out of my university that I cheered until just before my first competiton. When I was looking at other programs I spoke to my coaches and they lead me in the right direction I dont publiscise it on social media is its my own personal business

 

[quitthedrama]

I've seen more people switch gyms and keep positive friendships than I've seen of the bad ones that have been described here. People like to post the bad experiences but rarely do they post the good ones. On Facebook I've seen parents post new skills videos of their CP's at the new gyms and most of the congrats comments and "likes" are from former gym friends.

How you leave is important. Did you make a scene before leaving? Did you keep making unrealistic demands of the gym and disrupt the team to then turn around and leave? Did you go to social media and bash the former gym when you left? Well is so then of course people are going to un-friend you.

Secondly, of course you are going to lose touch with some people. As we all know cheer takes a huge amount of time. You often see your gym friends 3-4 times a week, usually including dinners out or drinks. Then traveling together for comps gives you even more time to spend together. Once you change gyms that amount time changes. It's harder to get together simply because you are physically at two different gyms. When my CP left cheer it was a big awakening. We left the gym on good terms but it was hard to see cheer friends. They were busy with cheer!!

Bottom line, yes I think there have been some bad issues with people switching gyms but many of these were caused by the person leaving and the rest were just crappy friend issues.

I think most of the responses have come from people who actually have experience switching gyms. I don't think your experience of leaving to participate in another activity would have the same effect. I think we all can agree that anyone who leaves mid year for no other reason than they got a better offer, or leave and then "bash" the gym (unless they are defending themselves against the gym bashing them first), then they are not going to maintain friendships and good relationships with the former gym athletes and staff. However, I think those cases are in the minority.

Being one of those who have actually experienced it, I will agree to disagree with you.

 

[CharlotteASMom]

I think most of the responses have come from people who actually have experience switching gyms. I don't think your experience of leaving to participate in another activity would have the same effect..

You realize I'm from Charlotte, NC right? We've got a lot of experience with switching gyms here.



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[Cheer Dad]

You realize I'm from Charlotte, NC right? We've got a lot of experience with switching gyms here.



The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

You were a gym hopper?


Please send money

 

[wallflower]

As a parent we are facing this issue. 1) We live in a small town , thus small gym 2) getting girls coming into our gym has been on the decline . Any higher level girls cp age aren't even cheering this year. For the most part drama has keep people away (we sat out last season). I am hoping with the new owners/coaches things will change . CP is at a level 4, and isn't thrilled to be on a lower level prep team, at that their are only 6 girls on it (three brand new ). I really don't think mental wise she is ready , at 8yrs she did a jr3 and broke down mental wise , she'll be 10yrs early Aug.. One of the new owners has another gym a hour away, that has a sr 4. that cp would like to be on. Even though cp got her self from doing cartwheels to a layout in her 1st year (7yrs) she is lazy and thus I worry about doing the drive .

 

[cupieqt]

The problem I see is people that complain about old gym members unfriending them on Facebook, etc are also the same people forming cliques everywhere they go and gossiping and being jerks in general.
But no one can ever see that maybe they're part of the problem.

If you leave a gym, especially a small gym, there will always be hurt feelings. Be ready for it. Not everyone will understand your personal decisions. If you were in a bowling league and your teams biggest handicap was recruited away by the best team in the league you'd be miffed. If you were on a rec badminton team and the best swatter decided to pursue his Olympic dreams instead you'd be upset for a minute because then those jerks from the YMCA team have a better chance to beat you at the annual 4th of July badminton battle.

We all get our panties knotted up about different things and different situations. Leaving a team you've bonded with and formed relationships with for another team that pretty much offers the same thing is the equivalent of a break up. So expect the hurt feelings and maybe even some petty drama and just rise above. Turn off Facebook if it helps you. Some of us need to turn off Fierceboard occasionally too I think.

And next time you join a herd remember what the herd mentality can do to a group of nice people. No one deserves to be shunned or dumped on just because they left your herd.

 

[cupieqt]

ETA: it won't let me edit and I forgot to include this thought. Sometimes you just don't like the people who left and don't feel compelled to maintain that friendship. That's ok too!

 

[Cheer Dad]

@cupieqt you are right, there will be hurt feelings but that is still no reason for kids and adults to say horrible things on social media and to others about the departing child or family which apparently is the departing families fault for not leaving properly. We had a private meeting with an owner/coach and before we made the 20 minute trip home and spoke to anyone about it all the poop hit the fan. Had to turn off cp's phone, again within the 20 minutes, because of all the stuff being sent to him.

On the positive side: we left gyms again this season with the owners and coaches blessing and assistance in helping him at the new gym and offers of him to return at anytime even if just a visit.

I think a lot of the difference in treatment is set by the gyms atmosphere starting with the attitude of the owners. I know this is not your style but used this post as a starting point. Hope not offending you.


Please send more money

 

[cupieqt]

@cupieqt you are right, there will be hurt feelings but that is still no reason for kids and adults to say horrible things on social media and to others about the departing child or family which apparently is the departing families fault for not leaving properly. We had a private meeting with an owner/coach and before we made the 20 minute trip home and spoke to anyone about it all the poop hit the fan. Had to turn off cp's phone, again within the 20 minutes, because of all the stuff being sent to him.

On the positive side: we left gyms again this season with the owners and coaches blessing and assistance in helping him at the new gym and offers of him to return at anytime even if just a visit.

I think a lot of the difference in treatment is set by the gyms atmosphere starting with the attitude of the owners. I know this is not your style but used this post as a starting point. Hope not offending you.


Please send more money

When is it ever ok to say horrible things about other people?

ETA: I will say horrible things about the GA dad that killed his son by leaving him in the car. But that's about it.

 

[cupieqt]

Oh and people that wear their socks at the water park. I will say horrible things about them. Gross.

 

[SL&AM]

We're very fortunate at the gym we're at now because it's primarily military families and they know, eventually, everyone will leave and that includes CP. And CP will be leaving sooner rather than layer.

I do think this was a good thread for me to read though because it gave me some insight for the future. We're we are moving has a handful of really great gyms in the area; even a few that are top rated, but I don't know what gym is going to fit her and while we plan on touring most, if we ever feel the need to switch I'll definitely know how to go about it and what to expect.