All-Star Take A Year Off To Focus On Tumbling?

[carly_]

This was going to be my first year in all star cheerleading. I have a roundoff and standing backhandspring, so I was placed on a level 2 team. But I have discovered that I am dissappointed with my level. The intensity is lacking because many of the girls are new or fairly younger athletes, and I prefer fast paced, running tumbling to walkovers and cartwheels. I also really prefer harder stunts, instead of having to stunt 20-50 half double bases per practice because the flyers aren't tight -__- I am considering taking tumbling privates once a week and a group tumbling class twice a week until tryouts next year, in order to be on a level 3 or higher team. any thoughts? thanks so much for any input, I'm extremely conflicted...I love cheering so it would be hard, but I feel like a year of only tumbling might help me to achieve a higher level next year.

 

[TheTalkedAboutMinor]

Seems like 4.2 is more your style. If you have a level 4.2 team in your area, try out. If not, stay on the team, be there for a year, and maybe in the middle of the year you will be placed higher.

 

[CheerDadof2]

Tumbling isn't the only thing that gets you placed. There are girls at our gym that have L3 and L4 tumbling skills but have janky jumps and have never stunted before. So they're on an L2 this year to grow and learn.

While I completely understand your frustration as my CP was placed on a L1 last year with a bunch of new kids while she had a double back hand spring - but she was late to the game and it was the only spot left in her age group. Her frustration with the rest of her team was endless but she busted her butt got her back tuck while everyone else was doing walkovers and is happy with her team this year.

4.2 is a good idea if there are any in your area. If this is your first year in All-Star did you cheer rec/sideline before? All-Star is way different and even if you stay on an L2 team it will be a good experience to get your feet wet.

Rather then not doing Allstar you can talk with your coaches. See if they'll let you practice with the higher level teams over the summer and possibly challenge for a higher team if you get certain skills by the end of the summer.

If you do decide to take the year to work on your tumbling skills make sure you don't forget the rest of the skills it takes to be a good all around cheerleader. If the gym your going to has a stretch, stunt or fly class take those too. I'd hate for you to take the year to get stronger at tumbling and then still be placed on an L2 because they want L3's to have inverted jumps or something.

Just my opinion at the end of the day you need to do what feels right for you.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[alexamarysouza]

^what he said

 

[TheTalkedAboutMinor]

Double post! Well, since you're in Southern Cali, I'd assume there are plenty of gyms with 4.2 available. So look in to another gym, and make a call and see if you can possibly earn a spot on 4.2. I'm sure you'd make it. But don't quit right away. If there are no 4.2 programs around, just stick with what you're doing now.

 

[Senior5Allie]

I agree with everyone else. Stick with it or try to find a level 4.2 in your area. I'd hate to see you quit for this year and get tumbling but still not get placed higher because you may be lacking other skills needed to move up. Whatever you decide, good luck with it. :)

 

[carly_]

Thanks for all your input guys <3 I have cheered and competed with my school, and am going to be on my school team again this year, so I won't be entirely out of touch with the cheer world. I just want to take the year to get stronger because I dread my practices, and the year has hardly started...if I could take tumbling and do all stars I would, but for now I can only afford one or the other. I am also fairly certain that there are no 4.2 levels available in my area /: