All-Star Team Reveals

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Exactly. For the majority of kids it was a fun time to hang out and take pictures with friends. I believe I seen maybe 2 upset kids both who i know had unrealistic expectations. It’s a fun time but i could see it being trickier in different situations. Overall the majority of people knew what to expect.

I'm also sure that there are tough calls like with Worlds team evals where everyone coming in is super talented, your kid is talented as well, and you honestly expected them make it and it shocks you a little bit. I think upset is okay in some situations and I get why people in that situation would not be happy with the result at a reveal - which is why I think you may need to prep some folks ahead of time and let them choose to come (if you can.)

 

[Kiermyc]

I'm also sure that there are tough calls like with Worlds team evals where everyone coming in is super talented, your kid is talented as well, and you honestly expected them make it and it shocks you a little bit. I think upset is okay in some situations and I get why people in that situation would not be happy with the result at a reveal - which is why I think you may need to prep some folks ahead of time and let them choose to come (if you can.)

We aren’t worlds level yet, so I’m not sure how all of that played out. I am also unsure if there is any prepping or if the world’s athletes know anything beforehand. I think this season was easier with the addition of another world’s team.

 

[catlady]

Are all the groups working/practicing at same time? Or do they all have separate times/days?

From a parenting perspctive I like consistency. I like knowing that (example for me) tee ball is at 4:30 on Mondays/Wed. If groups are all same night, I think I'd be okay.

I am not sure I'd like (example) my hypothetical cheer kid being in Level 4 Workout group one week at 6:30 on M/W. Then finding out next week she is on the Level 3 group on T/TH at 5:30. Then finding out she is back to Level 4. Too many changes.

I tried to find my old email, but I deleted it. I remember each athlete was assigned a level and told what nights to attend, which was determined by age grid and surrounding levels. So, basically Sr teams were together, all Jr, all Yth, .... I don't recall any kids that crossed the age barrier being at both practices. Our workout groups only lasted 2-3 weeks and then they were given their team and practice days/times for the duration.

 

[Lower Level Queen]

If your gym does workout type level groups do you like it?

Our gym does something completely different from what I’ve heard, and I think the main reason is because we’re such a small gym.

For Junior aged and younger, new athletes complete a simple private evaluation, and returning athletes are placed on a team the day after their last competition (US Finals). The coaches rely on what they already know about each kid, which is good in a sense that they get to not stress over tryouts.

All senior aged (or skilled, there’s a couple girls still youth/junior aged but have skills above their peers) athletes practice together for two weeks and do basic stunting and throw whatever tumbling you can (safely). Towards the end, the coaches start dividing people into groups so you can kind of guess who is going where. It is nice to be able to see who has what skills, so you know what you’re up against for the team you want to make.

We’ve consistently received an email ever since we’ve had more than two teams. The email is sent on 5pm friday, and includes a list of other people on the team along with housekeeping stuff like when tumbling classes are and what the competition schedule is like. The atmosphere at the gym is very much that people move on quickly, so I haven’t ever heard anyone complain about a placement for more than a minute or two at the first practice with new teams.

 

[lifeoftheparty]

We will be attending Teal Reveal this year this coming Tuesday. CP is very excited

 

[Fiercecheer12]

We will be attending Teal Reveal this year this coming Tuesday. CP is very excited

ETA: I thought this said just a team reveal, not teal.. sorry wrong event.

 

[CheerMom6]

Our gym does an email. I'm glad it was something low key since things didn't really go our way this year. We had been promised by a couple coaches that CP was moving up and then she didn't. It was heartbreaking enough to have to watch the big facebook spectacles that some parents did for kids who got their dream teams.

Things were kind of weird this year at tryouts. Our tryouts go strictly by age (3-8, 9-14, 14-18). However, one person on CP's team in the lowest age category was told that she was "invited" to the junior age tryout and that it was the only way to "tryout" for a level 2 team. Although my CP had equivalent skills, I was told that "this is not an opportunity for your daughter," by that mom. No one at the gym admits to knowing anything about this, but it definitely made the tryout even more stressful.

 

[SL&AM]

First gym---they did a reveal. It ended in tears and she left the gym within 24 hours.

Second gym---they e-mailed our a practice group, teams were announced 6 weeks later.

 

[CC1107]

Our gym posts lists online. This year it was not names but tryout numbers. I understand but it took the girls enthusiasm down a bit. One of the most exciting things was finding out who was on what team and if you didn't have the numbers of all your friends, it just wasn't the same.

 

[Eyes On The Prize]

Our gym posts lists online. This year it was not names but tryout numbers. I understand but it took the girls enthusiasm down a bit. One of the most exciting things was finding out who was on what team and if you didn't have the numbers of all your friends, it just wasn't the same.

Back when I cheered (~8 years ago) that's how my last gym did it - posted online by number. I liked it this way. By the end of the day, you knew who was on your team just from texting your friends.

But I am also a quiet person and I like to express my emotions privately. Whether I was happy or sad with my placement, it was something I wanted to find out in private. I can see how other people might be different and prefer something more celebratory. I do like the phone call idea but I think, personally, I would prefer to find out in private first and then get an introductory, one on one conversation with the coach.

 

[notyourcheermom]

CP's gym goes pretty all out. It's a star studded event theme this year. You drop them off for a couple of hours and this year they are supposed to dress up. They find out who-all is on their team. They take pictures. This year there is a DJ. Last year it was an outdoor carnival, fun but too hot. Rented blowups and all. Snow cone machines, pop corn, cotton candy. Each team mom had to come up with a carnival game in addition to the stuff that had been rented. Again, kids only. The kids do have fun. The gym has had a meeting with you before team reveal if they think you will be unhappy with team placement. Year 8 at CP's gym. It used to just be posted on the Web site. 4 or 5 years ago this reveal thing started and has really evolved.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

CP's gym goes pretty all out. It's a star studded event theme this year. You drop them off for a couple of hours and this year they are supposed to dress up. They find out who-all is on their team. They take pictures. This year there is a DJ. Last year it was an outdoor carnival, fun but too hot. Rented blowups and all. Snow cone machines, pop corn, cotton candy. Each team mom had to come up with a carnival game in addition to the stuff that had been rented. Again, kids only. The kids do have fun. The gym has had a meeting with you before team reveal if they think you will be unhappy with team placement. Year 8 at CP's gym. It used to just be posted on the Web site. 4 or 5 years ago this reveal thing started and has really evolved.

I always kicked new season (high school) off with a pool party, but the invite to the pool party was in your result/reveal email (of girls who made it) so the only people who knew there was a party were the ones who made it.

Example of "you literally cannot please some people" - the current head coach (who was my assistant for 4 seasons and assumed my role this year) recently got some parental push back/negativity (from one parent whose daughter made JV) about this year's event which was a trip to an inflatable place this year. Reason paraphrased: "The team celebration hurts girls feelings because they have to see people who made it post about it on Snap/IG."

Not really sure what to say to that. It's a team bonding event and not a reveal event, so the only people who get the invite are Varsity athletes. However, she can't control whether Becky Sue posts her result email on IG and you inadvertently find out that there is a team meeting/bonding event. She also can't stop new athletes from posting about it.

 

[Jennifet]

Our gym does the mass email with numbers. It can be just as exciting for the kids. We do a countdown to the email time and then get to chat back and forth. It saves some parents and/or kids from being embarrassed and/or over reactive if the results are not as anticipated. And if you are super excited...with a team name you can get creative posting pics with your news.

My kids have never been disappointed about their placement and neither have I. With all the level discriptions for tumbling etc...you pretty much know...if you are honest what your kid is capable of.

We play a game every tryout as follows:
1. What is your ultimate dream team
2. What team do you honestly think you will make
3. What team could you be placed on that might make you sad but not quit

It puts it in perspective and prepares them for any outcome.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

We play a game every tryout as follows:
1. What is your ultimate dream team
2. What team do you honestly think you will make
3. What team could you be placed on that might make you sad but not quit

It puts it in perspective and prepares them for any outcome.

This is good. When I talk to kids about college admissions, I tell them to mke three categories of schools: Reaches, Matches, Safeties. You can treat evals the same way.

Reach: The one you want, but may be out of your skillset.
Match: The team you want that fits 90% of your skills pretty well.
Safety: The team you are pretty much guaranteed to make because it is composed of skills you already have and can do well.

Example: So if your kid is mostly Level 5 (trying to use the new numbers here!) with SOME Worlds skills, it may look like:

Reach: Senior Level 6 - Worlds Team. The one she really wants but knows going to be hard to make it. Can't be SUPER SAD if you don't because it's a reach.
Match: Senior Level 5 - fits most of what she already knows and is still challenging. Would be happy.
Safety: Another season on the Junior 4 she was on last year. Safe bet. Not going to make you jump for joy at reveal but it's doable.

 

[Jennifet]

This is good. When I talk to kids about college admissions, I tell them to mke three categories of schools: Reaches, Matches, Safeties. You can treat evals the same way.

Reach: The one you want, but may be out of your skillset.
Match: The team you want that fits 90% of your skills pretty well.
Safety: The team you are pretty much guaranteed to make because it is composed of skills you already have and can do well.

Example: So if your kid is mostly Level 5 (trying to use the new numbers here!) with SOME Worlds skills, it may look like:

Reach: Senior Level 6 - Worlds Team. The one she really wants but knows going to be hard to make it. Can't be SUPER SAD if you don't because it's a reach.
Match: Senior Level 5 - fits most of what she already knows. Would be happy.
Safety: Another season on the Junior 4 she was already on. Safe bet. Not going to make you jump for joy at reveal but it's doable.

It works like a charm...my 8 yr old who was on a junior level 2...is consistent on level 3 tumbling...working on level 4 (not landing standing tucks yet but throwing running to layout)...lacks flying skills due to being tall for her age and has beginning basing skills due to being a "baby aka small" on a junior team. Her list was as follows:
1. Dream...junior level 4
2. Reality....junior level 3
3. Might...junior level 2 repeat due to lack of basing/flying skills

She was on target with junior 3...so we talked about focusing on basing skills and improving jumps to be an all around cheerleader. Not just a tumble queen.