All-Star Team Try Outs And New Age Grid

[Keep_Believing]

Is there anyone else out there who's gym has already had try out for the new cheer season? I am so disappointed that the new age grid was not put out earlier, before gyms started try outs. If this is also effecting you please share.

 

[idrive]

My daughters team has begun tryout and the coaches are alittle stressed as to when the kids will know what teams they will be on and the kids are anxious to know what team they are on. It's not good all the way around, for coaches and athletes.

 

[VTX]

Is there anyone else out there who's gym has already had try out for the new cheer season? I am so disappointed that the new age grid was not put out earlier, before gyms started try outs. If this is also effecting you please share.

Definitely going to effect my gym if it sticks. We had placements a week before the release, if the age grid does end up with the bottom age we will have to rethink our placements and have to change at least 1 team.

 

[Keep_Believing]

Definitely going to effect my gym if it sticks. We had placements a week before the release, if the age grid does end up with the bottom age we will have to rethink our placements and have to change at least 1 team.

Thanks for the responses. I really appreciate it.

 

[cupieqt]

It will affect us also. We won't have tryouts til May so we have a little more time to plan but it still throws a wrench in what we were originally planning. It's completely odd to me.

 

[mattiemill]

I saw this being discussed on the ASGA facebook page and it seemed to be a problem for most gyms as they are either in the middle of tryouts or they have them coming up soon.

 

[fullpass]

I feel for small gym owners and coaches. Many already have challenges retaining their athletes in areas where this are big gyms and this uncertainty doesn't make things any easier. I only hope that small gym athletes will have patience and faith that their coaches will figure it all out and not start fleeing to big gyms just because of this age grid question.

 

[kristenthegreat]

I just don't get WHAT this was supposed to accomplish? Why move it up to 12, when junior just stays at 14? That kid can be on a youth team AND go to worlds..

 

[NEliteSteven]

My opinion is that since they issued the rule so late (clearly not a safety emergency), the change should be null and void.

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

I just don't get WHAT this was supposed to accomplish? Why move it up to 12, when junior just stays at 14? That kid can be on a youth team AND go to worlds..

Hmmm.... the only thing I can think is to give additional athletes to the upper level youth teams so coaches aren't pushing for skills from the younger youth aged kids. It does, however, effectively phase out the junior bracket. I don't know that it such a bad thing anyway. There is so much overlap age-wise between divisions that the lines are very skewed as it is.

 

[Keep_Believing]

I know girls who have already been placed that will have to be moved down to different teams ,if the new age grid goes into place this season, who will be devastated. For some of these girls cheer is the one thing they really look forward to. For example one girl is dealing with her parents divorce, dad made lots of promises, but not staying involved, and other tough things going on in her life. Making her new cheer team has been such a huge blessing and joy in her life. Taking this away from her at this time will crush her. She has already been facing so many disappointments. I am not sure some people understand how much cheer means to some of these girls.

 

[CoachTamara]

This really messes with us...
A small gym senior team is much different than a large gym... For example, this year we have a junior 3 team. Two kids are junior aged, and the rest are youth age. One is even mini age. Although they are young, they have held their own all season and won almost every competition they've been to. Next year, one of the juniors ages out and become senior. I understand an entire team of high school kids shouldn't be on a team with 8 year olds, but one kid does not make a senior team in our case. So now I have a senior age kid I have to turn away, or a bunch of kids that can't throw tucks or any of the stunting they've been doing the last few years and will leave. Either way, I'm at the losing end of the situation.
I said this before too, although it does not apply to us. There are many gyms in our area that only have one team. They compete at a senior 2 or 3, and every kid that attends try outs makes the team. These gyms may not win every competition with this mix (although some do), but they are an option for people and many people love it and love their gym. With this rule, these small gyms/teams have zero chance of having a program, or a starting point to build it up.

 

[RaRaMama]

We are moving in June just outside of Roanoke, VA, and we are joining a new gym called Iconix Allstars located in Salem VA. The head coach used to cheer (and I think coach too) at CEA. My daughter is 12, doesn't turn 13 until Sept. Originally the coach mentioned maybe putting her on Junior 2 and Senior 3 (she's the same size as all the senior girls) and now I'm thinking "Oh LAWD, please don't put her on a youth team too!"....especially since my son will be on Minis. Anybody want to sell me a RV to park in the parking lot?

 

[Keep_Believing]

Has anyone heard any updates about what will happen with the age grid for 2012-2013?

 

[VTX]

Has anyone heard any updates about what will happen with the age grid for 2012-2013?

I haven't heard anything but I'm really hoping they will release the age grid changes as soon as possible even if they haven't made all of the decisions about the rules. I really feel like this effects team placements way more then the rules, plus I'm going crazy waiting to see if teams need to be changed. lol