All-Star Tiny Tumbling!!!

[thatgymowner]

I've seen a lot of controversial things on here about tumbling for the wee ones. We have a tiny team. Most of them are 4&5. We have a few that are 3. (We have people that want them to start at 1 and 2 and all i can do is say NO!!) I wondered what everyone thinks is best to work them on, tumbling wise.

Like I know back and forward roll. Cartwheel. Handstand. But I've heard many say NO bridging for the 3 and maybe even the 4 year olds. But if we don't, will we get smashed on by the maxed out tiny teams that do a full team bridge?

I'm NOT saying I wanna risk them to win. So please don't take it that way. I'm saying, what should I do and not do to keep my Tiny's safe and still progressing enough to keep them interested and keep them competitive against those mutant tiny teams with all 6 year olds that aged after the cut off...

Thanks for all your help!!


Ashley

 

[cheermomforever]

It is not recommended by the USAG for any child under 5 to do bridges. I have taught gymnastics for over 20 years and we never teach bridges to preschool children. Most tiny teams stick to rolls, cartwheels and cuteness. At that age it is all about fun and getting any medal and trophy, not about winning. They have many years to stress about what place they are in. :)

 

[mamabear]

getting them to form a straight line will occupy most of the season :)

 

[CEA_ATC]

From our experience on Tinies... those teams with full team bridges are stacking their "Tiny" teams. We went against one "Tiny" team at a National competition that had FULL SQUAD back walkovers. They were obviously NOT Tiny aged, but the EPs ignored it, or were too afraid to say anything (the gym is known for making very UGLY accusations if anyone confronts them on this).

The whole division jumped up and applauded when they came in second... until the Coach of the winning team admitted that they "beat (insert gym name here) at their own game"--- meaning they placed Mini and youth aged kids on that team to win, too. I mean... what orthodontist is putting braces on 6 and under kids? They had 3 of them!

Oh well... I digress. I agree with what the others are saying. Focus on learning a routine, forward rolls, cartwheels, round offs... and the dance.. those little ones LOVE the dance. Worry about nothing but FUN.

 

[BamaCheerGuy]

From our experience on Tinies... those teams with full team bridges are stacking their "Tiny" teams. We went against one "Tiny" team at a National competition that had FULL SQUAD back walkovers. They were obviously NOT Tiny aged, but the EPs ignored it, or were too afraid to say anything (the gym is known for making very UGLY accusations if anyone confronts them on this).

The whole division jumped up and applauded when they came in second... until the Coach of the winning team admitted that they "beat (insert gym name here) at their own game"--- meaning they placed Mini and youth aged kids on that team to win, too. I mean... what orthodontist is putting braces on 6 and under kids? They had 3 of them!

Oh well... I digress. I agree with what the others are saying. Focus on learning a routine, forward rolls, cartwheels, round offs... and the dance.. those little ones LOVE the dance. Worry about nothing but FUN.

I bet you all the money I have I know exactly who you are talking about. The problem is its hard to prove it when the parents of that gym promote it and love it. We were against them 2 years ago and one of the back spots on their "mini" team put a baby down and said "mommy will be right back"!


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[CEA_ATC]

I bet you all the money I have I know exactly who you are talking about. The problem is its hard to prove it when the parents of that gym promote it and love it. We were against them 2 years ago and one of the back spots on their "mini" team put a baby down and said "mommy will be right back"!


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Not to get too specific.. but southeastern United States? Our Nationals were at Myrtle Beach...

 

[BamaCheerGuy]

Yup yup!!!!


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[CEA_ATC]

Funny how that gym NEVER wins anything with older girls. Ever.

But they take a lot of pride in cheating to win Tinies, Minis, and Youth... I dont get it... What are you teaching the kids?

End of rant. We should be talking about TRUE tiny tumbling.

 

[dawgshow]

I really, really don't understand why Tinies even compete, but that's a whole different post.

 

[THEJOEL]

I bet you all the money I have I know exactly who you are talking about. The problem is its hard to prove it when the parents of that gym promote it and love it. We were against them 2 years ago and one of the back spots on their "mini" team put a baby down and said "mommy will be right back"!


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There was actually a mini level 1 team that won at American Superstarz this past year that had me scratching my head. Don't get me wrong, they were good but every parent from my gym thought if I was a coach from a competing gym I might have questioned the ages of a couple of them. We weren't competing against them, we were in the Youth 1 division, but those girls looked and performed a lot older than any 8 and under team I had ever seen.
Not accusing them of cheating by any stretch, but it makes you wonder how a coach from a competing team would handle that.

 

[thatgymowner]

Haha i love all the replies! This is the issue were having! These parents WANT THEIR KIDS TO COMPETE... WHY?! I told them that Tiny's were doing exhibition this year. Period. End of story. I am not putting them against "tiny" teams with all 6 year olds. There is no point. The difference from 3-6 is immense. But we had been having them do assisted bridges. So good to know that we need to stop that, and we will immediately. We have much larger 4 almost 5 year olds. It's ok for them?


Ashley

 

[BamaCheerGuy]

There was actually a mini level 1 team that won at American Superstarz this past year that had me scratching my head. Don't get me wrong, they were good but every parent from my gym thought if I was a coach from a competing gym I might have questioned the ages of a couple of them. We weren't competing against them, we were in the Youth 1 division, but those girls looked and performed a lot older than any 8 and under team I had ever seen.
Not accusing them of cheating by any stretch, but it makes you wonder how a coach from a competing team would handle that.

You really can't do anything. I mean you go " they are too old", they say no I'm not. It's a he said she said. Unless we register each athlete.


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[THEJOEL]

Haha i love all the replies! This is the issue were having! These parents WANT THEIR KIDS TO COMPETE... WHY?! I told them that Tiny's were doing exhibition this year. Period. End of story. I am not putting them against "tiny" teams with all 6 year olds. There is no point. The difference from 3-6 is immense. But we had been having them do assisted bridges. So good to know that we need to stop that, and we will immediately. We have much larger 4 almost 5 year olds. It's ok for them?


Ashley

We have a mini team that started 2 seasons ago has been exhibition from the start. It's a good way to build for tomorrow IMHO since only a couple of kids have moved up since it started.
A 3 y/o should be having fun and learning the basics not worrying about winning. I think if they can get through an entire routine without crying or peeing their pants than its a mark in the win column.

 

[thatgymowner]

You really can't do anything. I mean you go " they are too old", they say no I'm not. It's a he said she said. Unless we register each athlete.


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This confuses me. I was under the impression everyone HAD to register their athletes. We did it last year because I assumed everyone had to? Every event we went to (other than JAMZ) we had to turn in Usasf rosters. Doesn't every team have to do that?


Ashley

 

[BamaCheerGuy]

This confuses me. I was under the impression everyone HAD to register their athletes. We did it last year because I assumed everyone had to? Every event we went to (other than JAMZ) we had to turn in Usasf rosters. Doesn't every team have to do that?


Ashley

Yes you register but who is stop me from saying little 5 year old Sally Walker is really 9 year old Sally Smith? If we register through the USASF then the athlete will be in the system for life. So it will be more difficult for them to lie. As the registration will follow the athlete throughout their career. It's not foolproof but will stop a lot of this.


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