All-Star Tumbling Blocks. No Big Deal???? What Makes A Great Cheerleader?

[BubbleToes]

I don't know. For some reason, this bothers me. I prefer an all-around cheerleader. They can base or fly, and tumble...including jump to backs. The absolute best can actually base AND fly if needed.

What makes a GREAT cheerleader? How does someone who doesn't "have" to do the basics (because they can't, won't, or just aren't made to) at the level they compete in, affect the team members on it? Once the tumbling goes, than the jump to backs....do you keep them for their one skill? Do you still force them to try to tumble? Would this not allow other team members to think they don't have to work that hard because the other has issues but yet they're pushed to get their tumbling better?

 

[BubbleToes]

Another question? Do the big name cheer colleges want someone who can't tumble or jump to back, but can only base or fly?

 

[WorkToWin]

a certain cheerleader "Susie" comes to mind even though I am sure there are way more than just her. The thing about "Susie" is that she doesn't even have to tumble according to her teammates. She just sits and watches because she doesn't want to tumble and all she does is fly in the routine. I don't mind a cheerleader being weak in one area of skills... As long as they are working to improve on their weak spots! I love the cheerleaders that are amazing at everything!

 

[WorkToWin]

Also I agree with the effort fact. I would resent a teammate that thinks they are so good at stunting they don't need to even attempt tumbling and just coast off my effort and allow me to cover for them in the routine

 

[INeverStopCheering]

If you're having some issues, I totally understand that. I'm an admittedly terrible tumbler. My shoulder and back aren't flexible, I'm tall and lanky (not to mention with a whole slew of knee and foot issues). Also, tumbling scares the bajezus out of me. Like really. But there is absolutely no excuse for not trying 100% to improve your skills. Even if you have to have a heavy spot every time, you keep doing it unless you have a medical reason why you can't tumble. For example last season we had a girl have back surgery so she couldn't tumble the whole year. So while we were tumbling she did push ups, planks, and hip flexers. Just giving up is never acceptable. In terms of college, I would say a really incredible flier might get taken without the tumbling (someones gotta do the basket in the back.) Especially at a UCA school where individual tumble passes don't matter so much. But it wouldn't be preferable.

But you bring up a great point: Are there people whose body types will not allow them to perform certain skills. People who "just aren't made" for tumbling. And coaches, would you ever tell a kid that? Because I think a gymnastics coach would tell a kid that. You just aren't made for this sport. Would you ever let a kid who had been trying and trying and just couldn't do it give up?

 

[arilt95]

a certain cheerleader "Susie" comes to mind even though I am sure there are way more than just her. The thing about "Susie" is that she doesn't even have to tumble according to her teammates. She just sits and watches because she doesn't want to tumble and all she does is fly in the routine. I don't mind a cheerleader being weak in one area of skills... As long as they are working to improve on their weak spots! I love the cheerleaders that are amazing at everything!

i mean "susie' does have jumps to back, i know a couple of athletes on the team that just base or just fly, i think it's because she's so big in the cheer world people just want to hate sometimes...Not saying that your hating or anything! many people just don't understand because they havent been to a practice. It sounds a lot worse than it actually is.

 

[WorkToWin]

i mean "susie' does have jumps to back, i know a couple of athletes on the team that just base or just fly, i think it's because she's so big in the cheer world people just want to hate sometimes...Not saying that your hating or anything! many people just don't understand because they havent been to a practice. It sounds a lot worse than it actually is.

I totally understand what your saying. I actually am a big fan of Susie and her team, just from a teammates perspective I think it would annoy me. Then again I'm not on the team so who knows!

 

[arilt95]

I totally understand what your saying. I actually am a big fan of Susie and her team, just from a teammates perspective I think it would annoy me. Then again I'm not on the team so who knows!

That's also true, i know what you mean. its just different ways people like to look at it, thats all!

 

[ShallowPoms]

If you dont have the skills to be at a certain level than you should not be at that level.

 

[level5diva]

If you dont have the skills to be at a certain level than you should not be at that level.

Tumbling is not all that is on the scoresheet though. If you're an AMAZING stunter, but don't quite have L5 tumbling, it is still reasonable to be on that level

 

[ShallowPoms]

Tumbling is not all that is on the scoresheet though. If you're an AMAZING stunter, but don't quite have L5 tumbling, it is still reasonable to be on that level

Then what would be the point of working on all skills to be at a certain level if I can be AMAZING at one skill and still be put on the level I want.

 

[CharlieCheers]

I have tumbling blocks, but i don't consider myself a bad cheerleader.

 

[lilmonstermaker]

I think there are many teams that need to bump people up a level (or 2) because they need stronger bases or steadier flyers or whatever, so that doesn't bother me. I would certainly be bothered if they decided that was their ONLY purpose for being on the team and did not continue to try to improve and grow - especially if everyone else on the team was just expected to take up their slack.

 

[redsmom]

Remember it is a team sport and the goal is to build the best TEAM. Sometimes that means the best flyer doesn't have true level 5 tumbling and maybe some times the best tumbler isn't much help with the stunting (maybe a side base without much upper body strength). The thing is no one would call out the tumbler, because they are in the stunt sequence (just not contributing as much) or they are throwing some super tumbling during the stunts. It is the coaches job to make sure everyone works hard during practices, in my mind sitting out is only acceptable for injuries.

 

[VTX]

I was one of those people who never tumbled, cheered at all lvs 1-5, I rarely had any tumbling during comp season(injury's always seamed to happen right after I got a skill or right before comp season), and when I did I was told not to throw at comp because I couldn't get hurt, they didn't want to risk my stunt or the pyramid falling(I always had the biggest flyer & or hardest part of the pyramid). And I've seen this happen many times, sometimes you just don't have enough strong bases/backs, or amazing fliers, with that level skill so you have to bump someone up. And if they pull their own in every other aspect and they are an amazing stunter I don't think there's anything wrong with it. As for not trying, no you should always try. and as a coach I would never tell one of my girls they aren't built for the sport and to give up, if they love it enough to keep going at it and don't care what level they are on, then let them isn't the point to have fun and learn life skills along the way.