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

[arilt95]

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.

idk if were still talking about susie, but she's got all the requirements to be on the team. Its not like she doesn't have a handspring.

 

[cheerheart4life]

think about it, where would the team be without suzie? suzie contributes to the team just as much as another girl who just tumbles. I hate when people say your not level 5 if you can't do a double or tumble extremely well because I agree that not everybody is made to tumble like that. God gave them a different skill. They should still work on tumbling but its not like they are going to be the future last pass.

 

[arilt95]

think about it, where would the team be without suzie? suzie contributes to the team just as much as another girl who just tumbles. I hate when people say your not level 5 if you can't do a double or tumble extremely well because I agree that not everybody is made to tumble like that. God gave them a different skill. They should still work on tumbling but its not like they are going to be the future last pass.

i wish i could shimmy you a million times. that's exactly my point, its not like the judges are going to take off points because susie didnt tumble. Susie contributes just fine, and her teammates don't have a problem with it. i really don't understand why people bash on her all the time...

 

[ShallowPoms]

idk if were still talking about susie, but she's got all the requirements to be on the team. Its not like she doesn't have a handspring.

Oh no not talking about "susie" lol but just in general

 

[ShallowPoms]

Not all gyms have a team at every level in every age division. Therefore, some people will be on a team that is too high of a level for them.

Ok I understand that

 

[ShallowPoms]

OK im not speaking on the case of "susie" but just in general. I know a lot of people who feel as though such n such should not be on such n such team because that cant meet requirements for said team. I mean personally how would you feel if you tryout for a team and you could perform the skills need for that team but someone else that is only an amazing tumbler got the spot instead of you?

 

[Nothanks]

I mean personally how would you feel if you tryout for a team and you could perform the skills need for that team but someone else that is only an amazing tumbler got the spot instead of you?

that's where I have the issue...when it comes down to that one flier that won't tumble but is incredible in the air, or the child who is above average at both basing (or flying) and tumbling, and that only incredible flier getting the spot over her.
**Note, I am NOT saying I know teams that do this, or that I'm assuming a team does. but that would be the reason I would have the issue with it. **
I do completely understanding moving up a beast base in order to keep a stunt from falling if she doesn't have a full, or something. but only if there isn't someone who is just as good all around to take that spot in the first place.

 

[Deleted member 1556]

Honestly, at this point every level 5 athlete should have jumps to back. The sport evolves so quickly, and year difficulty in routines gets harder. Throw a switch up in your routine this year, and see what happens. I think it was totalcheermove on twitter said, "At this point, having a full means nothing." So if your on a level 5 team, you should have at least the basics for that level. I get being good at being one aspect of the sport....but there's a lot more than that. So if you can't throw a full or jumps to back on a level 5 team, especially a high profile one....I'd hit the gym. JMO

 

[IloveSeniorElite]

Just want to point out that "Susie" does have a ro bhs full in addition to jumps to tucks. People expect athletes to be sometimes unrealistically talented in both stunting and tumbling, when most athletes are stronger on one side or the other. JMO.

 

[redsmom]

What every athlete on a level 5 team needs to have is skills that contribute to maxing out the score sheet. Good coaching requires the "know how" to put the best Team on the floor not 36 (or 30 or 20) of the best individuals. As fans we all love to see full team skills across the board especially in standing tumbling where it is so obvious, but maxing out most score sheets in standing tumbling does not require 100% participation. So it is a wise coaching decision to consider an amazing flyer or a beast base with limited tumbling if that will allow one more elite stunt to hit consistently. JMO

 

[AllHeartxo3]

A great cheerleader is one that may have their weak points, but they are always trying to improve on them. It isn't right to say that the all around cheerleader is the best. Not everyone can be a Juliet or Kiara sadly. As long as that flyer is working on their tumbling or that point dancer is working on her upper body to base, then I feel like that's fine.

Now since this turned into the age old debate against placement of level 5 teams. Someone will always have better jumps to back but maybe not the best stunter. It would be impossible to have a team of 36 athletes who are perfect all around. You might as well start inventing robots.

 

[lilmonstermaker]

In general,I think that there are many athletes who specialize in a specific area or skill but as the sport develops you are going to see more and more athletes who are BEASTS at tumbling, stunting, jumping and dancing. I don't see anything wrong with athletes preferring to do a particular skill and being highly developed in that area but feel that anyone who purposely neglects training in one or more areas simply because they are awesome in one area ( be it stunting or tumbling ) is in for a wake-up call.

 

[SaraDee023]

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?

i agree. im the same way as you. im on a sr restricted 5 team this year and i dont tumble level 5...i got hurt so bad i needed surgery, so there fore at times i get so scared to tumble, and had to basically start all over again. however, i still try to improve and get spotted when everyone else tumbles. there is no reason just not to do it...unless medically of course.

 

[Deleted member 1556]

I mean we can't all be Whitney Love haha. But Whitney is so good at EVERYTHING because she trains in all aspects of cheering instead of focusing on just tumbling, or just jumps. Everyone thinks she's just a tumble goddess, but have y'all seen her dance? Or jump? Or stunt? She can fly, and base, both really well. She's what I'd call a great, well rounded cheerleader.