Using Age Vs Grade Level

[Deleted member 15]

that's true, but they should make the cut of day later in my opinion, but i do know what you mean x

What day do you suggest?

 

[ACEDAD]

What day do you suggest?

February 29th.

 

[createmagic]

I am not a fan of going back to grades for divisions. I feel that we need to stop changing the age grid. Other sports don't change their age grids every few years.......USA hockey goes by age and has for as long as I can remember and I think has had the same age divisions since my husband played. Adjust divisions with the times, but find an age grid that works and then leave it alone. JMO.

Agreed, but all-star cheer is still very young in its development. I'm sure that USA hockey had some growing pains in the beginning too, as does every new organization. Every year smaller and smaller tweaks are being made, and I think very soon we'll have something that doesn't change. I mean, think 5-10 years ago---massive changes were occurring. When I cheered for AS in high school (10 years ago) there weren't levels. We like to call this 'Throw it if you got it" division. Teams were only broken up by grade, and there were more categories...anyone else remember Jr. Prep and Sr. Prep? Then Cheersport had their own leveling system (remember novice, excel, advanced, and elite, anyone?), and we had the NLCC doing another leveling system (and sometimes different age divisions...I once coached a "youth prep" team), and the USASF doing yet another. And these different systems had different rules for each level and were called different things, and you had to know what competition was using was system because skills might be allowed for level 2 NLCC, but not level 2 USASF. WHAT A MESS! I know that we all get frustrated because of the few changes being made each year now, but I think its starting to smooth out and soon we'll see consistency year after year. Give it time.

 

[MyDaughterCheers]

I am not a fan of going back to grades for divisions. I feel that we need to stop changing the age grid. Other sports don't change their age grids every few years.......USA hockey goes by age and has for as long as I can remember and I think has had the same age divisions since my husband played. Adjust divisions with the times, but find an age grid that works and then leave it alone. JMO.

USA Hockey doesn't change age grids very often but I do remember one change when my son was a Bantam. He ended up being Bantam for 3 years due to age change. He is 25 now. Off subject, but the point is I totally agree that we need to stop changing the age grid. That is, AFTER the bottom age is raised for senior teams. :)

 

[SheCheers]

this past year i have noticed that a lot of teams take tiny girls and put them onto a senior level team. personally i think that's unfair and is kind of like cheating. you can have a girl who is eight years old go up in the air and get thrown around easily. i think it's annoying because then you will see other teams with real senior age girls getting put up in the air and it's much harder. i think the judges need to be strict with the ages so that it's fair competition.

on the flip side, that 8 year old has to still have the skills for that level, so, i don't like to assume they're putting up a young child just because it's easy. not to mention there are a LOT of TINY people in cheer...LOL...i don't like to assume that just because they're small, they're young (coming from a 34 year old 4'11" woman). we have a 11 year old flyer on our youth team that looks to be about 7. we have a 12 year old flyer on another youth team that looks to be about 6. i'm not saying teams never put 8 year olds on senior open teams, but it's not fair to assume they're all young and not just small. it also takes away from the fact that they may actually be very talented when you assume they're just on that team because of their size/age.

 

[INeverStopCheering]

I wish people would answer the question. This was not a debate regarding the use of tiny girls on senior teams. Regardless of whether the age cut off for senior is twelve or sixth grade it's still the same thing.
1. I think because it's easier to use age. Especially with kids in different situations (held back, skipped, home schoolers, and international teams.) It's simple just to put a cut off date and say whatever age you are as of this date is the age you compete.
2. Everything I can think of uses age. Soccer, swimming, baseball, gymnastics (to an extent), figure skating, diving
3. The benefits are the simplicity of using age. You are what you are end of story. The downside (or upside for those who will be) are the super seniors, who are technically still 18, even if its only for a day. (I know someone whos birthday is Sept.1)
4. Using grade eliminate supers, except people who fail purposely. Grade also encompasses so many different ages. There are kids aged 14 to 17 in my Sophomore class. So it leaves a lot more room for mix. Another downside is it's harder to prove what grade you're in. A competition can ask for a birth certificate or drivers license, but it's hard to prove what grade your in. Also, what about Tiny aged kids who haven't started school yet or don't go to preschool?

 

[Jillian]

February 29th.

No, no, no. I think June 32nd would be more reasonable..

 

[cheermommy0729]

What if you have a 16 year old who is in 7th grade cause they were left back 3 times? (it happens)

As a parent if they were let back in school 3 times, they wouldn't be doing anything but concentrating on passing school at that point.

Age works for me, but I think there needs to be a minimum age too. I personally would not want my 12 year on a team with 17 and 18 year olds. Part of this sport is her making friends and bonding with girls outside of school. At 12 I don't want her exposed to conversations that are completely appropriate for HS seniors, but not a 6th grader.

 

[Goosepatrick]

1. Age over grade. With homeschooling and international, grade is not consistent indicator. Age isn't always either, but you have to pick something, so age is best.
2. When we were in Anaheim I heard a lot of people complain about senior teams throwing 10 year old girls. What was really great was when one mom was bashing a senior team who thought they were throwing a 10 year old and I pointed out that particular girl was actually 14!!!. Not all girls are super tall, super developed. There are many 13/14 year olds on teams that look 10, but are not. So you can assume, but you just may not be right.
3. I am concerned about the exposure of conversations amongst team members who vary from 12 to 18. But I worry more about the ability for the 12 year old to handle the pressure and expectations of being on a senior team. Many coaches have higher expectations of senior teams and their approach may be too directive for 12 year old emotional states to handle. Maturity must be considered. I really like the gyms who integrate a small interview session with the younger girls who have the skill to be on the higher level senior teams to get a feel whether they are mature enough to handle it. If they are not, Junior team is a better option.

 

[cheermommy0729]

1. Age over grade. With homeschooling and international, grade is not consistent indicator. Age isn't always either, but you have to pick something, so age is best.
2. When we were in Anaheim I heard a lot of people complain about senior teams throwing 10 year old girls. What was really great was when one mom was bashing a senior team who thought they were throwing a 10 year old and I pointed out that particular girl was actually 14!!!. Not all girls are super tall, super developed. There are many 13/14 year olds on teams that look 10, but are not. So you can assume, but you just may not be right.
3. I am concerned about the exposure of conversations amongst team members who vary from 12 to 18. But I worry more about the ability for the 12 year old to handle the pressure and expectations of being on a senior team. Many coaches have higher expectations of senior teams and their approach may be too directive for 12 year old emotional states to handle. Maturity must be considered. I really like the gyms who integrate a small interview session with the younger girls who have the skill to be on the higher level senior teams to get a feel whether they are mature enough to handle it. If they are not, Junior team is a better option.

I agree with this. Yes, we all want our cp's team or teams to win but above all I think we want them to have fun also. I can't see the same kind of friendship etc with such a large age difference. I have overheard senior teams getting corrected etc and it would make ME want to cry, at leat tear up and I'm 37 years old. I don't know how little ones handle it