All-Star What Does Your Gym Do?

[thischickcheers]

Let's say you tryout throwing a solid tuck and you get spotted for your layout. Do you get placed on a level 3 team, since a tuck is the highest skill you can throw by yourself... or do you get placed on level 4, hoping that you will get your layout by yourself in time for competition season. At my old gym we were placed accordingly to our highest tumbling skill with a spot. This never turned out right, we would always end up going down a level because some girls wouldn't master the skill in time on there own. At my gym now, we get placed on the highest skill we can perform by ourselves at tryouts. Just wondering how it works at other gyms...

 

[mia4life06]

depends on the overall talent of the team. . . .

 

[NJ Coach]

I would place you based on the skill you can currently throw without a spot.

 

[INeverStopCheering]

It depends. If your really close to the layout (like you only need a bump), you might make the level four. You'd also have to take into account appropriate jump and stunt skills.

 

[Eyes On The Prize]

Cheerleading is more than just tumbling. Movingup is doing harderer stunts, more intricate choreography, better jumps, and overall just handling the level, requirements, and stress that come along with it. Just because you have a layout doesn't mean you should be on level 4 just like having a backhandspring doesn't mean you should be put on level 2. (Not you specifically, in general.)
As far as the way your gyms tryouts/team placements are held, I think basing a team and an athlete on what they are spotted on is crazy. You could spot me on standing tucks all day long, doesn't mean im gonna get it.

 

[fullpass]

Cheerleading is more than just tumbling. Movingup is doing harderer stunts, more intricate choreography, better jumps, and overall just handling the level, requirements, and stress that come along with it. Just because you have a layout doesn't mean you should be on level 4 just like having a backhandspring doesn't mean you should be put on level 2. (Not you specifically, in general.)
As far as the way your gyms tryouts/team placements are held, I think basing a team and an athlete on what they are spotted on is crazy. You could spot me on standing tucks all day long, doesn't mean im gonna get it.

I completely agree. I'd say your stunting, jumps and standing tumbling are the best indicators of
Your current level.
Placing people based on anticipated !progression is a bit shaky to me. Of course there will always be rockstars who excel at one or two things and fall a bit short in other areas. Most programs have the depth to accommodate these folks but if not, as always it's up to the coaches isn't it?

 

[newcheerdad]

At our gym, the general minimum for level 3-5 teams is being able to throw the minimum skills for that level without a spot. They might take someone who's exceptional in other areas and put them on a higher level without the tumbling, but that's pretty rare. But it's also clearly stated in our tryout packets that having the minimum tumbling skills doesn't guarantee you placement on a particular team, either.

The requirements are a little more relaxed for level 2 teams.

 

[peytonnmariee]

depends on team, also depends on athlete. theres girls who can TUMBLE like a beast but, who dont base or fly!

 

[thischickcheers]

Yeah, i also think it depends on what the team needs. Like say at a small gym, you need a flyer for senior 5. I think putting a girl who only has a layout, but is amazing at flying is exceptional.

 

[cupieqt]

We try to place athletes only on the level they currently fit best. If they perfect higher level skills later and would benefit another team we will let them cross up. Now we do take into consideration stunt groups, etc. so sometimes, we will ask someone to cross up if they can contribute here and would do well in other areas too.

 

[drewpate]

Well you have to consider the viability of having a level 4 team first. Then, Say I had 19 layouts I might put you on a four to max the number, but in most gyms it comes down to standing tumbling. In level 4 to be competitive you really need nearly max standing tucks and toe touch bhs tucks, and majority standings to layouts. In running you need nearly all layouts (but it's easier to hide) with majority specialties. You also have to have a good mixture of body types for stunting.
Based on this tumbling alone, at my gym you would be nearly guaranteed a level three spot with a possibility of four depending on team needs. Just because I was sure you would have a layout by the time season started doesn't mean I would be sure you were an asset to the team. In most cases gyms would say that putting kids on teams they are almost ready for and hoping you improve doesn't pan out, so most exceptions are based on basing/flying needs.

Example, I might put one person with no in level tumbling on a higher team because I need then to get that one amazing flyer in the air that might be too bug for the other kids to put up, or if I have 16 people with layouts but are all base/backspot size with little flexibility, I would move up my next 4 flyers that fit my size needed and who had the closest to level 4 tumbling.