All-Star Youth Level 5

[BBinNCsMom]

Honestly, the team wasn't chasing bids at all last season. We were already scheduled to compete at UCA and Summit was a big expense (from NJ) for the parents....even if a paid bid was on the table.

I hear ya.

 

[littlestALLSTAR]

I hear ya.

You're talking to a broke a$$ cheer mom. So when the gym is thoughtful to the parents pocketbooks I'm totally on board. Wanna buy a lottery fundraiser??? ;)

 

[lilmsthang75]

I feel like this is all I talk about anymore so I won't do another long response but Droplet spent two years on Youth Elite and had the time of her life. She made friends from all over and has so many memories to carry with her as she moves on to her junior years. I have no doubt she would not be the athlete she is without her experiences on YE. I have nothing but positive things to say and wouldn't change a thing. Every year CEA ages off the majority of their team and every year we all sit around and go "oh gosh I don't know if it'll happen this year- can we really do it?" And every year without fail they carefully select a group of kids that can handle that push and that pressure at that young age and every year we sit back and are amazed.

If you give a little one the right confidence and make sure they know you believe they can do anything, they will amaze you with what they can do.

Oh I will miss it this year!

I am late to the party but this is so true! My kid was only on Y5 for one year and I wish that he had the option of Y5 when he had the skill set at 8 but at the time it was not enough kids in the gym at his age with level 5 kids. He matured alot that season and was able to experience the intensity of level 5 without losing any of the fun. I would not trade the experience for anything. Y5 is such a fun and exciting division.

 

[quitthedrama]

General observation - It seems that the people who actually have direct experience with Y5 have overall had a great experience and have very positive things to say about the division, and it's the others who don't.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Also I do not understand the "there shouldn't be this division because there are only X teams in it!" argument.

This could be said about so many divisions.

Like, how many Mini 2 do you see competing?

Or even everyone's fave, Large All Girl 5.

There are not that many.

Doesn't mean there is not a need.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Heck. There are really not a ton of Junior 5 and 5R teams. Like maybe 5 or 6 in each division at Summit.

I do not see anyone saying we need to cut that division.

 

[nmaggie]

Heck. There are really not a ton of Junior 5 and 5R teams. Like maybe 5 or 6 in each division at Summit.

I do not see anyone saying we need to cut that division.

Looking at D1 Summit Results, there were:
4 teams in Sm Jr R5
3 teams in Lg Jr R5
7 teams in Sm Jr R5 Coed
6 teams in Lg Jr R5 Coed

And this is with the divisions separated small/large, coed/not coed. When combined, 20 Jr R5 teams attended Summit, compared to 1 Y5. I think this clearly shows the need for the Jr R5 division.

 

[IEA.Elizabeth]

Also I do not understand the "there shouldn't be this division because there are only X teams in it!" argument.

This could be said about so many divisions.

Like, how many Mini 2 do you see competing?

Or even everyone's fave, Large All Girl 5.

There are not that many.

Doesn't mean there is not a need.

I totally agree with this 100% TBH I don't see youth 4 very much either but no one is saying cut that. If a kid has worked hard enough at a young age to be level 5 they deserve to show what the can do even if there is no one in the division they can still win level champions even they they are the youngest


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[dat.jpp]

I totally agree with this 100% TBH I don't see youth 4 very much either but no one is saying cut that. If a kid has worked hard enough at a young age to be level 5 they deserve to show what the can do even if there is no one in the division they can still win level champions even they they are the youngest


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Cut Y5 for Y4, if not then make Y5 age 12.

 

[Cheer 4 U]

So would you rather your level 5 child compete on a level 2 or 3 team? I find it hard to believe any gym owner chooses to have a high level team simply to get banners. Every Youth 5 and Youth 4 team I have seen have had the skills to be competitive in the division. The addition of the Junior Restricted division killed youth 5. I understand parents not wanting to have their child compete on only a Y5 team given the lack of teams, but I think most gyms have their Y5 kids crossed to another team to make more economic sense while still giving their kids a chance to compete at the highest level for their skills.

I paid for my daughter to compete against other teams to showcase her teams skills and to be judged and if it turns out they didn't win, that would be fine... Life lessons learned with that. If my daughter was solely on a Y5 or Y4 team and I knew there would be no competition for them to compete against...I would level her down. What does it teach a child to "win" when there is no one to lose against? It makes even more difficult for them to process when they do lose as we are dealing child emotions... But i don't have a child on a Y4 or Y5 team, so it easy for me to say. I researched D1 Summit 2 - Y5 teams and D2 Summit 0 teams competed,... But if parents want to drop a minimum $3,000,00 to compete against no one or a 50-50 shot...have at it!

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Also, competing against one team is STILL a competition.

 

[quitthedrama]

Also, competing against one team is STILL a competition.

and every team within a level competes for grand champs, so you are almost always competing against someone.

 

[123jump4!]

General observation - It seems that the people who actually have direct experience with Y5 have overall had a great experience and have very positive things to say about the division, and it's the others who don't.

That's true. But as a general thing, we tend to defend the things we are part of. Kool Aid... That's not just in cheer.

I'm on the fence. I get that it can be really special. And maybe it's important especially if you're not a flyer. Because it's easier for a flyer to be one of the smallest on an older team? But as a parent I don't think I'd be too happy with no competition in the division at most comps. For that same reason I would probably rather my kid be on a Y2 team than M2.

If the parents and kids are happy and the EPs are happy to run the division, great. :)

 

[mamabear]

How many of you have been around Y5 when they are competing? They might have less comps than most of our cp's do, but when they do, it is some of the most intense showdowns that I have seen in cheer. The kids and the coaches take it very seriously. The kids are ALWAYS in the spotlight even when they don't have competition, and they learn to deal with the stresses that come with it. It is not about the banner or jacket, it is about preparing the gifted youth for their next seven to nine years in the sport.

It is sad that this year there aren't a lot of teams, but cheer is cyclical and we hopefully will see a resurgence with other gyms soon.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Additional point about Y5:

It is a great place for younger kids to get consistent with 5R stunts with girls their OWN size.

If you're 9, you learn a lot more about flying L5 and technique on a group that is generally your size/age (like 9-11) than you do when your bases are 17-18 and can practically hold you in the air with one finger.