New Age Grid 07-08

Fierce Coach · GURU

New Age Grid 07-08

Airborne Mom · Member

All I can say is thank goodness they put a limit on young a senior team member can be. In every team sport my child is involved in there is a limit. I like that they are raising it over the next couple of years as well to help gyms adjust. I am not sure what the answer is for the exceptional young athletes. They could definitley show off their level 5 skills competing individual cheer. Than also compete with a junior team at level 4. I guess where it gets hard is if the gym they are at can only field a junior level 3 team. Each year I see the skill levels rise in Northern California. I see more and more level 4 teams at the junior level. My wish for all the gyms out there is that you would be able to build a strong program that offers something for every ability level.

Last season was quite messy with the changes USASF made. I think they took alot of slack for it and have tried to make it right. My daughter has been in all star cheerleading for six years. I think USASF is not perfect, but they are making changes to better competitive cheerleading and hopefully these changes will make it so more people see what an amazing sport it is.

Worlds Watcher · GURU

These are the major changes that I would like to hear opinions. And please, lets get some of the kids to respond because they willbe the ones effect. Please?

No Jr Int'l divisions listed. Will they add small jr, large jr, and jr coed divisions at worlds? Will your junior teams be going after a bid?
Level 6 age is now 17 instead of 18. If you are still in high school will you opt to compete on level 6 team instead of level 5 senior team?
Sr teams are now 10-18 2007-08, 11-18 2008-09, and 12-18 2009-10. If you are a small gym to you see this as a disadvantage? Or as parent do you see having to switch gyms because your current gym doesn't have a junior team at your childs skill level?

ExCoach · Member

ha! I'd love to see a mini level 1 team with 36 members!!

cheerwatcher · GURU

I like the ages. I said before, I appreciate senior teams more when they are the same size. HOWEVER, i think this may be a disadvantage to smaller gyms. With that 1 exceptional 8 year old throwing level 5 skills. yikes ... If the small gym doesn't offer mini/youth/junior elite teams chances are she'll be better off elsewhere. Thats the only part I dislike. It's sort of a lose-lose situation.

Is there anyone who's going to be effected a lot willing to chime in? I'm interested in others reactions!

my3grlz · Veteran Member

I can tell you that my daughter is one of those 8 year olds. I can understand in some ways but if she's got skills that a senior level 5 team has then why not be able to show it off? She gets frusterated sometimes!! It will happen for her eventually!! I wouldn't leave Cheer Odyssey over it!! The people there are wonderful!! We all are very close!! I think that weighs out over anything else!!
I can see on the other hand you see some of these teams put in these little flyers and the bases are holding their leg up so they don't fall and it just doesn't look right or seem fair to other teams that have to work harder to hold up their stunts.

Fierce Coach · GURU

I'm seeing all of this as a major downfall for small gyms. It's hard to field a junior team when you really don't have enough kids for it. Especially hwen junior 2,3, and 4 are very competitive divisions. UGGGHHHH. Frustrated. Don't get me wrong... I think they are going in the right direction... I just wish it would have came in a year or two.

Connor · Veteran Member

Spoiler: i heard that they are adding junior divisions at worlds next year instead of international

Tamara · cheergyms.com Master Poster

I like that USASF are taking baby steps to the age minimum. While I like the idea of it, I feel that this will only hurt small gyms, hopefully I'm wrong.