We're a small gym and the parents are allowed to watch whenever they want. Usually, at least when my team practices, no one sits and watches us. If the parents do come in and watch, it's usually only for the last 1/2 hour or less. I have heard about disruptive parents but they are nothing like that. They just sit there and watch, or sometimes they talk to other parents but it's all friendly
I am not a gym, but a school, however all our practices are closed. That means no parents, friends, siblings, etc. I do invite friends and family for special exhibition performances when it is getting close to a rally, competition, etc.
Practice for us for the most part is closed. our parents are allowed in the gym once a month. as we get close to competition the once a month goes away. the coaches get frustrated. with the parents. the parents talk too much. our gym is small. when a bunch of people get in there and start talking our coaches can't even hear themselves count. the coaches have to turn around to the parents and ask them to be quiet. is funny to see the adults get in trouble. i cheer for our oldest team and i help coach our tiny team. and our tinys just stare at their moms the whole team. it's frustrating when it's a parent viewing day because the girls don't concentrate on their routine at all. it is really as waste of a practice. now for my team, i have been with this team for 5 years now. no parents come to open practice. the parents really want to be surprised at our first competition. and they have also realized that we practice less then we should when they are at practice.
I love being able to come and watch my daughter's practices!! We can't go into the gym just watch from a window!! But once a week we can go in and they do the whole routine for the parents. It's nice to see how they are progessing!! It is nice to be able to watch from the window too!! I know when my daughter masters a skill in tumbling or in stunting she will glance over at me and give me a huge smile and I will give her a thumbs up or clap!! It makes her feel good that she could share that with me at the moment it happens!! Not wait until practice is over to tell me it just wouldn't be the same!! It used to be closed gym when we first came to CO and none of the parent's really knew each other because a lot of them would just drop their child off at practice and then leave until practice is over. Now for the last 3 years that we have been able to watch them practice it has been great all the parents know each other and are very close!!
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Jen.....Proud mom of Kiara and Maiya from Cheer Odyssey!!!
At Motions the official policy is that practices are closed until the last 15 minutes. There is a room just off the floor with a window. Many of us drive 40 miles or more to get there, so they do allow parents to stay in that room and watch - as long as we remain positive and aren't a distraction. What I like about it is that at our last gym (3 years ago) practices were completely closed. At comp time, I didn't know any of the other parents and it was actually uncomfortable. Now I know quite a few other parents just from sitting at practice and consider many of them real friends. The funny thing is, we don't always pay all that much attention to what is happening on the floor!
The funny thing is, we don't always pay all that much attention to what is happening on the floor!
We have open practices but there is a windowed viewing area on one side and a seating area someways back on the other. This is one of my favorite times to talk with the other parents and we love it. I think most would be offended if the gym decided to close practices. Of course it's all we have known though!
At Motions the official policy is that practices are closed until the last 15 minutes. There is a room just off the floor with a window. Many of us drive 40 miles or more to get there, so they do allow parents to stay in that room and watch - as long as we remain positive and aren't a distraction. What I like about it is that at our last gym (3 years ago) practices were completely closed. At comp time, I didn't know any of the other parents and it was actually uncomfortable. Now I know quite a few other parents just from sitting at practice and consider many of them real friends. The funny thing is, we don't always pay all that much attention to what is happening on the floor!
If all cheergyms.com gyms have an "official policy" of watching only the last 15 minutes of practice, why is one gym actually allowed to watch the whole practice with stipulations ("positive, not a distraction") while another gym from the same company, has to abide by the "15 minute policy", no exceptions? There are a lot of parents that drive from long distances at Pyramids also. Don't have an issue with the policy either way, just curious why it would be different from gym to gym.
If all cheergyms.com gyms have an "official policy" of watching only the last 15 minutes of practice, why is one gym actually allowed to watch the whole practice with stipulations ("positive, not a distraction") while another gym from the same company, has to abide by the "15 minute policy", no exceptions?
I would imagine that it may be because the gyms, while owned by cheergyms, are run by different program directors.
I have always been curious though: when allowed to watch the last 15 minutes, is it from inside the gym?
We are allowed to watch once a month. I mean they leave the door open to the gym so we can peak, but once a month we are allwoed to watch the practice. I like it because I really see the progression of the skills. It is like a big treat.
my daughters gym is closed but open the last 15min. or so the first practice of the mo. I think it is a good thing to have it closed. You all know I'm only telling the truth when I say that the mommys that want to watch all the time don't only want to see what her kid is doing but to see what SALLY and SUE are doing so that they can talk S...! We are all to blame for it. It's just to much DRAMA to watch all the time. I just love to see the end result and how everyone looks like a team. Lets keep it positive at all times when we watch no matter if it is for 5min. or 2hrs.
