Correct Team Leveling

Date: Tue Oct 30 7:10 AM, 2007

Correct Team Leveling

Date: Tue Oct 30 10:26 AM, 2007

As a fairly new cheer mom, I'm kinda surprised at how many people think that cheer teams should start out the year at their "real level" - being the level of tumbling that most or all of the team members are at. I would think that the idea is to make progress throughout the year, not to start out perfect and have no where to go from there. My daughter's team (level 2), only has a handful of backhandsprings right now, but many of the girls are very close and working super-hard to attain that goal by the end of the season. In fact, one girl got her running back handspring only a week before the first competition, and was excited to be able to use it in the competition!

I think it would be hard to strive for a new skill if you know you wouldn't be able to use it until next year. Also, my daughter has her back handspring, and if her team were at a safe level 1 (due to the fact that most girls are still working on theirs), I believe she would be bored and unchallenged by the level 1-allowed routine (lower-level stunts and pyramids as well). And to say maybe that we could move up a level when more of the girls gained their tumbling skills, well, at USA nationals, for example, you can only compete in the division you qualified at (no moving up for nationals http://www.varsity.com/uploads/pdfs/usa/08AS_geninfo.pdf), so that's not a realistic expectation.

I think the same would hold true for the higher-level teams as well. I know of several level 5 team members that are very close to getting their full - and working almost daily at it. What would be the point of their hard work if they couldn't even get to use it in a competition this year?

It's going to be so exciting to see how far all the teams progress by the end of the year! smile

Date: Tue Oct 30 10:46 AM, 2007

Why not start off at their true level and work your way up to a higher level? Set goals for yourself. If you're level 2 have a goal that once over 50% of your team (or more?) have tucks, try level 3. There is plenty of time for skills to develop.. nationals go through April, right?

Date: Tue Oct 30 11:01 AM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Why not start off at their true level and work your way up to a higher level? Set goals for yourself. If you're level 2 have a goal that once over 50% of your team (or more?) have tucks, try level 3. There is plenty of time for skills to develop.. nationals go through April, right?

For USA, you cannot compete at Nationals at a higher level than you qualified for at Regionals. We are only attending one USA Regionals. I'm not sure about the other Cheer Nationals.

Date: Tue Oct 30 11:02 AM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Why not start off at their true level and work your way up to a higher level? Set goals for yourself. If you're level 2 have a goal that once over 50% of your team (or more?) have tucks, try level 3. There is plenty of time for skills to develop.. nationals go through April, right?

thank you very much why not start at the right level build confidence and move up you have until march/april to qualify for nationals to move up if need be why let the kids and parents get frustrated and for most gyms they compete at a level higher because they let the children influence them and they dont know where to draw the line set goals and when they meet those goals move up. why d they need instant gratification give them something to worksw towards
well said

CharlotteASMom · Member

Anonymous wrote:

As a fairly new cheer mom, I'm kinda surprised at how many people think that cheer teams should start out the year at their "real level" - being the level of tumbling that most or all of the team members are at. I would think that the idea is to make progress throughout the year, not to start out perfect and have no where to go from there. My daughter's team (level 2), only has a handful of backhandsprings right now, but many of the girls are very close and working super-hard to attain that goal by the end of the season. In fact, one girl got her running back handspring only a week before the first competition, and was excited to be able to use it in the competition!

I think it would be hard to strive for a new skill if you know you wouldn't be able to use it until next year. Also, my daughter has her back handspring, and if her team were at a safe level 1 (due to the fact that most girls are still working on theirs), I believe she would be bored and unchallenged by the level 1-allowed routine (lower-level stunts and pyramids as well). And to say maybe that we could move up a level when more of the girls gained their tumbling skills, well, at USA nationals, for example, you can only compete in the division you qualified at (no moving up for nationals http://www.varsity.com/uploads/pdfs/usa/08AS_geninfo.pdf), so that's not a realistic expectation.

I think the same would hold true for the higher-level teams as well. I know of several level 5 team members that are very close to getting their full - and working almost daily at it. What would be the point of their hard work if they couldn't even get to use it in a competition this year?

It's going to be so exciting to see how far all the teams progress by the end of the year!

My daughter has been on both sides of this. In the past few years our gym started out girls with the bare minimums for skills at the level placed. This gave them until the Jan/Feb to perfect everything. I really liked that idea BUT the truth is that many gyms out there don't do this (at least the ones we go against most often). We competed against teams that had 80% plus skills in Oct/Nov. Winning is not everything but it is important to be competitive and we were not then or even later in the season. Other teams had time to perfect their routines while we were still working on skills for the level. This year we started 90%+ skills set. I do not know if it was a conscious decision by the gym or just turned out this way but I DO know that we were competitive from day 1 and it felt good for the girls. There are probably 2-3 girls that are working on the next level skills right now in preparation for next year.

Date: Tue Oct 30 11:47 AM, 2007

CharlotteASMom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As a fairly new cheer mom, I'm kinda surprised at how many people think that cheer teams should start out the year at their "real level" - being the level of tumbling that most or all of the team members are at. I would think that the idea is to make progress throughout the year, not to start out perfect and have no where to go from there. My daughter's team (level 2), only has a handful of backhandsprings right now, but many of the girls are very close and working super-hard to attain that goal by the end of the season. In fact, one girl got her running back handspring only a week before the first competition, and was excited to be able to use it in the competition!

I think it would be hard to strive for a new skill if you know you wouldn't be able to use it until next year. Also, my daughter has her back handspring, and if her team were at a safe level 1 (due to the fact that most girls are still working on theirs), I believe she would be bored and unchallenged by the level 1-allowed routine (lower-level stunts and pyramids as well). And to say maybe that we could move up a level when more of the girls gained their tumbling skills, well, at USA nationals, for example, you can only compete in the division you qualified at (no moving up for nationals http://www.varsity.com/uploads/pdfs/usa/08AS_geninfo.pdf), so that's not a realistic expectation.

I think the same would hold true for the higher-level teams as well. I know of several level 5 team members that are very close to getting their full - and working almost daily at it. What would be the point of their hard work if they couldn't even get to use it in a competition this year?

It's going to be so exciting to see how far all the teams progress by the end of the year!

My daughter has been on both sides of this. In the past few years our gym started out girls with the bare minimums for skills at the level placed. This gave them until the Jan/Feb to perfect everything. I really liked that idea BUT the truth is that many gyms out there don't do this (at least the ones we go against most often). We competed against teams that had 80% plus skills in Oct/Nov. Winning is not everything but it is important to be competitive and we were not then or even later in the season. Other teams had time to perfect their routines while we were still working on skills for the level. This year we started 90%+ skills set. I do not know if it was a conscious decision by the gym or just turned out this way but I DO know that we were competitive from day 1 and it felt good for the girls. There are probably 2-3 girls that are working on the next level skills right now in preparation for next year.

hey if you are my gym owner listen to this see how this mom felt and what they experienced please put our girls in the right level so they can be competitive and feel good about their accomplishments pleaaaaaaaase im begging you
no really wont it be nice to have confident strong competitiors instead of reaching for something to far advanced i know for a fact our team is not a true level 4 no way because only 10 15 percernt of the girls have the required skill
to be a level 4 come on lets just have strong teams and build some confidence
did you see the same teams we saw at level 4 they are 80-90 percent and yes nit perfect or stong but my goodness they have less work to do to get to a true level four and it is realistic for them to be competitive
we will have an excuse to why we didint place well all season long and the only truth is that we didnt compete at our true level and that reflects you as a gym owner your coaches and your squads
and i know and if the parents sitting near me hold true to their word they will not be back next season and you have a nice gym and it will dissolve if the parents and children are not happy i too am amongst the parents who will seek a more competitive gym and family friendly gym

Date: Tue Oct 30 11:53 AM, 2007

so true all stars gym owners are in the business to be competitive that is what we pay for period

Cheer Dad · Member

Anonymous wrote:

so true all stars gym owners are in the business to be competitive that is what we pay for period

I hope this isn't the only thing that you pay for, that seems like a very simple and narrow statement to make. I hope you also pay for a gym that is well rounded and can offer many positive things to your child's development other than 1st place trophies. Being competitive is definitely important but it's not the only important quality in a gym. just my opinion.. smile

CharlotteASMom · Member

Anyone who goes to a gym just for wins is crazy...I agree. There is a difference though between winning and being competitive. Last year we were crossing our fingers not to be last. This year we at least know we are in contention for a top 3 place.