Ok, so my daughter cheers for a Northern CA gym. They are a level 5 squad, and "just for fun" they practice college level stunts. (3 high pyramids, back tuck baskets, etc.) Now, the practices are somewhat closed...I really think this is unsafe. I don't like how the girls post these videos on their myspaces and youtube, when the parents don't even know this is happening in the gym. Do you guys think gyms should be fined and coaches' certification should be taken away? Is this safe?
I want to know what you all think. Maybe I'm over-reacting...but I don't feel comortable with my daughter doing these skills- especially when they are not ready for them. I want to pull her, but she would be devistated. Any suggestions? Oh ya. I also dont want to embarass my daugther by approaching teh coach and not letting her participate
On one hand I would say thank the coaches because if your daughter would like to take it to the next level after high school she will be somewhat experienced and know what she will be getting herself into. Of course that's the side of me that loves cheer.
On the other hand these coaches should inform the parents of what they are doing and make sure these girls have their parents permission to participate in these special stunts. Nothing would be worse than calling a parent to tell the parent their child was hurt doing something they shouldn't have been doing in the first place.
Frankly with competition season under way I am really surprised the gym would risk injuries to their athletes just to have a little fun
(Just my opinion folks, and a contradicting one at that (sorry)
I don't see a huge problem with it, as long as it is being done safely. If the cheerleaders are truly level 5, the next progression would be to work on some level 6 things, no? Makes sense to me...
As long as the coach knows what they are teaching and it's being done safely, I think it's alright. I do agree that it helps give them a "leg up" if they want to cheer in college or on an open team.
I also think it is fine if they are a true level 5 team with level 5 skills and the coaches are approaching it with safety in mind. Ask yourself this...if your daughter were on say a level 3 team and the team started working double downs (not allowed in level 3) would you be just as concerned? This is the situation with my daughter right now and I am fine with it....keep them movin' on up!!
Well, let's put it this way... when they try out for college and the other girls/guys are doing level 6 things for tryouts.... how is your child going to even make the team if they haven't even attempted them? I highly doubt the gym is "hiding" this because the practices are closed. But it sure makes practice more fun if you get to try out the more fun things. If the coaches are good enough to coach these things, then everything should be fine.
Besides, most of the injuries happen when the kids are messing around. Not when they are attempting new stunts or tumbling. They are being supervised.
Do you allow your child to tumble on the grass or at school? Probably not because that's WAY WAY more risky than trying new things at the gym, on a spring floor, with supervision. Don't you think?
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OC Mom, Mom of 5 great kids! A cheerleader/softball player, a RETIRED cheerleader, a football/baseball player, 1 Airman and future Police Officer and one college student!
I don't cheer for my school but they do level 6 stunts sometimes (2 1/2 high pyramids) and I always wondered how they got away with doing that when it is illegal at the high school level. I guess it's okay to try it at practice as long as there are extra spotters and the team is actually ready to try a few harder things.
Ok, so my daughter cheers for a Northern CA gym. They are a level 5 squad, and "just for fun" they practice college level stunts. (3 high pyramids, back tuck baskets, etc.) Now, the practices are somewhat closed...I really think this is unsafe. I don't like how the girls post these videos on their myspaces and youtube, when the parents don't even know this is happening in the gym. Do you guys think gyms should be fined and coaches' certification should be taken away? Is this safe?
I want to know what you all think. Maybe I'm over-reacting...but I don't feel comortable with my daughter doing these skills- especially when they are not ready for them. I want to pull her, but she would be devistated. Any suggestions? Oh ya. I also dont want to embarass my daugther by approaching teh coach and not letting her participate
For me, it would depend on my daughter's age at the time. If she was junior or senior in high school I would think it was a good idea. As someone said earlier, in level 3 you work on level 4 skills...and so on. Preparation is a good thing.
But if my daughter was younger, with college quite a ways off, I, too, would feel concerned.
I don't think that I would recommend fining the gym/owners/coaches or any disciplinary action taken against their credentialing. I would express my concern for potential injury though.
I don't cheer for my school but they do level 6 stunts sometimes (2 1/2 high pyramids) and I always wondered how they got away with doing that when it is illegal at the high school level. I guess it's okay to try it at practice as long as there are extra spotters and the team is actually ready to try a few harder things.
It's actually not ok for schools. Most of them are only insured under NFHS guidelines, which means if someone got injured doing stunts that are illegal the school would not be covered. I'm willing to bet that your school administration has no idea what is legal and what isn't if they are allowing this.
As for the original question, I go back and forth on an answer and I think in the end it comes down to how much you trust your coach. If you feel as a parent that your coach is fully qualified to teach stunts that are at a higher level, then I see no reason to not allow them to do so. Most of these stunts, while flashier, are no more difficult or dangerous than the ones your child will do on a level 5 team, in some ways they are actually less dangerous. However if you do not feel that your coach is qualified to teach such stunts then I think you have a legitimate complaint and you most likely should be looking to find yourself another gym.
I want to know what you all think. Maybe I'm over-reacting...but I don't feel comortable with my daughter doing these skills- especially when they are not ready for them. I want to pull her, but she would be devistated. Any suggestions? Oh ya. I also dont want to embarass my daugther by approaching teh coach and not letting her participate.
I assume you made the original post.
You're the mom. If you are uncomfortable with your daughter participating, then you need to speak up...in a private setting with the coach. I don't think you need to pull her from the team, but the fact that you mentioned if makes me feel like you are not happy with her there...once again, maybne talking to the coaches would help you feel better. If you are worried about her safety, you need to not be so worried about embarrassing her, but protecting her. So..private talk with the coaches. If they then embarrass her because of your talk with them, then you are not in a good place to be.
I want to know what you all think. Maybe I'm over-reacting...but I don't feel comortable with my daughter doing these skills- especially when they are not ready for them. I want to pull her, but she would be devistated. Any suggestions? Oh ya. I also dont want to embarass my daugther by approaching teh coach and not letting her participate.
I assume you made the original post.
You're the mom. If you are uncomfortable with your daughter participating, then you need to speak up...in a private setting with the coach. I don't think you need to pull her from the team, but the fact that you mentioned if makes me feel like you are not happy with her there...once again, maybne talking to the coaches would help you feel better. If you are worried about her safety, you need to not be so worried about embarrassing her, but protecting her. So..private talk with the coaches. If they then embarrass her because of your talk with them, then you are not in a good place to be.
Great post! If it's bothering you so much you need to deal with it. You'll feel better once you do
I want to know what you all think. Maybe I'm over-reacting...but I don't feel comortable with my daughter doing these skills- especially when they are not ready for them. I want to pull her, but she would be devistated. Any suggestions? Oh ya. I also dont want to embarass my daugther by approaching teh coach and not letting her participate.
I assume you made the original post.
You're the mom. If you are uncomfortable with your daughter participating, then you need to speak up...in a private setting with the coach. I don't think you need to pull her from the team, but the fact that you mentioned if makes me feel like you are not happy with her there...once again, maybne talking to the coaches would help enstariyou feel better. If you are worried about her safety, you need to not be so worried about embarrassing her, but protecting her. So..private talk with the coaches. If they then embarrass her because of your talk with them, then you are not in a good place to be.
If this gym has closed practices and you are NOT comfortable and want to see then coaching staff teach and execute these skills with the team, you should be able to......plain and simple. IF the gym wants to keep you as a customer...they should do that. You are the cutomer...that is your child....it's the gyms rule to have closed practices.....it's not a law and you as a parent have rights! IF the coach and owner tell you "no, so sorry but to bad", then yes, I would consider leaving. That is how I feel about this and I am a coach and owner of a gym. I have been doing this for some time now. We do not have closed practice, however if a parent is out of controle, I ask that parent to leave. I have had to do this once. !
