What would people/students think of an allstar program that has had its own facility for many years partnering and sharing space with another team or a gymnastics gym. Would you wonder why you are not going to have your own space anymore? What do people think of this scenario?
Our gym has been made an offer to share space and the coaches feel that its a great oppurtunity for us to have pit/ more tracks and tramps. We would have our own closed off space totally seperate from the gymnasts. Has anyone else ever practiced in a gymnastics facitily?
In my experience coaching out of a gymnastics facility can be wonderful and then not so wonderful. Having expensive equipment and knowledgeable tumbling and safety resources at your finger tips is amazing. In the past when I coached at a gymnastics facility, gymnastics/acro coaches would assist with tumbling practices to help supplement their time cards and the kids absolutely benefited from their knowledge and experience. We did have our own space, although it was only a seven panel floor. The only down side was that we were stuffed in the back of the gym, isolated from the rest of the world, and my kids thrived on being in the lime light at all times, not to mention our space did not have mirrors. I think the only real negative was that in this particular gym the gymnasts did not respect the work the cheer athletes put in. When we would run routines in the main gym they would all stand and watch in awe but then talk behind the kids' backs. I fear that his attitude was predicated and fueled by the elite level gym coaches who thought our space would be put to better use by making it a second floor of the rec programs. Anyhoo! Practicing out of a gymnastics facility has it's pros and cons, so long as you have your own dedicated space, where you don't have to fight for time, a quality stereo system, mirrors, and a bit of space for coaches to stand back to actually see the routine then go for it, you can't lose! Be firm about what you want with the owner and management and don't budge on the important stuff. Best of luck to you and your program.
Well put. My daughter used to do gymnastics at a facility that was shared between competitive gym. and cheer. The cheerleaders definitely got the short end of the stick. They had awful practice times because the elite gymnastics took precedence followed by the basic gymnastics classes. They ended up moving the cheer out of that gym eventually.
So, if you have a dedicated area that they are not going to encroach on with peewee gymnastic classes etc. I'd say it is definitely something to think about if it means improved facilities, equipment and training.
I have to agree with the comment about the gymnist looking down on the cheerleaders. I know from experience that, that happens unfortunately. The other down side is that parents tend to believe that since you are at a gymnastics facility, that you are going to have greattumbling and that is not always the case. So it puts pressure on the cheer gym owners.
If you can afford it, you should keep your gym in an area by itself IMO
It would be better if at all possible to have/maintain a dedicated space. I am not saying it can not work, but the challenges and obstacles you face may be greater than the extra equipment and instructors benefits. I know when I taught gymnastics(for over 20 years) the mindset was cheerleaders are gymnasts that couldn't cut it on beam and bars. Most owners way back then only saw cheerleading as a cash cow to fill out tumbling classes with minimal instruction. Things are way different today, but sadly a lot of the mindsets are not.
Perhaps you could form a partnership with that gym that would give you a presence in the gym, without moving the whole program there. Have your tumbling classes taught at the gym. Arrange a once or twice weekly TTP class (Trak, Tramp and Pit) class there. Perform routines there uqarterly like an exhibition. Schedu;le Tumble clinics with their instructors.
This would give you the best of both worlds, without sacrificing your cheer dreams either. Best of luck to you.
What would people/students think of an allstar program that has had its own facility for many years partnering and sharing space with another team or a gymnastics gym. Would you wonder why you are not going to have your own space anymore? What do people think of this scenario?
Our gym has been made an offer to share space and the coaches feel that its a great oppurtunity for us to have pit/ more tracks and tramps. We would have our own closed off space totally seperate from the gymnasts. Has anyone else ever practiced in a gymnastics facitily?
You read my mind. We are doing this for next season. We will put both the gymnastics and cheer facility together and make one big rockin allstar program. We will keep all gyms and offer everything out of them all. I think it is a great benefit for the cheerleaders. We will cater to other cheer programs as well that are not all star this way the youth programs will not only have a gymnastic facility for practice they will also have a cheer facility with all the great benefits.
What would people/students think of an allstar program that has had its own facility for many years partnering and sharing space with another team or a gymnastics gym. Would you wonder why you are not going to have your own space anymore? What do people think of this scenario?
Our gym has been made an offer to share space and the coaches feel that its a great oppurtunity for us to have pit/ more tracks and tramps. We would have our own closed off space totally seperate from the gymnasts. Has anyone else ever practiced in a gymnastics facitily?
You read my mind. We are doing this for next season. We will put both the gymnastics and cheer facility together and make one big rockin allstar program. We will keep all gyms and offer everything out of them all. I think it is a great benefit for the cheerleaders. We will cater to other cheer programs as well that are not all star this way the youth programs will not only have a gymnastic facility for practice they will also have a cheer facility with all the great benefits.
I'm a little late on this one...our gym is a shared space and has been at least since I have been around. However the majority of space is for All Star. From a parents pov it's nice to have access to gymnastic coaches for private tumbling sessions. I know it's point of contention but gymnastics coaches do have amazing input regarding your childs progress and form. Of course they all think cheerleaders have horrible style and progress too quickly but it's not a major issue. Can you really blame them though? I mean have you seen those kids tumble??!!!
I'm a little late on this one...our gym is a shared space and has been at least since I have been around. However the majority of space is for All Star. From a parents pov it's nice to have access to gymnastic coaches for private tumbling sessions. I know it's point of contention but gymnastics coaches do have amazing input regarding your childs progress and form. Of course they all think cheerleaders have horrible style and progress too quickly but it's not a major issue. Can you really blame them though? I mean have you seen those kids tumble??!!!
Charlotte ASMom, The biggest issue in many cheerleading facilities is the push to get competive fast. By competitve I do not merely mean fielding a team, but putting a team on the floor that has a very good chance of plaicng very high or finishing first. If you have more tumbling you don't have to recycle tumblers several times through a routine.
So facility wise, there becomes a push to hurry up and throw it quickly so we can put it on the floor. We need those BHS to compete cause you know ________ will have sqaud BHS at the competition. Progressions or as I like to say Proper Progressions is often a dirty phrase. We know it should be done...but when you lose to a team with busted layouts (pikes really by Gymnastic Standards) and you threw 2 good ones and the rest tucks, or BHS passes it makes some coaches say Forget it! When the judges score sheets says...throw more layouts..get those girls tumbling....many coaches throw in the towel of progressions and become a McChuckem's IMHO that serves neither the kids or parents best interests but the bottom line.
In gymnastics not just progressions are emphasized, technique, conditioning and body positioning/shaping are vital skill sets. You are forced to demonstrate you can do certain prescribed skills correcly before you can advance to the next level. This is before you get into the whole competitive score levels. This is what I found corrects the vast majority of tumbling difficulties. It takes time and patience from owners, coaches, parents, and kids, but if those are implemented...any tumbling program will get immensely better.
I'm a little late on this one...our gym is a shared space and has been at least since I have been around. However the majority of space is for All Star. From a parents pov it's nice to have access to gymnastic coaches for private tumbling sessions. I know it's point of contention but gymnastics coaches do have amazing input regarding your childs progress and form. Of course they all think cheerleaders have horrible style and progress too quickly but it's not a major issue. Can you really blame them though? I mean have you seen those kids tumble??!!!
Charlotte ASMom, The biggest issue in many cheerleading facilities is the push to get competive fast. By competitve I do not merely mean fielding a team, but putting a team on the floor that has a very good chance of plaicng very high or finishing first. If you have more tumbling you don't have to recycle tumblers several times through a routine.
So facility wise, there becomes a push to hurry up and throw it quickly so we can put it on the floor. We need those BHS to compete cause you know ________ will have sqaud BHS at the competition. Progressions or as I like to say Proper Progressions is often a dirty phrase. We know it should be done...but when you lose to a team with busted layouts (pikes really by Gymnastic Standards) and you threw 2 good ones and the rest tucks, or BHS passes it makes some coaches say Forget it! When the judges score sheets says...throw more layouts..get those girls tumbling....many coaches throw in the towel of progressions and become a McChuckem's IMHO that serves neither the kids or parents best interests but the bottom line.
In gymnastics not just progressions are emphasized, technique, conditioning and body positioning/shaping are vital skill sets. You are forced to demonstrate you can do certain prescribed skills correcly before you can advance to the next level. This is before you get into the whole competitive score levels. This is what I found corrects the vast majority of tumbling difficulties. It takes time and patience from owners, coaches, parents, and kids, but if those are implemented...any tumbling program will get immensely better.
-- Edited by flipkidjudge at 08:14, 2008-01-04
-- Edited by flipkidjudge at 08:18, 2008-01-04
I think your right on this, matter of fact a lot of our kids go to gymnastics gyms on weekends and nights that they don't have practice to work on the technique and conditioning that gets lost during regular cheer practice, coaches are under such pressure to get their kids to throw certain skills in that these things get lost during regular practice. I think that is why this year we have seen so many injuries, during competitions
You're right...there is a vast difference between the two sports and progression is different! I like having the gymnastics coaches crtique my daughter's tumbling because they are able to suggest the most minor actions that can make a huge difference. Of course you also have to deal with the speeches about too quick progressions, and "someone's going to break their arm doing that", but I just politely nod and go on!!! Thanks for the input.
Thankfully I am in a facility that I can be the point /counterpoint person on issues like that. I have seen too many what i call nonsense injuries from kids not adequately prepared to throw certain skills let alone perform them...broken ankles and feet from not knowing how to land properly...arms from tumbling with the wrong hand position. It was one of the main reasons i never wanted to be a cheerleading coach, because I understood the different dynamic.
We have dramatically reduced those by the implementation of some gymnastics type classes, conditioning and training for all the coaches. Even if it means we don't have 5 year olds throwing fulls...lol.
You don't have 5 year olds throwing fulls? How ever do you compete? hehehehehehehe
Very smart if you ask me.
__________________
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!
Lol! Yes tha would scare me. I have a five year old getting ready to start and I could not even fathom it. Now I do have some 5 year olds doing RO BHS but they are the type of kids who don't leave the gym; stay on the tumble trak and in the resi pits when not practicing.
I actually had an eight year old doing double fulls w/spot late last year. It was always funny to see her at comps and everybody watching and warming up tuck after tuck...she would run and throw a full and everyone in warm ups would stop to ask how old she was....lol. Those are the exceptions and not the rules however.
Not so much anymore, I think the younger they start tumbling the less fear they have, and if you find a great gymnastics coach they can excel faster, my daughter is seven and she throws tucks, whips, layout and last night she started working on her full. What motivates her is all the other kids on her squad can throw the same stuff, not just one or two kids. What I would love is if the gym moved them from mini two to like mini four and let them tear the comp floor up, but then they really wouldn't have any competition. That would be great!!!
I think as long as your team is sucessful it doesnt matter where you practice.. Fierce Started at a park and then rented gym space from a Gymnastics Facility and worked our way up and noe matter where we practiced it didnt matter :)
