How is everyone measuring success on this board? Is it all about the win? Is it all about getting your cheerleader to level 5? Is it the number of kids that walk through the doors each night? What is success to everyone?
I know that this is way off topic and if this topic needs to be moved to another thread please do so.
Success is measured in many ways. When my daughter decided not to do cheer last year I asked her why. She told me because it wasn't fun anymore. We took last year off and came to a new gym this year on a half year team. At her old gym she didn't like going to practice to just "WORK" as she put it. They were there just to work, the coaches demand perfection. I understand that to be the best you have to work. In the process many kids loses themselves and cheer becomes like a job and not an "Extracurricular Activity" If its not fun why do it. A successful gym should be well rounded. I hear time and time again that many people leave successful gyms to go to more family oriented gyms because not everyone wants to be a Level 5 Cheerleader. Interestingly enough many kids are happy at Level 4. They are at gyms that have Level 4 as there highest team and feel at home. They have great realationships with coaches and they don't dread going to practice. I think that is why cheergyms has been so successful.
I don't want to make any comments on your last statement except to say that is not necessarily the case for everyone. But I think success is measured by a combination of what you have said, and I don't think it's any particular level. If your team is getting stressed and struggling and working to the point where it's not fun, and the wins are not worth it, then it's time for some changes or that gym will lose members. If the wins are worth it, members will stay. If you're not winning AND not having fun, well, those are the gyms that eventually close down. If you're having fun but not winning, I think eventually members will leave because frankly you pay too much money to not have that satisfaction. There are cheaper ways to have fun bonding with others.
Success 1. Are the children happy? 2. Are the parents happy? 3. Does the gym support other gyms and have a good relationship with other gyms? This makes competition fun. 4. Does the gym have all the ammenities needed. Do you have to share the practice floor with other teams? 5. Do the coaches and staff care? 6. Do they offer variety of levels and teams. 7. Does your gym badmouth other gyms? If so leave because they are hiding something. 8. Competitions attended are ones that are competitive with a combination of both large and small gyms in attendance. 9. Nationals that are well attended. Going to an event as a team building experience is a waste of money. If more than two teams have no competition or only one team competing in thier division it is time to change. 10. Do you compete against other gyms that are just as competitive or does your gym seach out competitions they will always be successfull at. I want to see good teams and good competition. I enjoy winning but if the win is because there were no teams or the other teams were essentially small or newly formed gyms who have not developed their skills, I dont think it is fair. I dont want an easy win. I want challenge nothing in life is easy and I dont want my child to think because she won and nobody else was there that this is a huge accomplishment. She must work hard. I would much rather place 4th out of 7 teams than first out of one. Competition is just that competition so why should we go if there isnt any. Just have a party...
I think the success of a gym is determined by the kids themselves. You can have a great facility, wonderful coach, but if you don't have kids that are commited it won't work. Call it chemistry or whatever.
Success 1. Are the children happy? 2. Are the parents happy? 3. Does the gym support other gyms and have a good relationship with other gyms? This makes competition fun. 4. Does the gym have all the ammenities needed. Do you have to share the practice floor with other teams? 5. Do the coaches and staff care? 6. Do they offer variety of levels and teams. 7. Does your gym badmouth other gyms? If so leave because they are hiding something. 8. Competitions attended are ones that are competitive with a combination of both large and small gyms in attendance. 9. Nationals that are well attended. Going to an event as a team building experience is a waste of money. If more than two teams have no competition or only one team competing in thier division it is time to change. 10. Do you compete against other gyms that are just as competitive or does your gym seach out competitions they will always be successfull at. I want to see good teams and good competition. I enjoy winning but if the win is because there were no teams or the other teams were essentially small or newly formed gyms who have not developed their skills, I dont think it is fair. I dont want an easy win. I want challenge nothing in life is easy and I dont want my child to think because she won and nobody else was there that this is a huge accomplishment. She must work hard. I would much rather place 4th out of 7 teams than first out of one. Competition is just that competition so why should we go if there isnt any. Just have a party...
Our gym fits all of these and we are happy. For #10, our gym does not sign up for competitions that are new or unheard of, they are all popular and usually well-attended competitions. They post their schedule on their website early in the season for all to see. Unfortunately they have no control over who is going to what and sometimes they do end up going against nobody or one other team, not their fault. So I would agree with all the points you made that the gym has control over.
