Thanks for the complement! There is such a difference around the country with respective styles that it would be a great show regardless of who won.

Anonymous wrote:

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I agree. I often wonder why Nor Cal area has such a hard time with competing at true skill levels. Why are the programs around the country bigger on average than ours? Of course I understand its hard to field true levels when you dont have enough kids. But I would love to know how people get so many kids in their program. Elite Cheer in NC is a huge program. Any Advice Flipkidjudge?

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We haven't always had a lot of kids. When I started 4 years ago IIRC we around 60. Now we are pushing close to 200 in only our 6th year. I will bullet point these because I can talk for days on any one of these items. These things must be implemeted gym wide..not just a couple of staff but everybody needs to be on these pages:
1.) Stay True to Who You Are.
2.) Be Aware of what other gyms/programs are doing but don't be afraid of them either.
3.) Maximize your strength and work like all get out on your weaknesses.
4.) Every staff member does not have great people skills. So don't let them be the ones doing the major interacting with your parents. Let them coach and leave. That lightens their load and your worries that will say something you have to explain later.
5.) Constantly recast the Vision for the Program before those who are a part of your program. No one else has to get it, understand it, like it, or agree with it. But if they buy into it...there are your return families who become great ambassadors for your program. They will defend you when others are taking pot shots at you because they don't understand your program or don't like you because you beat their team.
6.) Baby steps maintained are better than giant steps missed.
7) Conditioning, conditioning, conditioning....progressions, progressions, progressions...technique, technique, technique. Did I say conditioning? (must be creative though and not used as a negative reinforcer)
8.) Keep parents informed. If you keep them in the dark it will come back to bite you in the end...literally.
9.) You can't do everything, so hire competant staff to be able to carry out the Vision. For example I am the Tumbling Director for the gym. I do not coach one team, but I coach every athlete as well as train staff. I do not mess with choreography or music. That is not why i was hired. Even if I have an idea, I take it to those who handle that.
10.) Plan where you want to go. Implement the steps and training necessary to get you there, and do not be afraid to re-evauluate if something is not working and try a different apporach.
11.) It is better to remove a troublemaker be they child or parent, than to have their negative attitude rip a team/program apart. Give them every chance possible, but if it can't be worked out..there are other programs out there who will be happy to take them on, trouble and all.

Lastly...do not bow to your fans or your foes. Do what is right for your program. Compete at the level that works for you. If you don't have a true level 4 team then work level 3 until you have enough to push a level 4. Go to the competitions that work for you. Do what is right by your program faithfully. And believe me it will grow.

-- Edited by flipkidjudge at 08:09, 2008-01-30

-- Edited by flipkidjudge at 08:10, 2008-01-30

That is where I personally think the "business" side of cheerleading interferes with the "sport" side of cheerleading. More often than not that which you speak of is a business move. To prevent from losing those kids to other gyms in the area who do offer the higher level teams, pleasing parents who have to see their darlin child compete for a World tittle as soon as possible, staving of recruitment or alleged recruitment, showing your own parents that you are trying to go that "next level" etc.

Personally my daughters team has struggled all year as a level 4 team and it has been slightly annoying and frustrating to say the least. I don't know if it was pride or even they thought they would do good at this level. But they did just ok. not bad but ok. In their heads they are justifying it to the kids that we are just this much away from first place or this and that when in reality they are always competing against only another team. I understand scores and its good to beat your own personal score, but the girls are really a strong level 3 squad.  and if they would of  keep pushing them as a strong level 3 squad instead of a mediocore level 4 squad they would feel better about themselves insteadof doubting themselves everytime they walk off the mat.  and not only that you will have happy parents who are the ones who write the checks. all gyms are not made to be level 4 and up teams and that is ok. i agree that gyms will keep more cheerleaders year after year if they are successful at their levels than if they are constantly losing and are not strong at a level.  in the end the girls want to feel like true competitiors and the parents dont want to deal with everytime you get in the car wiping tears or trying to rebuild their confidence.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to get your teams to the next level but it comes with progression and time. build your teams with strength not just the potential. at the end of it all if your parents and cheerleaders feel like they struggled all year and even though the coaches are trying to tell them oh next year this same team will be this and that. kids and people in general live in the moment and those are empty words because your gym is not delivering now.
It makes it difficult to want to sign those papers again for next season and make that committment when you struggled all season.  imo only

Yes fierces level 4 team is very strong. They are amazing! Very creative routine!

I LOVE the POWER senior 4 team. That gym really knows how to put a routine together. They are so much fun to watch and the crowd participation is off the hook. POWER has the best fans in the cheer world!

(JMO I am not affiliated with POWER)

I totally agree...and from what I have seen, their skills, other than the tumbling, are right there with their level 5 teams. Very talented group of girls and great coaching.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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I totally agree...and from what I have seen, their skills, other than the tumbling, are right there with their level 5 teams. Very talented group of girls and great coaching.

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Agreed!
I was sitting next to a mom of a Sr 4 power girl last weekend, and she said that there are NO crossovers on that team at all. That is crazy. I thought for sure there were some of their level 5 girls on their. Also, they are a combined team from their Sac and Modesto gyms and only practice together once a week. DIdn't know that.

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VIDEO OF POWER 4 WOULD BE GREAT!!!!  Can someone post, please.

i heard all star elite sm 4 beat powers large 4 true?