So there seem to be quite a few small gyms around in Nor Cal. I mean maybe one or two teams. If you are renting your own place and know that there is a larger program near you , why would you want to struggle when you could be part of something great. The only thing I can think of is that you would like your own individuality. Any thoughts?
Have you experienced situations with the larger gym or is that just heresay? The reason why I ask is that we are a larger gym in our area and every year at placements one or two girls will move over from the smaller gym to us and the stories they tell us are very funny. Things like we steal their pyramids and we dont go to the same competitions because we are afraid to run into them.
Funny thing is, my kids dont even know about them, meaning that maybe once a month or less one of the kids will say, 'hey did you know their is another team in town?' .
So this has been longer then needed but I just wanted to stick up for the bigger teams.
Why do you assume that all small gyms struggle, or that they aren't "something great"?
Just like not everyone enjoys the shopping "experience" at Wal-Mart, a "big" gym is not the right fit for everyone. Some prefer a smaller, friendly, family feel; some don't.
Why do you assume that all small gyms struggle, or that they aren't "something great"?
Just like not everyone enjoys the shopping "experience" at Wal-Mart, a "big" gym is not the right fit for everyone. Some prefer a smaller, friendly, family feel; some don't.
Different strokes for different folks...
We are a small gym and our gym is more like a family. We have our good times and our interesting times, but we love our small gym.
Small gyms are great! It is what drew us to sign up. NOT everyone is looking for that big gym feel. It is great to have options. Our small gym in particular was more like a family for our girls. They are close knit and seem to all get along great together. Honestly, their has been almost zero drama between any of them. Our coaches are wonderful and just as talented. Small gyms add a little extra character to the competitive all star arena. So some may struggle a little, but nothing in life comes easy.
Consider small gyms like the postage stamp; its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there!
Isn't it great that we all have choices and can find what best works for us as individuals.
Its comments like those that make me grateful I live in Americathat we dont all have to go with the large companies and we get to CHOOSE what type of training center we send our athletes to and have the luxury to go and try out more than 1 program. This allows parents and athletes to find the program that fits their needs and personality (kind of like when coaches are picking a competition company). Some families choose the rigorous competitive atmosphere, others just want a positive team experience, while others want a little of both. Some parents want to pay less, some dont mind paying more, some like the all male staff, some could care less....the list goes on and on. The truth of the matter is, small gyms(fewer than 100 athletes total) make up the majority of the competitive cheerleading programs in the country. That right, most states dont have a gym as large as Cheer Athletics or Stingrays, and without the small gyms, who would they have to compete against???
Just like the Diva coach stated...What makes you think all small gyms are struggling..? Im pretty darn sure that POWER (which is technically a small gym) is in no way struggling. They have a great product that obviously works for a number of people. There are thousands of small gyms across the country that believe it or not LIKE being a smaller program. Yes more kids would make paying the bills a bit easier, but more kids = -more billing and paperwork, bigger facility that includes more facility maintenance, larger staff, higher cost for coaches & facility, more cheer parentsmore questions, more complaints..etc.
I have had the experience of cheering at a large gym and now coaching at a small gymboth certainly have their pros and cons, but after being on a team for 2 years. even their advanced level teams and coaches not knowing my skills or in some cases my name..it just did not work for me. I now coach at a smaller program where we have less than 50 kids but have been placing very very well all season long...1st place, grand champions etc. My kids can hang if not BEAT the large gyms in the area. I prefer going into the gym and knowing every athletes name, regardless if I coach their team or not. I love the fact that the kids will knock on my hotel room door at Out-of-state comps and ask for help with their makeup, I love that I can walk into the gym and recognize all the parents, a few who have been with our program when it started with 11 kids.. I appreciate that I have the opportunity to get to know each one of my athletes because I know that I am partly responsible as their coach, in helping them to become well-rounded adultsand this is a role I take very seriously.
What it comes down to is respecting all programs in the area and keeping a positive training environment for ALL athletes. Yes a competitive spirit is healthy but teaching your kids ****iness and poor sportsmanship just shows a lack of integrity on the part of coaches, parents, and athletes..Small or Large program, it doesnt matter...if you focus on the kids you will always have a loyal following
I'm just curious what most people consider to be small. I would think a gym with less then 100 kids would be small. I think that most of the gyms in northern California would be considered small gyms. Some gyms maybe more established, but they are still small gyms. I know that when you think of Cheergyms most would think it is a large gym, but Motions as a separate gym is not that big. I'm not sure how many kids Pyramids has. Power seems pretty big also, but they also combine two different locations. Just curious what everyone thinks.
I LOVE my small gym.....I am SOOO proud to own a small gym and coach such an amazing group of athletes. I one day hope to be considered a "BIG" gym but if it never happens I will remain as happy as I ever could be. My small gym is AWESOME!!! I love their dedication and excitement. I love how much my athletes love to be a part of my "small gym" and I LOVE our FAMILY atmosphere. I can't wait to see my babies compete in Las Vegas. I am so proud of thier hard work this season. I will be so proud of them no matter what place they receive. Its all about fun, friends and family.
Good luck this weekend CheerTyme...I love you all so so much
And good luck to the other small and big gyms out there!!!!
It seems when defining what a small gym is depends on where you stand. Small gyms have a different perception of what it means to be a small gym than what a large or mega gym considers to be a small gym. Setting to something as simple as physical numbers, while helpful, only defines one aspect of the small versus big discussion. Your building sizeequipment, staff, # of teams, budget, geographical area from which you draw talent, progarms and services offered, etc.
For some it is how many kids are totally enrolled in the program..in all classes offered including teams. When you look at that figure you have many gyms that offer more classes than they have teams...and other programs. That inflates their numbers, even though they are not all in competitive cheer.
Others it is how many teams you can field at the same time. Well with the crossover rules, smaller gyms can appear to be larger by having crossovers to multiple teams...thereby making your program look (on a numbers basis) more successful or bigger. For many small gyms this is the only way they can survive and retain some of the athletes they train so they can actually build their own program without losing their one or two layouts or fulls to the larger gyms around the corner who already have superb Level 5 teams.
Still others it is how many advanced tams you can field. You could have every division mini through senior levels 1 and 2 with zero crossovers and they still would not consider you to be a large gym. That again is the perception element. In the same vein if you can compete against a larger gym, then the argument goes that you are plenty big enough because when you hit the floor it is not numbers but talent, ability and training that matter.
I coach in what could be considered a medium sized gym by numbers... large or mega by building standards..(16,000 square feet w/ 3 full size gyms)...large by staff, budget, etc. in a city with like numbered or smaller gyms. We draw primary from 3 counties but we are now getting drop ins from the famous programs of people relocating to the area. Not all join of course but that is different issue. However like a lot of gym owners there are separate ventures that while support the cheer venture are not a part of that program, so it should not be considered as part of the program.
I have coached in the 60 which was really 45 member gym as well. the struggles are drastically different. There was no way that we could offer the same programs/classes as the larger programs in that area...which became a big negative when new comers were checking us out and comparing us to established programs or programs connected to gymnastic facilities..which is another dynamic altogether. We could not compete with USA All Stars or More Xtreme or Fame, which is why in part that gym is closing this year. All we could do is preach family atmosphere (which almost every gym does...lol) training, patience and progressions both skill wise and in competitions. So imagine the true struggle from small to large.
It seems when defining what a small gym is depends on where you stand. Small gyms have a different perception of what it means to e a small gym that what a large or mega gym considers to be a small gym. Setting to something as simple as numbers. only defines one aspect of the small versus big discussion. You building size, support staff, # of teams, budget, geographical area from which you draw talent, progarms and services offered, etc.
For some it is how many kids are totally enrolled in the program..in all classes offered including teams. When you look at that figure you have many gyms that offer more classes than they have teams...and other programs. That inflates their numbers, even though they are not all in competitive cheer.
Others it is how many teams you can field at the same time. Well with the crossover rules, smaller gyms can appear to be larger by having crossovers to multiple teams...thereby making your program look (on a numbers basis) more successful or bigger. For many small gyms this is the only way they can survive and retain some of the athletes they train so they can actually build their own program without losing their one or two layouts or fulls to the larger gyms around the corner who already have superb Level 5 teams.
Still others it is how many advanced tams you can field. You could have every division mini through senior levels 1 and 2 with zero crossovers and they still would not consider you to be a large gym. That again is the perception element. in the same vein if you can compete against a larger gym, then the argument goes that you are plenty big enough because when you hit the floor it is not numbers but talent, ability and training that matter.
I coach in what could to be considered a medium sized gym by numbers... large or mega by building standards..(16,000 square feet w/ 3 full size gyms)...large by staff, budget, etc. in a city with like numbered or smaller gyms. We draw primary from 3 counties but we are now getting drop ins from the famous programs of people relocating to the area. Not all join of course but that is different issue. However like a lot of gym owners there are separate ventures that while support the cheer venture are not a part of that program, so it should not be considered as part of the program.
I have coached in the 60 which was really 45 member gym as well. the struggles are drastically different. There was no way that we could offer the same programs/classes as the larger programs in that area...which became a big negative when new comers were checking us out and comparing us to established programs or programs connected to gymnastic facilities..which is another dynamic altogether. We could not compete with USA All Stars or More Xtreme or Fame, which is why in part that gym is closing this year. All we could do is preach family atmosphere (which almost every gym does...lol) training, patience and progressions both skill wise and in competitions. So imagine the true struggle from small to large.
. So some may struggle a little, but nothing in life comes easy. 
