end of the season.

Date: Sat Apr 5 2:24 PM, 2008

end of the season.

Date: Sun Apr 6 12:07 AM, 2008

We take a month off, start the new season and then have a banquet. That way we can invite all the new members as well. It gets the new members excited about their season.

~ Amy G
CheerTyme All Stars

Date: Sun Apr 6 12:15 AM, 2008

That is a great Idea Amy!!!!

Date: Sun Apr 6 12:49 AM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

We take a month off, start the new season and then have a banquet. That way we can invite all the new members as well. It gets the new members excited about their season.

~ Amy G
CheerTyme All Stars

But what about the ones who have left, do they bother coming back once they are through? It seems like the point is to celebrate with the ones that were together for the current season, not the new. We have too many seniors who graduate every year for that to work for us, but it's an interesting idea.

Date: Sun Apr 6 1:04 AM, 2008

We send out invitations to all our current, aged out, or not returning members. They almost always come back to celebrate. We hand out participation trophies as well as special awards to certian deserving members (all star of the year, rookie of the year, etc.) They always come back to see who wins those awards. I also put together a tear jerking slide show with pictures of the entire season, it's the highlight of the entire banquet. I hand out gifts to my Seniors who are graduating even if they haven't aged out, and kids who are aging out get other special gifts and I cry a lot! hahaha

~ Amy G
CheerTyme All Stars

Date: Sun Apr 6 8:35 AM, 2008

UCF did it up! I have never been to a party like this one, and let me tell you I have been to many a party! WHOOP! WHOOP!

The entire night was amazing...the location, the food, the awards, the full year slide show, and the ENTERTAINMENT! OMG! They hired the most amazing DJ. This guy had every cheerleader and adult entertained the ENTIRE night. There were toilet paper races, tricycle races, and many more activities that had the parents and kids participating. While all this was going on Jill and Janon were pulling people of the crowd, taking them back stage (yes, there was a stage), they would have our parents dress in all kinds of costumes...it was so entertaining. I don't know how they got my husband (and many more dads) to put on a Disco Jumpsuits and a huge afro wigs and prepare to perform to Disco Inferno. BUt the spot lights hit the curtains, the curtains were drawn and there were 8 dads perform to Disco Inferno. I about rolled out of my chair. They didn't stop there, the parents were asked to dress up in Jamacian outfits, Grease outfits, and even Pimp and Lady outfits. OMG!!! They had stage lights and fog machines to make the parents feel like a stars! WHOOP! WHOOP!

THe entire night was 4 hours of straight entertainment! It was just amazing! Oh and I forgot one more thing. Jill and Janon had a professional photographer there to take family portraits. We all had the opportunity to take home a family portrait to remember this wonderful event! UCF really can through a SPECTACULAR PRODUCTION!

WAY TO GO UCF you ROCKED!

Date: Sun Apr 6 1:11 PM, 2008

I have to say UCF had a great banquet. I am glad we were part of it. It was the perfect way to end the season. As stated above all those things took place but what really stood out to our family...

they didn't give out individual awards. Which was nice because competitive cheer is a team sport. MVP's went to every girl that doubled team. The most important award was the academic awards. starting from 3.0 to 4.o and one amazing young girl who got higher than a 4.0. Recognizing that these girls not only bring it on the cheer mat, but also in the classrooms.
As a mom, I appreciated UCF honoring these girls for their hard work in school as well. THANK YOU!

The family pictures were the greatest gifts to give to each of the families besides all the time these coaches give already. What a gift!

The entertainment was fabulous. I loved the games and they even got me up there to play chubby bunny (my kids now have black mail pictures lol). The tricycle race was absolutely hilarious I dont think I ever laughed so hard in my life.

The DJ played appropriate music all evening and he even had my hubby up dancing with one of those dang straw hats on (my blackmail material he he).

All the girls had a wonderful time. The food was fabulous and each girl was recognized individually and as a team. Jill and Janon gave all the girls a back pack full of gifts. It was wonderful how they handled everything.

I just want to state again that although its nice to recognize individuals as mvp or cheerleader of the year. I LOVE THAT UCF DIDNT DO THIS AND GAVE EACH OF THOSE HARD WORKING DEDICATED CHEERLEADERS RECOGNITION!

Keep it up UCF that is the best way to keep your gym all about the kids as a team and family

we will miss you all
PROUD PARENT LEVEL 4 CHEERLEADER

GO FORCE!!!!!!!!

just a mom · Member

Our year started out with a fun float decorating party, followed by a private swim party at an aquatic center, we also had a family holiday party and we had a movie night at the gym. All of these events were so much fun!

Our end of the year banquet was in a class of it's own. I have never in 12 years of attending sports/school banquets been to anything this fun. I also appreciate the fact that academic awards are given to the girls. The family pictures were a great gift and appreciated by all. Great job ladies aww

Date: Mon Apr 7 12:19 AM, 2008

I LOVE all of UFC's great fun ideas for their banquet....I may have to steal some...hope you don't mind!! =)

~Amy G
CheerTyme All Stars

OdysseyMom · Veteran Member

We had a scholorship fundraiser dinner on Saturday to raise money for the Katy George Scholarship and had our awards banquet last night. I was a potluck with TONS of food. All the kids got trophies and all the teams were called up to the stage. I must say I am proud of the medal I recieved for my team the "Big Dippers" Parent Team. We had one of our coaches sing some songs, (Might I add she should be on American Idol) They announced the Junior Staff for next year and annound the recipients of the Katy George Scholarship, I think there were 5 reciepients. We had a raffle to raise money for the scholorship and also an auction that was really the highlight of the night. We had a blast. Now we have a break cause there is only 2 more weeks til tryouts!!!!! biggrin

oldcheermom · Senior Member

"they didn't give out individual awards. Which was nice because competitive cheer is a team sport."

I've never been fond of the few individual awards because it's usually a popularity contest with the team, not who truely deserves it. Our teams vote and the coaches give one from them. My daughter jokes that she's just going to vote for herself for everything this year!

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

My teams do not vote on the "special awards" My coaching staff does, the final decision is up to myself and the other owner. You can't please everyone, we truly feel the all stars that receive these awards deserve them 150%. Some feelings can get hurt but the kids usually realize why others may have gotten the award over themselves, it does make them work harder in their next season. It also keeps the kids motivated during the season. Typically the kids are excited for their friends when they get awards, my kids have been taught the importance of good sportsmanship and we hope it carries over into their awards banquet.

Date: Mon Apr 7 5:06 PM, 2008

Yes amy but why not just keep it a team thing and not about individuals. that is how awards use to go back a while ago but it has moved in the doirection of recognizing this sport as a team sport and im sorry i dont agree that there is one mvp or all star of the year when it took the whole teamn to compete and be there all season. my opinion.
and arent you always saying its about fun not winning. you teach the opposite with and individula award. just my opinion of course
look at from the hurt kids feelings (and why would it be ok and they get over it not a good philosophy at all)
maybe you should rethink this sport and practice what you teach and preach. good sportsmanship and having fun. no matter how you look at it even coaches have favorites or get along with someone best. even coaches dont see that others are all star of the year.
glad my gym rewards all cheer leaders because they are all cheerleaders of the year.

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

Thank you for the input. I would consider changing my end of the season awards if I felt it was creating a problem. ALL of my kids look forward to the "special awards" and like I said there can be some hurt feelings, it almost NEVER happens at my gym. I feel there are members of my program who deserve some individual recognition.

Thank you again for your advice

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

I also recognize every member of the teams as well.

Date: Tue Apr 8 11:40 AM, 2008

Whatever you do dont let your athletes know they're getting an award beforehand. lol I know my coach wanted to make sure all the athletes that were getting awarded were present so they were informed. While at the ceremony they gave out awards by teams. When my team was called i was so excited that i was getting a special award. The first name was called and it wasnt me, the second still wasnt me, same with the third, forth, and fifth. Finally it came to the last award and it still wasnt me. I was so mad i walked out and went home. About an hour later i start to get calls asking where i was, then a teammate calls and tells me that my coach and the gym owner just went up to give a speech about me, and during the speech they both started to cry, then i was awarded a very special award, but when my name was called i never came to the stage. I felt so bad i wasnt there to see it. It was the worst feeling ever, And that is the only thing i regret in life. cry

Date: Tue Apr 8 12:15 PM, 2008

maybe that is why your program doesnt grow amy??? maybe you should look beyond what you feel is right and understand that just because they dont say anything doesnt mean YOU and YOUR program don't send home very hurt and sad children.
how sad and how selfish to not think about that. kids dont always express the pain they have to us adults. they keep it bottled up to not ruffle feathers, but you yourself are doing a disservive to the kids in your program period!
compeitive cheer is not an individual sport, we all preach that all season to our kids in our programs. what you are doing is making about individuals.
YOU CANT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. it doesnt work like that. like the post said
"practice what you preach and teach"

Date: Tue Apr 8 12:21 PM, 2008

and furthermore please explain why "some" kids deserve special recognition? please explain
that sounds ridiculous to say. dont you as a gym owner try to treat all your kids the same regardless of their extra talent or who has been in your program the longest or the shortest amount of time?
yes we have those who stand out and we have those we click with, but it is our job to show the kids ion our program that they are all just as important on the squad. NO MATTER WHAT! they each bring something unique and if on part of the body(individual) of cheer was missing it would not make the body (team) whole.

love that we celebrate each and every girl in our program and i am confident we never send home any sad child. because they are all just as important and are all star of the year to us.
it is about the kids and funisnt that right????

Date: Tue Apr 8 12:23 PM, 2008

I am sure this is not the only gym that gives out awards to individuals, so stop putting down another program. To each is their own!! Everyone has a right to chose the gym of their chose, and if the parents are happy that is all that matters.

Date: Tue Apr 8 12:24 PM, 2008

its my opionion and i can state it
thank you