This past year a lot of the teams that started out Open received a lot of flack in the begining of the year. As the season progressed more and more gyms had open teams. Especially Senior Open Level 3. Do you think we will see even more this next competition season?
For this specific season having a Senior Open 3 and 2 was what was best for our program. Now that things are said and done, I am not sure if I would advise this decision for everyone. I liked that fact that we had smaller top girls so we could play around with some really fun stunts. Even though we had a successful season, I feel that due to the age difference that they did not get a chance to really gel as a team as I would like. Of course they worked well together at practice and on the floor, yet the outside side of team was not accomplished.
You never know from year to year the number of kids or the level of kids that will show up for placements. I can't say that I would never do it again. Just my two cents.
I'm not a fan of them because it took away competition from the non-open divisions. It was almost as if the teams who had the more appropriate ages were penalized, since they had fewer teams to go against. I thought we were supposed to go in the opposite direction, discouraging young flyers from being on senior teams. I just think we have way too many divisions as it is. I understand it was to help smaller gyms field competitive teams, but all the larger gyms are doing it too.
Sr. Open 3 was a tough division this year. There were no hand outs at any of the comps. The ones I saw, Airborne, Cheer Odyssey, So Cal, Power, all of them, put up tough competition, they were all Large as well. And if you would have put Legends, VEA, etc Lg Sr 3, there was no comparison. I think it was a great move on the gyms for those open teams and it was the division to be watched this year. They didn't put girls on these teams so that they could have an easy season, on the contrary, If there was a 10yo, she had the skills to be on that team and with much success. Didn't the age of the open team change with the usasf rules? Doesn't he/her have to be 11 now?
Actually if there was a 10 year old you wouldn't have to be in open, it was for those under 10. So what if you have a team that is not open, and you are at a competition where most are, and you either have nobody in your division or one other team, while the open has plenty of competition. Is it okay to move your non-open team into open just to have some competition? Since the opposite isn't true (you can't move your open to non-open) how about the reverse? Otherwise it might suck again next season for those who are in the standard categories if the open are getting all the competition. Do you see what I mean? The ones in the standard divisions USASF has come up with are the ones getting penalized by having little to no competition. It's like we are going backwards and everyone is choosing to allow younger athletes on older teams.
My daughter is 16 and was on an open team this year. She said she absolutely does not want to be on an open team again next year. She says it is way to hard dealing with the little girls who are constantly crying and pouting like most eight year olds do. To big an age range to mix in my opinion.
The ages of the kids that walk through the door will determine whether the gyms go open or not. I think there will be an increase in the number of open teams that will compete next season and honestly less less true senior teams. This will force the age grid to revert back to the "old" days. It will come back full circle, all in good time.
Yeah, I don't get that. Are you saying that everyone will soon be open and have whatever ages they want on their team? In that case what is the point of having teams that aren't open, you know? FOr example, senior open is 18 and under. It doesn't say you HAVE to have girls under 10 to compete in the open category, right? If you have everyone compete open you'll have good competition instead of the split we're seeing, with the open teams outnumbering the standard.
I honestly believe that senior open will over take the senior category. It will be 18 and under just as the senior division used to be. With one exception, you get to add 4 boys on the team. come on lets face it. It's much easier to stunt 10-9-8 year olds than it is 15-16-17 year olds. Cheer has come so far that a cupid to double down is no longer cool. You have to create some amazing stunts and really start "playing" with the little flyers. It's said but true. The only true Senior teams will be at the high school teams someday. I do believe the 18 and under will return yet again.
For the parents that allow their kids to be on a senior team, Why? I've seen this season as everyone else lots of small kids on these teams and also doing crossovers for youth and junior. So this 10 or 11 year old is basically living in the gym thus will eventually have more injuries than the average 10 or 11 year old on one team that is age appropriate. Furthermore, how much do they have in common with the big girls. I personally would not allow my child compete in this division, I would rather her be with kids her own age.
The age difference needs to be handled by the coaches. The need to ensure that the 10 and 11 year olds are having "fun". In our gym that happened ever single practice.
I would much rather have my 10 year fly on high school aged girls. They are the strongest in the gym, they know the safety rules of the gym, they will make sure the job gets done. I'm sorry but when my cheerleader is on kids her own age it terrifies me. Injuries? Really? The only injuries that I have seen are from tumbling. That is done on the ground.
My daughter was on the Senior Open Level 3 team this year. There were ups and downs for her as far as the hard workon the team but she had a blast. It all has to do with your childs attitude. My daughter is very tall and mature for her age she is only 10, but half of the girls thought she was around 14. They respected her just as she respected them. They knew what was appropriate to say to her and when she should not be involved in conversations. Many time young kids that are on Senior teams try to act older and then then when feelings get hurt they play the age card. If you want to cheer with the big girls, you have to be able to hang with them. Parents need to teach their children appropriate behavior out of respect. I told my daughter at the when she was placed on that team that she was to know her place. She made friends on that team and alot of the kids looked out for her. Teenagers do not like 8 year olds who act like they are 15. Theres my 2 cents
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