Moving up to the next level. WHY ARE WE BEING HELD BACK

Date: Sun Apr 13 5:51 PM, 2008

Moving up to the next level. WHY ARE WE BEING HELD BACK

Date: Sun Apr 13 5:56 PM, 2008

Are you joking? This is too funny.

Date: Sun Apr 13 5:57 PM, 2008

I don't think having a tuck automatically puts your daughter on a level 3 team. I'm sure there are plenty of athletes on level 2 teams that have tucks. There are other factors to consider and in the end the gym will do what is best for the gym. If you are unhappy with the placement, you can always find another gym, but do it early before the competition season kicks in (like early summer).

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

Agreed!

I am going to play the devils advocate for a min, I have a member coming into my program this up coming season who has a full. I only have a level 3 team at the moment and have no plans on moving up right away because the new member is the only one with higher skills. Is your daughter the only one with the higher tumbling skills? I am letting the new member do individuals though, have you asked your coach if this is something your daughter can do??

If not you should check out other organizations. Find a good fit!! Good luck!!

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Are you joking? This is too funny.

This is mean.... cry

Date: Sun Apr 13 6:00 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter has been cheering for several years. I want her to move up and I dont think it is fair for a gym to tell me that we need her to join and then after a few months of paying and cheerleading they put her on a team which does not challenge her like a level 2 team. I am going to put my foot down and not cheer if she is not put on a level 3 team. My daughter has a tuck and I think she needs to be on at least a level 3 team. Parents-Coaches your ideas.

There is so much more to just to having the running tuck. Can your daughter contribute more than just her tumbling skills. Can she base well - above her head with the level 3 girls? Can she keep count and perform at a faster pace? Is she able to stay focus and no get discouraged easily.

Each level change has a new set of demands placed upon them. Maturity is an important factor as well.

Set back and take a look at the entire skill set your daughter can bring to the table. Once you do so, and you still think that your daughter is more than qualified to be on a level 3, you need to sit down with the staff and have a discussion.

Date: Sun Apr 13 6:00 PM, 2008

Doing a tuck does not make you level 3 no matter where you go. Remember cheer is a team sport. Think about the team and not just your daughter. This is one of the biggest problems in this industry is when parents think they are coaches.

Date: Sun Apr 13 6:51 PM, 2008

Level 3 cheerleader (my opinion only)

Base: Round off back tuck
Ability to base fully extended one leg stunts
Ability to base full down.
Level Jumps (depending on age) Youth and under not as hard ( junior and up should be level)
Motions Tight
Dance ability to catch on to a fast dance

If they are a flyer
Can they do fully extended one leg stunts with at least 3 variations? Are they strong at flying? What age are we talking about? I am assuming other because you mention a few years. If she is trying for Junior should be at least 11 and Same for 12 unless they have just outstanding skills that sets them apart for a youth team.

As a coach we all have multiple level of cheerleaders on all our teams. As a parent talk to you program be honest and then make your decision. If you child has developed great relationships and is happy then talk to the staff dont just complain because if you came in to my gym with a complaint like this about another gym. I would say did you talk with them? Although we do not place the girls on teams until we have worked with them

Also we can at any time move them down or up. So it is not uncommon for you to pay and then be moved.. If the child is not getting the skill they may be moved.

Date: Sun Apr 13 7:08 PM, 2008

That's great that your child is level 3 tumbler. If she is a flyer, does she have the level three skills of flying...variety of tosses, one leg extended with at least three positions, full downs? Can she perform? If she is a blah performer then she is still learning and should be on a level team that suites not only her age but her abilities. Just because you have tumbling/flying/basing at a level does not make you a certain level. I coached a level 3 team this year. TO be honest out of the 30 kids, only 3 were true level 3 athletes. Talk with the coaches and ask them. I am sure they will be honest! If they are sugar coaty things that is not fair for your child, who I assume is the one that cares what team she is on, not you.

Date: Sun Apr 13 7:38 PM, 2008

Its hard to know who is in the right or wrong in this situation without hearing both sides. I am assuming your gym offers a level you want to be at (3) so lets take a look at several reasons why you may not be moving up, if such is the case.

1. Your daughters level 3 stunting/jumping/motion skills do not match her tumbling skills: In larger gyms there is always a need to fill, whereas in smaller gyms there is always a spot open on a team. If your gym is larger perhaps your daughters skills beyond tumbling dont equal to the other 36 (or 20 if they plan on fielding a small team) kids that are trying out for a spot on that team. Ask a coach or gym owner for their thoughts on this if this might be the case. Any coach/gym owner worth paying for will be able to give you an honest answer while also trying to provide a solution.

2. Your daughter really doesn't have level 3 tumbling skills: I know, your daughter 'has a tuck', but does she have all the skills necessary to not get stuck? Can she do a handstand correctly? A backwalkover, a fall to bridge, standing multiple back handsprings where she generates speed, round off back handspring tucks? Is her technique correct? A lot of times, and please don't take this the wrong way, uneducated spectators don't understand how athletes can get stuck at one point with their tumbling, or how bad technique can lead to injuries. They see that the athlete was airborne, did something that resembles the skill they are attempting, then land on their feet and they assume the athlete has the skill and is ready to move on. Without the proper technique the athlete will eventually get stuck on a skill, or worse, can't do the skill without 'a spot'.

If you are at a point where you don't want to be around your gym if your daughter does not make the team you want her on try several things; 1. ask your daughter what she wants. If she wants to be on the 3 team then 2. talk to the coach or owner about what your daughter needs to do to be a level 3 cheerleader at their gym. Be open minded when speaking with them, ask them to be fair and honest and give them the same in return. If after all that you don't get the answer you want then respectfully find something that suits your needs.

Best of luck.

Date: Sun Apr 13 8:48 PM, 2008

We were in a similar situation last year at tryouts. My daughter cheered for a few years prior to trying out for all stars. Her first year with allstars my daughter was placed on a senior level two team. I never questioned the coaches judgment for a split second. She was so excited to be a part of this organiztion. Her second year trying out she was again placed on level 2. Again I felt that these coaches knew where to place her to build a strong team. I'm so happy that I trusted their judgment, today she is a stronger cheerleader all around. She has improved is all areas and I value their decision. She's been working very hard on her tumbling skills, and of course is hoping to make level 3 .My daughter has learned a few valuable lessons. Sometimes as parents, we see things differently than others. Trust your coaches!! biggrin

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

We were in a similar situation last year at tryouts. My daughter cheered for a few years prior to trying out for all stars. Her first year with allstars my daughter was placed on a senior level two team. I never questioned the coaches judgment for a split second. She was so excited to be a part of this organiztion. Her second year trying out she was again placed on level 2. Again I felt that these coaches knew where to place her to build a strong team. I'm so happy that I trusted their judgment, today she is a stronger cheerleader all around. She has improved is all areas and I value their decision. She's been working very hard on her tumbling skills, and of course is hoping to make level 3 .My daughter has learned a few valuable lessons. Sometimes as parents, we see things differently than others. Trust your coaches!!

This Cheer Mom needs to hold "cheer mom" conferences! I love this poster!!!!! hahahaha smile

It is so refreshing to hear a mom speaking positively about coaches. I love it!

Date: Sun Apr 13 9:26 PM, 2008

CheerTyme Owner wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We were in a similar situation last year at tryouts. My daughter cheered for a few years prior to trying out for all stars. Her first year with allstars my daughter was placed on a senior level two team. I never questioned the coaches judgment for a split second. She was so excited to be a part of this organiztion. Her second year trying out she was again placed on level 2. Again I felt that these coaches knew where to place her to build a strong team. I'm so happy that I trusted their judgment, today she is a stronger cheerleader all around. She has improved is all areas and I value their decision. She's been working very hard on her tumbling skills, and of course is hoping to make level 3 .My daughter has learned a few valuable lessons. Sometimes as parents, we see things differently than others. Trust your coaches!!

This Cheer Mom needs to hold "cheer mom" conferences! I love this poster!!!!! hahahaha It is so refreshing to hear a mom speaking positively about coaches. I love it!

Thanks!! I should also let everyone know our level 2 team were
National champions twice!!!

CheerTyme Owner · Senior Member

Great Job!!! I always tell my kids the title looks the same no matter what level it is!!

Date: Sun Apr 13 11:53 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think having a tuck automatically puts your daughter on a level 3 team. I'm sure there are plenty of athletes on level 2 teams that have tucks. There are other factors to consider and in the end the gym will do what is best for the gym. If you are unhappy with the placement, you can always find another gym, but do it early before the competition season kicks in (like early summer).

People may laugh, but I know of level 2 and 3 teams that have girls with layouts and fulls on them because their other cheer skills are not there. Either their poor stunters, not good dancers, jumps are bad, or just not at the level as a WHOLE cheerleader in order to move up a level. tumbling is not the end all, be all of an all star cheerleader.

Date: Mon Apr 14 8:00 AM, 2008

Try having a daughter that has a multiple handsprings to a tuck, layout and standing handsprings to tuck and still be told that she should be a lv 3. I'm not just a cheer mom, I had my own program.

What would you advise?

AChamp · Veteran Member

Anonymous wrote:

Try having a daughter that has a multiple handsprings to a tuck, layout and standing handsprings to tuck and still be told that she should be a lv 3. I'm not just a cheer mom, I had my own program.

What would you advise?

well if she doesnt have a STANDING tuck then i wouldnt put her on a level 4 either... thats the most important level 4 tumbling skill

Date: Mon Apr 14 9:09 AM, 2008

Exactly. Also what other skills does she have? Does she fly? Is she a good base? Based on what you have said no gym is going to guarantee her a spot on a level 4 team without looking at other factors.

Date: Mon Apr 14 9:45 AM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Try having a daughter that has a multiple handsprings to a tuck, layout and standing handsprings to tuck and still be told that she should be a lv 3. I'm not just a cheer mom, I had my own program.

What would you advise?

I think what parents and coaches should know is that tumbling is only a small part of the total level 3 package. If they do not have the other skills then maybe the should work the other skills. If we based their level only on tumbling then it would be gymnastics competition and not cheerleading Cheer has more than just tumbling it involves many more area.

Date: Mon Apr 14 12:16 PM, 2008

I just went through this with my daughter. I wanted to teach her a lesson in how to proactively handle perceived "setbacks" . I spoke with my gym owner in a calm, professional manner ( no whining or accusatory tone) about what skills she possessed to make the higher level team and which ones needed improvement. Surprisingly, none of the ones that needed improvement had to do with tumbling. I then asked if we could work together to form an action plan for moving forward.

I think by taking this approach I hopefully: 1. Had my childs questions regarding her placement answered 2. Gained respect for her by showing she was committed to continuous improvement in all aspects of her cheering and 3. taught my child a lesson on how to handle what they may believe to be slights and actually benefit in the long run with the feedback they receive.

We as parents cant always make the situation perfect for our child...that is reality. We can, however, use situations as learning tools and they can grow from those in ways that impact life inside the gym and outside the gym as well.