age for a junior team

Date: Tue May 20 8:38 AM, 2008

RE: age for a junior team

COmomof2 · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

One particular gym has a SIX year old on a junior 4 level team this year...yes she has a layout and even a full (she is really tiny) but...it just seems so young. Yes it's about having the "skills" but what about socially adapting and working with other girls? The age difference between a six year old and a 12 or 14 is huge. I wonder if it is really the best decision? Only time will tell?

EEK, tough one here.
I'm sure she'll benefit the team.
But that should ultimately be the parents decision.
The real issue is the social issue not the skill issue - do you let your daughter sleep over, hang out and become BFFEEEEE's lol

Date: Tue May 20 10:43 AM, 2008

This is a sticky situation. I think if it were me, I would have my child placed with an age appropriate team, regardless of skill level. I would keep her in private lessons and allow her to continue with her growth in skill until her growth in maturity level caught up. Time stands still for no one. At some point she will definitely be old enough and mature enough to be placed on a team that meets her needs skill wise. She will have had fun and remained a "child" but still been allowed to grow. The perk?: Her debut as a LEVEL 5 Youth or Junior will be spectacular because no one would see her coming.

Date: Tue May 20 10:48 AM, 2008

COmomof2 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

One particular gym has a SIX year old on a junior 4 level team this year...yes she has a layout and even a full (she is really tiny) but...it just seems so young. Yes it's about having the "skills" but what about socially adapting and working with other girls? The age difference between a six year old and a 12 or 14 is huge. I wonder if it is really the best decision? Only time will tell?

EEK, tough one here.
I'm sure she'll benefit the team.
But that should ultimately be the parents decision.
The real issue is the social issue not the skill issue - do you let your daughter sleep over, hang out and become BFFEEEEE's lol

________________________________________________

I agree with all of your points. I understand the parent's dilemma. If this were Texas, Georgia, etc then a Mini 4 or Youth4 or 5 would be possible. But in California, teams for kids this young with this level of skill are virtually nonexistent. Maybe all the parents want to do is try it because they've tried everything else and it didn't work. If nothing else, the social aspect will not be a good one. If Jr 4 does work out for them then I hope they at least allow the child the cross compete on an age appropriate team as well to meet social needs. I'm sure the parents and owners will pull the plug on this if/when it starts to go south. If nothing else the family can say they tried.

my3grlz · Veteran Member

You know it's so hard because when your child has those skills at a young age you want them to be able to show them! My daughter was 7 when she got her full. It frusterated her that she couldn't be on a team where she could show all her tumbling skills. But I think it has made her a better cheerleader. She progressed in so many different ways. She has become a better flyer and tumbler because she has perfected her skills. So waiting is a good thing as well! She is 9 now and is on a junior level 4 team.

COmomof2 · Senior Member

my3grlz wrote:

You know it's so hard because when your child has those skills at a young age you want them to be able to show them! My daughter was 7 when she got her full. It frusterated her that she couldn't be on a team where she could show all her tumbling skills. But I think it has made her a better cheerleader. She progressed in so many different ways. She has become a better flyer and tumbler because she has perfected her skills. So waiting is a good thing as well! She is 9 now and is on a junior level 4 team.

Your daughter Rocks my socks! lol biggrin

Date: Tue May 20 3:41 PM, 2008

I am a mother of a SIX yr old on a jr. 4 team. Since you are judging the mindset of a younger girl on a junior team. Just remeber that jr. is 14 & younger, not 14 only. If she can handle it, so can you!!!

my3grlz · Veteran Member

COmomof2 wrote:

my3grlz wrote:

You know it's so hard because when your child has those skills at a young age you want them to be able to show them! My daughter was 7 when she got her full. It frusterated her that she couldn't be on a team where she could show all her tumbling skills. But I think it has made her a better cheerleader. She progressed in so many different ways. She has become a better flyer and tumbler because she has perfected her skills. So waiting is a good thing as well! She is 9 now and is on a junior level 4 team.

Your daughter Rocks my socks! lol

Thanks!! & I hope that didn't sound conceited!! LOL!! I didn't mean to! I guess I shouldn't have said she perfected her skills because she still has a lot to learn.

my3grlz · Veteran Member

Anonymous wrote:

I am a mother of a SIX yr old on a jr. 4 team. Since you are judging the mindset of a younger girl on a junior team. Just remeber that jr. is 14 & younger, not 14 only. If she can handle it, so can you!!!

I think that most of the time (not all cases) a junior team is stacked with older girls. & with that comes conversations about more mature things that a 6 year should not hear.

Date: Tue May 20 3:54 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

I am a mother of a SIX yr old on a jr. 4 team. Since you are judging the mindset of a younger girl on a junior team. Just remeber that jr. is 14 & younger, not 14 only. If she can handle it, so can you!!!

Six year olds are two young for a jr. 4 team. I am sorry that you feel that you have to pull your child away from kids her own age. She will never be accepted as a team mate, only as the baby of the team. That's the reality !!

Date: Tue May 20 4:13 PM, 2008

Maybe you don't realize that 12 & 14 yr olds have the same problems as a 6 yr old. They cry, whine, talk in practice, have attitudes, they also go as far as to talk back to coaches. So adapting wouldn't be a problem if you don't make it, but only time will tell.

Date: Tue May 20 4:41 PM, 2008

Junior girl's have different issues that they bring to practice, for example I broke up with my boyfriend who I have been seeing for two whole days, what should I do? Six year old babies shouldn't have to listen to stuff like this. Another thing when it's break time and everyone goes with their click to get water, your child will be the one with no one to hang with, because no one wants to be seen with the baby of the team.

Date: Tue May 20 4:48 PM, 2008

Same problems??? Are you serious...don't think so???

Date: Tue May 20 4:56 PM, 2008

Again cheerleading is not all about tumbling skills!!! Just because her tumbling is a level 4 doesn't mean she is a good fit for that team. It will be obvious soon that it isn't a good idea.

Date: Tue May 20 5:09 PM, 2008

But would it make a difference if she was on a Jr.2??????

Date: Tue May 20 5:18 PM, 2008

if its not about the skills, then is it ok for a 13 or 14yr old cheerleader with level 2 skills, to be on a junior 4 team. they have catagories!juniors and seniors... y rnt u on seniors then. 6 yr olds R NOT on SENIOR teams! thats y they made a junior team. aww

Date: Tue May 20 5:20 PM, 2008

If this is about being able to show her skills, my suggestion would be stay on an age approprite team and do an Individual. Problem solved! biggrin

Date: Tue May 20 5:22 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Again cheerleading is not all about tumbling skills!!! Just because her tumbling is a level 4 doesn't mean she is a good fit for that team. It will be obvious soon that it isn't a good idea.

The coaches determine what level every girl will best fit!!!

Date: Tue May 20 5:33 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

If this is about being able to show her skills, my suggestion would be stay on an age approprite team and do an Individual. Problem solved!

its all age approprite thats y they call it a junior team not a senior

CASE CLOSED!!! biggrin

Date: Tue May 20 5:38 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Same problems??? Are you serious...don't think so???

ya,they do,i see seniors crying more then mini's i cry if we dont get our way then we cry, i u dont get the spot or tumbling pass we fite for it or cry :P o PLUS wat different problems in PRACTICE do juniors have????besies DRAMA..o wait EVERYONE has drama