As a cheerleader, i love it. Our viewing room is upstairs with a window yet i still find the parents distracting. They could be sitting doing nothing yet it still takes away from practice. If the parents arent trying to get the kids attention, the kids are trying to get the parents. Our practices arent closed but i wish they were.
I think limiting it to the final 15 minutes of practice is a great idea. Less distractions for everyone. You want the athletes to remain focused.
I HATE that idea. Our gym doesn't close practices. Its been made very clear by the owners that practices will remain open as long as there isn't any distractions. Its great, no drama, no problems. =)
I would hate not being able to watch if I felt like it, but I would deal with it if it were distracting the kids/cocahes. However, the part that would be bad for me is that I just want to have some place to sit for 2 hours where I can read my book and not have to sit in the car, drive around or shop. Home is too far away. We don't have closed practices, but if they did close them, I would hope they would block off the windows so I could still sit in the waiting room.
I would never allow a closed private. No kid alone with a coach ever.
our gym closes practices during coreography.. just because parents are one more distraction along with the buzz of other teams, kids on our team taking, and all that. I think it's a good idea.. even though our viewing area is also upstairs behind a window (same gym? lol) and it never really bothers me, i can see how it would bother others. closed also means that you can't bring friends to sit and watch practices
Keep the blinds down all season. Parents that stay in the gym cause trouble.TRUTH. Everyone knows it. Do not start posting how you have to keep an eye on your child. Reality is you think by sitting there some mircale might happen and that tuck you have been chasing all year, your daughter just might throw. Do the coaches a favor and find something to do with yourselves.
our gym closes practices during coreography.. just because parents are one more distraction along with the buzz of other teams, kids on our team taking, and all that. I think it's a good idea.. even though our viewing area is also upstairs behind a window (same gym? lol) and it never really bothers me, i can see how it would bother others. closed also means that you can't bring friends to sit and watch practices
Keep the blinds down all season. Parents that stay in the gym cause trouble.TRUTH. Everyone knows it. Do not start posting how you have to keep an eye on your child. Reality is you think by sitting there some mircale might happen and that tuck you have been chasing all year, your daughter just might throw. Do the coaches a favor and find something to do with yourselves.
Yep, blinds closed is the best way to avoid parent trouble.
I am sure there is a happy medium. While i think practices should be closed i also believe parents should know what is going on. I think two ways to resolve these problems may be 1.) gyms need to either get two way mirrored windows, or have them blacked out on the athletes side so they cant see the parents at all, or 2.) eliminate all windows and put tv's in what is the parents viewing room and cameras in the gym so they can watch on the screen. Cameras could be better too because that would allow for coaches to be heard and what not and seeing the routine to music, stuff like that. My parents have never sat through practices to watch me and sure i feel a little pressure come competition time. Luckily i havent cracked under it and hope not too. Every child is different.
Our gym just started closed practices for all teams but our youth girls. Do other gyms do this and what do you think of it.
They do allow us to come in for the final 15 minutes of practice.
Very rarely do we have closed practices. Because of the way our gyms' floors are situated it makes it almost impossible first of all, as two floors face the outside sidewalk with large glass windows. Only one floor at one location can technically be closed off. At the other location the parent's area is elevated and far enough away not to be a distraction.
We will close off our mini/younger teams occasionaly (1x a month perhaps until they get the routine down pat) simply because of the distraction factor. Not always the parents calling the kids, but the kids wanting to make sure mommy and daddy see them. I know my 5 year old will wave to anybody walking by the windows and try to get their attention....lol. So to keep them focused as much as possible the coaches will close the blinds on the one floor. This is also the floor we have to sometimes rotate our more advanced teams to whenever 'scouts" drive by or pop into the lobby to see what we are working on...rofl.
We also bring the parents in at the end of every practice (no matter what level) to see what they have been working on. This seems to alleviate any issues if we were to close practices.
I know with many of the more advanced teams/programs they want a "suprise" factor and that is hard to acheive if their practices are not closed. Somebody (not always spitefully) will leak it out because they are so proud of their teams/child's progress. Yet some times the parents are not the only ones trying to see what is being worked on. In those cases, it is unfortunate that the parents of any gym are made to do without because of the shenanigins of other gyms.
Our gym just started closed practices for all teams but our youth girls. Do other gyms do this and what do you think of it.
They do allow us to come in for the final 15 minutes of practice.
This season we have opened the door for our mini parents to stay and watch. There are pros and cons to this. The girls are less focused on the coaches and more worried about mommy's reaction to everything she does on the floor. We have to constantly remind the girls to pay attention to us coaches so that we can get out job done. It takes more time to teach the girls their skills because moms are in the gym. On the flip side, it's nice to know that we can send the girls to their mom's to wipe their nose, tie their shoes, or help them go to the bathroom. Will we keep practices open next season? Time will tell.
Bottom line is that anyone is distraction from coaching. My thing is, why do parents insist on being with their child at every point of their day. Let them be independent for a little while then you can be with them. Anyone who says otherwise is not being honest.
At our gym we don't really have "closed practices" we just ask that the parents stay in the lobby during pratice. Our mats in our main gym are wall to wall so there isn't anywhere for extra bodies to sit. Most of our parents don't stay at the gym during practice (which I really appreciate) It's just easier for everyone (coaches and kids) to focus on the days tasks.
Recently while at practice I heard a few parents talking and immediately the boards came to my mind and this subject. All I can say is, Although I love being in the gym and using the internet and every now and then observe practice but after hearing these parents,I couldn't disagree with any gym that chooses to close it's practices.I believe this leaves less distraction of the athlete to parent,parent to coaches and especially parent to parent gossip of who's flying,basing,tumbling,crossovers,and the loud gasp! when a stunt comes down or even near drops.SOOO annoying.If you really like your gym and coaches and truly trust them. Then viewing the last minutes of practice shouldn't be too big of a deal.Yes, we do pay alot of money to the gym for our kids but there has to be a line drawn somewhere that allows them do thier job and coach.
close it's practices.I believe this leaves less distraction of the athlete to parent,
parent to coaches and especially
parent to parent gossip of who's flying,basing,tumbling,crossovers,and the loud gasp! when a stunt comes down or even near drops.
SOOO annoying.If you really like your gym and coaches and truly trust them. Then viewing the last minutes of practice shouldn't be too big of a deal.Yes, we do pay alot of money to the gym for our kids but there has to be a line drawn somewhere that allows them do thier job and coach.
