I am a All-Star cheer mom lurker on this board. My daughter is a freshman in high school and made the JV team. Some other outgoing and louder freshman made the Varsity team. There was no coach at the time. My daughter is also on a level 4 All-Star team from an excellent All-Star company. She is unhappy on the JV team and really loves to compete. Even though she is a cheerleader, she is very shy and isn't the type to make waves. She has been practicing with the JV team since early summer. She is the only one who tumbles and the team is working on level 1/2 stunts and learning cheers. She said the others are not very serious about the team and play around a lot. The coach is new to the school and this is her first year as head coach. I am thinking of sending the following email to the coach, but I do not want to sound presumptious and ruffle anyone's feathers. I also don't want to interfere, so she can learn, but Brittany is to quiet to do this herself.
"You mentioned in the parent cheer meeting you held before school starts that cheerleaders could be moved up a level if they work really hard._________ has gained new skills since the beginning of summer, including one and two back handsprings to a tuck, toe touch tuck, double toe touch tuck and standing tuck.She is currently in her 4th year of competitive All-Star Cheering and is used to working hard, learning routines quickly and basing or flying level 3 and 4 All-Star stunts.___________ wants to know if she could try out for the Varsity competition team. "
Does anyone have any advice for me or ideas? Thank you.
The coach probably already knows Brittany's capabilities. If she is at the level, you say she is, AND the coach allows freshman to compete on the competitive level, the coach will personally invite her. I would like the invite come your way. Not the other way around. I would just relax. She has lots of cheerlife ahead of her.
Thank you. I will probably just sit back and do nothing. Since the other teammates on JV don't tumble, the coach doesn't add any tumbling time to their practice and they just learn sideline cheers. The only problem is they share the same gym with Varsity and she gets to watch Varsity tumble and stunt. I suppose I should be happy, since there will be less stress for her and she can just have fun, but it is painful for her because she wants to do what the Varsity team is doing.
The coach probably already knows Brittany's capabilities. If she is at the level, you say she is, AND the coach allows freshman to compete on the competitive level, the coach will personally invite her. I would like the invite come your way. Not the other way around. I would just relax. She has lots of cheerlife ahead of her.
I would agree with you. Also a lot of times a coach needs those who know what they are doing and who are used to pushing themselves to help the newer ones find their way. This is more of a leadership role than a performance role. I admit it sucks at times being on JV when you believe you should be on Varsity..or being on a Level 3 team when you think you should be on a Level 4. But with the positive leadership experience everybody hopefully rises and not just one person.
We have alot of girls this year that cheer for their high school teams. When the high school season started they were really taken back by the whole difference of attitude and work ethics on their hs teams. After a couple of months they now enjoy the extra fun that they get to have without the stress of always needing to throw skills. Can I ask who wants her to be on the comp team more? You or her?
Well, actually I didn't really want her to do school cheering at all. I am a huge All-Star fan. I love the competitions, love the excitement, love traveling, love watching her and her teammates learn new skills, etc. School competitions just aren't the same. They are long and uneventful. She tells me she wants to quit school cheering because it is boring, but I won't let her. I want her to follow through with everything she starts. She has been asking me to talk to the coach and I have told her that I won't, but sometimes I wonder if I should. I do believe she is starting to enjoy JV a little more because she has stopped dreading the practices.
From a coaching perspective she may have the skills but maybe she does not have the proper attitude. How does she act at JV practice? Does she come off as too good for JV or is she a true leader and helps with teaching skills to her teammates? There are kids that I have coached in the past that have the skill level but dont have the proper attitude.
