And that is why Frazzled why we can't keep up with other states. They take their cheerleading very seriously. We need to step it up in every way.....

You know..........actually I think we all have the same opinions on this topic. We're just kinda stating it differently.

I would love to have one of our cheergyms.com teams represent us at worlds. I would be so proud. I think we're a ways away though unfortunately. I've been hoping for Northern California to catch up to the south for over 20 years now. It's tough.

Bottom line is this. And I can say this with first hand experience because I have taught camps and choreographed for many teams in the south over the years.

Competitive cheerleading means much more to the kids in the south and on the east coast. It means a lot to the kids here also but just not near as much on the average. The Nor Cal kids do many other things with their time and especially their "extra" time. For kids in the south there is no such thing as "extra" time. That's simply known as more time in their gym. Plus they're not afraid to fail or be an individual. They have a much more GET IT DONE/DO IT AGAIN attitude.

Now.........here's the beauty of it all. I LOVE how our Nor Cal kids think. They're well rounded kids that use their time to do lots of different things. I don't think we should force our kids to change just so we can keep up with the very best of the best in the cheerleading world. It's just cheerleading.

The life lessons are the most important thing. I've been to several gyms across the states that have teams that would conquer all Nor Cal teams on their worst day BUT it's really not a good overall experience for the kids. In some cases the teammates didn't even know each others names because they we're bouncing from team to team or being added last minute after they left a different gym mid season. Not many life lessons being taught in those gyms. Unless at their first job interview, Human Resources needs to see thier W4 and a Standing Full.

The teams that we watch on TV at Worlds pay a huge price. They truly earn those bids to attend Worlds. We in Nor Cal need to make the choice and remember that there is no shame in our current system. We work hard and we always get exactly what we deserve.

The cheergyms.com All American team is the best option for those that want to work at that Southern level. Even that though is tough. We need 35 such individuals and right now I'm scraping to find 20. We'll keep trying. Until then, lets all just make sure we're having FUN. Without that what's the point of it all?

Danny Kahn
Owner, cheergyms.com

Thanks Danny, that is why everyone loves you..... you are so right. It is hard to find someone who has the drive to be better at ALL aspects of cheer. Not just flying, but also tumbling AND basing. This doesn't come without a price. But we all know that cheerleader. Every gym has 1 or 2 or 3 and more if you're lucky enough. But these are the gals/guys who don't do the extra sports and activities. The difference is... working to get better at all cost is FUN for them. The competetive spirit is what drives them. Being this way is NOT necessarily better than the girl/guy who also does dance, piano etc..... it's just the way they are and cheer is their addiction. Yes, it should be fun. But as in everything in life, you have to work thru the non-fun days to be better in the long run. Nothing is fun EVERYDAY. NOTHING AT ALL.... I love sleeping in myself, but hey, even that gets boring if I got to everyday.... and yes I have tried.

Fortunatly and Unfortunatly, I have the kid who goes to the gym and works her tail off to get better at EVERY SINGLE PRACTICE. Is every day fun??? Oh no. Would she change it for the world? OHHHHH NOOOOOOOOO. She was forced to take one season off and realized what she was missing. This made her drive even stronger. She was always an ok flyer but now she tumbles, flys AND bases. All pretty good too. And at 13, she made the level 5 team. But this is because she is in all the extra classes, puts all the extra hours in the gym. But most of all, she puts in the effort at EVERY SINGLE practice. If her coach asks her to try something, she looks at him like he's nuts and then goes for it. No qustions asked. She will give it a go. It may not work out but that girl will now have a new goal.

My other children are NOT like her. She is the weird one. This child is NOT normal. I am so proud of all she has accomplished but I cannot say it's because I drive her to practice 4 days a week nor is it because I sit there, trying to support her. It's cause she loves it like nothing else in life. And this is why she is where she is now.

As for the Worlds topic.... Cali can do it but unless we have an entire team like my strange child, we have to push the others to work just as hard. They just don't have quite the drive for CHEER like some others on their team. This is what the Southern US teams do. It's REQUIRED to put in those hour and sometimes it isn't what we want for our kids.

But as parents we also have to remember...... unless all of our kids put those kinds of hours into the gym.... we can't sit there and complain that little Suzy didn't get a jacket or even the trophy at the last competition. We have to be happy with what we get, no matter what it is. (easier said than done) But that's where biting ones tongue comes in handy. I have a hard time listening to the parents who love to complain that they didn't get first cause they were "better' than the other team.... but these are usually the same parents who complain cause the coach ran the practice late, that they have to show up at 7 am at the competition or that their child is on the "wrong team"..... these parents take the fun out of cheer for their child and they don't even realize it.

Wanna go to worlds????? Have the entire team step up to the plate. Parents.... back off. Let your kid work hard for it and let the coaches push them. Let them go in and do the extra hours. Push them a little on the harder days by being supportive but also reminding them what they are working for. Unless we all do that and all the kids are on board.... we will just have to be happy where we are now. We just can't compete with gyms who make practice 4 or 5 days a week mandatory. It's just impossible. This is why the Olympics is so special to all of us. These athletes are the ones who give up everything to be the best in the world. Why would it be any different with cheer????? We love our kids and want the best. But in order to be the best, we need to put in the hours. Till then..... have fun with cheer cause I have found no other sport with so much support!!!!

Miss You All Very Very Much!!!! Kisses From the OC.....
-Kris

Thank you Danny.
I've been reading this thread with interest.
Some thoughts:

Are we raising our kids to only have interests in one area? What if for some reason or another (injuries, financial difficulties) they have to give up that, then they have nothing?

It's fine to set your goals high, but what about being happy and satisfied with the successes you can achieve? Not everyone can be world champion.

As you said, it's just cheerleading, and when you go out into the world, whether it be in academia, or business...no one is going to ask you to do a standing double full.

Cheerleading is fun, exciting, and taught my daughter a lot about working hard and pushing through pain to achieve her goals. She also learned that from playing softball, and enjoyed that as much as her cheerleading. Some of the best friends she has in the world she has met through cheer and softball.

You have to have balance in your life! Family, school, sports, church, friends, and just hanging out are just as important!

Parents, let your kids enjoy their childhood!
It goes by way too fast!!

Sue Hamill

I have never posted here before. i am mom to AMAC, Alex, Kyle and Kirstie.

This is an interesting topic for me for a number of reasons. I happen to be blessed (!!!) with some highly competative kids. I am sure many of the Motions parents and cheerleaders know them, lol. And they are not just competetive with Cheer, they are competative with their LIVES! As a family we have been challenged to channel this spirit over the years. My kids have been in some form of competition since their very early elementary school years. We made this choice with them as their personalities developed. And here is where I probably differ from some other Cheer parents. Neither my husband nor I have ever needed to push ANY of our kids (and we have seven all told) to commit to a sport or to work their hardest in every aspect of their everyday living. it is what is expected in our family. They are expected to their BEST whether it is at the gym, with their jobs, around the house or in school. They have obviously been blessed with some raw athletic talent but I am not sure that would be much use to them or the team if they did not have a decent work ethic. The *best* of course is subjective. Kirstie's best will likely never produce huge tumbling. She has not had the early exposure to the skills like her siblings. She is great a and strong backspot and LOVES the team she works with. And that needs to be more than just OK for me, her Dad and for her. We need to celebrate the fact that Kirstie adores Motions, her team and doing HER personal best every single time she is in the gym. Her siblings do the same. AMAC is one of the most intense and committed kids I know. No nagging from the home quarters. She just is. Same for the boys. it is both a part of their ingrained personalities and a trait that has developed over the years. pat and I support each of their endeavours AND allow THEM to decide the direction of their athletic careers. We really do step way back and allow their Cheer/Football/BBall whatever be THEIRS. Not ours but theirs.

Over the years we have learned that balance in our lives is of vital importance. No person, adult or child, should live a life without balance. Even as my boys spend many hours in the gym, they are also participating in football, have jobs, help at home (a lot!) and maintaining decent GPAs. Oh for the energy of youth! it is possible, IMO, to commit to Cheer AND lead a balanced life. I see my kids manage this every day.

AMAC learned so much from Cheergyms and from Nelson. She is off to San Diego in the next short number of days to cheer at Palomar (sob!). I credit both my daughter AND Nelson for getting her there. I am excited to see her cheer career (and hopefully her academic career too) progress and grow. Thank you Nelson and have fun with my other three kids!


Louise.

Bryan wrote:

---

Granted I've made a few mistakes here and there but all she is doing is allowing myself to learn a few life lessons-- no more gym hopping for me. ;)

---

it is your senior year bryan, after this year you CANT gym hop anymore.

have fun on motions, i am sure you will be the best in the whole program, what you always wanted

ACTUALLY, Bryan is only 16 right now. He could technically cheer for TWO years after this one, making THREE more years. Bryan is happy at Motions, and I'm so happy that he finally found somewhere to call "home."

And about being the best in the program, yeah, he probably is the best. But if you're implying that he wouldn't be the best in ANY program in Nor Cal, I think i beg to differ. I can't think of any Senior age team that has a guy with CLEAN, textbook doubles, standing fulls, standing flip flop doubles, and partner stunting abilities. (Not being able to just toss a 50 lb 9 year old either, he stunts with me. I'm 19 years old, weigh over 110 lbs, and the boy has AMAZING technique.) Bryan is probably one of the best all around cheerleaders in Nor Cal, of any program. Maybe not the best yet, but one of the best. And believe me, he knows he can still be better. He's not perfect, but he strives to be. And that is what puts him at the top as being one of the best athletes around. He works hard, hes not stuck up, and no matter how good he gets, he won't settle with what he has.

But its not an individual sport now is it? And no TEAM has proved ANYTHING yet. Lets keep this debate positive, on topic, and keep the competition on the mat where it belongs.

Every cheerleader has a gym that works best for them, whether its because its super intense, extremely friendly, or just based on fun, or because of the coaches or the friends they make. Every kid has a program that works for them. Bryan is happy at Motions, lets leave it at that.

the only reason bryan is on motions is because its less time commitment.

someone said something about him being the best boy in nor cal. i dont think so. maybe at cheergyms but not everywhere. there are pleanty others. just one is Mike from SouthBay, better partner stunter and better tumbler, and can still be on seniors.

Has anyone else noticed EVERY time their is negativity brought into these great topics on the Cheergyms site , there is always SOME reference to South Bay.... shame on you guys. Please keep this positive and follow their rules like it STATES before posting on here.