I just saw this on fierceboard and I was wondering what everyone thinks? any coaches/gyms owners in cali interested in trying to start one of these teams up?
My name is Cory Hines a coach and choreographer with the Top Gun All Stars down in Miami, Fl. Im writing you today to try and rally support for an idea that I think could bring in a few more paying athletes into your gym as well as give some deserving but skill wise dismissed athletes an opportunity to continue cheering.
As I do choreography throughout the country I see so many athletes at various gyms who are still passionate and have the finances and time to commit to cheering but who have aged out of the senior bracket and dont fit a strong enough criteria to join an International 5 or International 6. Even closer to home I love the kids who have graduated from our gyms Level 3 and 4 senior teams, some of whom are on the local college team but others who have simply become supporters b/c they felt they didnt have an option as the standards set for our i5 and i6 surpass their own skills.
Heres what I propose,
With the majority of All Star tryouts coming up soon what if we were able to tell those athletes still looking for a competitive non-level 5 or 6 experience that we will be fielding a team for them?
If we can get 10 gyms across the country to build a 24 member Level 4 team of Open age athletes than surely we can speak to companies like All Star Challenge, Cheerpsort, Jamfest etc to offer the division.
Please dont get me wrong, I have no intentions of seeing this as a Worlds division Ive just seen so many great and talented at their respective level athletes graduate and still have the passion to be a part of the programs they loved competing on as seniors.
In the end, it makes a great group of athletes happy, can bring in extra income to a gym (monthlies, privates etc), will be extra funds to a competition company and it wouldnt be creating another division that would take away from one already in existence b/c the majority of these athletes are either not cheering or on a level 5 or 6 team that they were possibly not ready for.
Ill be making this pitch to coaches, event organizers and on the Fierce boards as a means to rally support and hopefully keep track of those interested and see how we can make this division develop.
If you have any ideas, questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact me.
this is definitely a great idea! I myself just aged out this year, but I'm still right around level 4 tumbling. I think this would also help even bring in college ages kids who are new to cheerleading. I have a few friends that would love to join, but it's really not possible for them since the entry level for ages 19+ is the top level.
I could go on and on about this but I am all for it and think we definitely need it. More college-age kids are wanting to cheer these days and just because they started cheer late and may not have much tumbling doesn't mean they can't cheer on an appropriate team. Many don't have the skills for level 5 and shouldn't be trying level 6 stunts. It just doesn't make sense that requirements for level 6 are usually MUCH less than for level 5. I also think this needs to be a true open division with ages 17 and up, not international (14 & up). There are SO many kids who age out at a lower level (Senior 1-4). Where do they go?
I definitely support Cory! Someone has been needing to head this topic for a while! Reality is = just cause you're not a level 5/6 athlete and you age out for senior age... shouldn't mean you HAVE to stop cheering!
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"Come on a flip your mind, to the west's BEST, built by design!!!!" PACIFIC COAST MAGIC ALL STAR CHEERLEADING
