2007-2008 cheer parent thread

[OFFTONEVERLAND1]

My DD practices with her team 2 hours a day twice a week and we do one 30 minute private a week but will only be doing that until she gets her running round off back handspring. She may also fill in on the tiny team for the 4 competitions that they do this year. I am just trying to convince DH. The only extra it will cost us are the comp fees because we will not have to pay extra tuition but will add an extra three hours a week in practices and do not want to burn her out.

 

[Mi3stooges]

Question for you guys....Do you travel?? How far and how many nights??? It can run into a few dollars.
The reason I love this sport so much is becasue it has the 3 elements my dd loves... dance, cheer and gymnastics!!

I also love the idea of the special needs team, it is probably such an insiration to watch them!!!

 

[goofy!]

Question for you guys....Do you travel?? How far and how many nights??? It can run into a few dollars.
The reason I love this sport so much is becasue it has the 3 elements my dd loves... dance, cheer and gymnastics!!

I also love the idea of the special needs team, it is probably such an insiration to watch them!!!

All our teams including the special needs team travel. The only teams that do not travel to at least 1 competition are the 2 rec teams. Everbody else goes to one Nationals in the spring and then some of the teams do an additional out of state meet. 2006/2007 was Vegas and Anaheim. The level 3-5teams did both and everybody did Anaheim. (We are in Colorado). 2007/2008 is rumored to be Vegas and Orlando.

 

[5Slays]

Question for you guys....Do you travel?? How far and how many nights??? It can run into a few dollars.
The reason I love this sport so much is becasue it has the 3 elements my dd loves... dance, cheer and gymnastics!!

I also love the idea of the special needs team, it is probably such an insiration to watch them!!!

We usually have between 5 - 6 competitions every year. 2 are here in town the rest are regional. So we travel at most 6 hours to a competition. Depending on where the comp is at and how long it lasts, determines how long we stay. We go to a comp in Destin, so we usually make a mini vacation out of that one, but the other ones we usually go the day before the comp and leave the day the comp is over.

 

[SuBeat]

Question for you guys....Do you travel?? How far and how many nights??? It can run into a few dollars.
The reason I love this sport so much is becasue it has the 3 elements my dd loves... dance, cheer and gymnastics!!

I also love the idea of the special needs team, it is probably such an insiration to watch them!!!

Most of our competitions are about 1 - 1 1/2 hours away, but every year we finish with one we have to travel to. Last year we went to San Antonio (about 4 hours), this season we will end in Shreveport,LA (about 3 1/12 hours). Those are always 2 day competitions, so we try to make a fun weekend out of them. I'm so jealous of those that get to go to Orlando to cheer. Maybe someday.....

 

[goofy!]

wow!! love it!!! Elevators and everything!! TERRIFIC!!! LOVE IT!!! I love American Championships competitions!! They are the BEST~!!!
I really enjoy those squads!!! They have so much heart!!!! I hope to be able to see you childs team someday in person!! WAY TO GO!!!

Thanks!We are pretty proud of them ourselves. They do all their own stunts with the exception of catching Olivia (the girl in the wheelchair.) That is left to a couple of the senior coed guys. But everything else is done entirely by the cheerleaders. Our coaches are pretty adament that the special needs team be held to the same standards as the rest of the teams, so they push them far beyond what we as parents thought they could do. And the kids thrive on it and rise to the occasion. I can't wait to see what they accomplish this season!

Our family has also fallen in love with the American Championships too. We knew they were going to give the kids trophies, but never expected the National Champion banner and the hoodies. They went above and beyond to treat the special needs teams exactly the same way as all the other teams. What a class act!

 

[tnkrbell]

We are doing 9 competitions this year 3 regionals. 2 state 4 National. We are lucky we live in Fl we have MANY great competition companies that come to this state!! This year we are also traveling to S Carolina. So we will be in a hotel for comps 5 of the 9 competitions

 

[5Slays]

Most of our competitions are about 1 - 1 1/2 hours away, but every year we finish with one we have to travel to. Last year we went to San Antonio (about 4 hours), this season we will end in Shreveport,LA (about 3 1/12 hours). Those are always 2 day competitions, so we try to make a fun weekend out of them. I'm so jealous of those that get to go to Orlando to cheer. Maybe someday.....

I know I want to go to Orlando too. Our Junior squads and up go, so hopefully soon we will go!

 

[slduck]

I am so happy to find other cheer moms in the dis family! My dd (5) has started her first year on a all star team. She's on a mini level 1 team. It has been a major shock to my pocketbook and heart in some ways. She has no experience and is the youngest on her squad. It breaks my heart to watch her try the same thing over and over and over and over. Her coach made her do the same jump sequence for the entire practic on Monday. I got tearful (and so did she). She has to do jumping jacks when she doesn't get things right. Is this the norm????

She is already showing major improvement, but she is still really young. If she didn't REALLY want to do this, we probably would have taken her off the squad.

I have wanted to connect with other mini moms to help us through the beginning of the season.

 

[Mi3stooges]

I am so happy to find other cheer moms in the dis family! My dd (5) has started her first year on a all star team. She's on a mini level 1 team. It has been a major shock to my pocketbook and heart in some ways. She has no experience and is the youngest on her squad. It breaks my heart to watch her try the same thing over and over and over and over. Her coach made her do the same jump sequence for the entire practic on Monday. I got tearful (and so did she). She has to do jumping jacks when she doesn't get things right. Is this the norm????

She is already showing major improvement, but she is still really young. If she didn't REALLY want to do this, we probably would have taken her off the squad.

I have wanted to connect with other mini moms to help us through the beginning of the season.

I think you said it right...."If she didn't REALLY want to do this, we probably would have taken her off the squad". Unfortunately, I think this happens more often than not. My guesses would be that the coach wants it more than the child; the coach sees potential in the child or the coach is just mean.
I know what you mean about the shock to your pocketbook, as well as many of the parents on this thread, but to me...there is no greater satisfaction then the smile on my daughters face when she completes her (their!) routine. It's not about winning, yes it's the icing, but not what I'm there for!!!

 

[tnkrbell]

She has to do jumping jacks when she doesn't get things right. Is this the norm????

Yes, this is very common in Cheer and tumble. When a girl/boy does a jump incorrect or a tumble pass incorrect etc.... they usually have to do "gorrilla jumps"
The way you felt is why Im so glad our gym is closed off to the parents. It is hard for parents to see their children stuggle, BUT that is part of learning. Also kids really can play off their parents also.
NOW if my child was unhappy with this then of coarse there is more to the story and the coach is also being mean!! But if she is still enjoying the sport then I would not worry.

 

[OFFTONEVERLAND1]

I am so happy to find other cheer moms in the dis family! My dd (5) has started her first year on a all star team. She's on a mini level 1 team. It has been a major shock to my pocketbook and heart in some ways. She has no experience and is the youngest on her squad. It breaks my heart to watch her try the same thing over and over and over and over. Her coach made her do the same jump sequence for the entire practic on Monday. I got tearful (and so did she). She has to do jumping jacks when she doesn't get things right. Is this the norm????

She is already showing major improvement, but she is still really young. If she didn't REALLY want to do this, we probably would have taken her off the squad.

I have wanted to connect with other mini moms to help us through the beginning of the season.

My DD is 5 and is the youngest on a Mini Level 2 team so I know what you are feeling. All of the other girls are 7 and 8 and because she is so little and lite she is one of the main flyers which makes me a nervous wreck, She was on this team last year when she was 4 so the other girls are really nice to her and treat her like a little sister. She picks up the routine pretty quick but is behind on tumbling while she just learned a back hand spring the others are doing backs(even though they can not do it in the routine). There coach is really tough on them and when the mess up they either run laps or do push ups. My DD takes it in stride and I think kind of likes doing the push ups but if ever came to a point where she was miserable I would insist she quit also. Tell your DD to hang in there once she gets the routine I am sure she will enjoy it.
My only concern this year is their music.

 

[5Slays]

I am so happy to find other cheer moms in the dis family! My dd (5) has started her first year on a all star team. She's on a mini level 1 team. It has been a major shock to my pocketbook and heart in some ways. She has no experience and is the youngest on her squad. It breaks my heart to watch her try the same thing over and over and over and over. Her coach made her do the same jump sequence for the entire practic on Monday. I got tearful (and so did she). She has to do jumping jacks when she doesn't get things right. Is this the norm????

She is already showing major improvement, but she is still really young. If she didn't REALLY want to do this, we probably would have taken her off the squad.

I have wanted to connect with other mini moms to help us through the beginning of the season.

I know it is hard, our girls have to run laps or do push ups. Usually it is when the coach knows the child can do it, but they are just being stubborn.

 

[ntburns22]

I am so happy to find other cheer moms in the dis family! My dd (5) has started her first year on a all star team. She's on a mini level 1 team. It has been a major shock to my pocketbook and heart in some ways. She has no experience and is the youngest on her squad. It breaks my heart to watch her try the same thing over and over and over and over. Her coach made her do the same jump sequence for the entire practic on Monday. I got tearful (and so did she). She has to do jumping jacks when she doesn't get things right. Is this the norm????

She is already showing major improvement, but she is still really young. If she didn't REALLY want to do this, we probably would have taken her off the squad.

I have wanted to connect with other mini moms to help us through the beginning of the season.

Yep, we do it too. Even if they say they can't do it with out trying they have to do sit ups or push ups.

 

[zalansky]

At what age did you all get your DD's into cheering? We have time, our DD is only two years old but I would love for her to get into cheering someday, the comps look like so much fun. I just hope she will want to do it!

 

[tikilyn]

I'm taking my dd 6 tonight to see an all stars team. She wants to join but has hasitation about it too. I hope she wants to do it. Wish us luck!!

 

[5Slays]

At what age did you all get your DD's into cheering? We have time, our DD is only two years old but I would love for her to get into cheering someday, the comps look like so much fun. I just hope she will want to do it!

My DD7 started last year, but a year before we let her try out for the squad we had her in a tumbling class to learn basic tumbling skills. There are some girls on our squad that are 4.

 

[kidzmom3]

our coaches would never consider making a 5 year old do the same moves over and over for the entire practice. I may be outside the norm, but the coaches really take into account each child's age and abilities. They have fun moments in every practice. These are serious teams, but a child (in my opinion) would burn out if they only received negative comments.

 

[Stargater]

Wow so many cheer parents.

I can answer a number of your questions. I have coached a Varsity Fly Team for the syaa and now I decided to take the JV Fly. My daughter started cheering last year and it was really tough, but this year she is doing great so far. The weeks we have no school we practice 4 times a week for 2 hrs a day. When school starts it is 3 times a week for 2 hrs a day. Pushups is teaching these girls that there are rules and if broken you will have consequences. This is to teach them the importance of paying attention becuase if they were doing a stunt and one of them is goofing off, the flyer or one of the other stunt crew could get hurt. The pushups also strengthen their arms to help them lift the stunts. Yes, it is very hard to see our daughters get their feelings hurt, or have to run, but it helps to develop them into a cohesive team.

Shel

 

[SuBeat]

At what age did you all get your DD's into cheering? We have time, our DD is only two years old but I would love for her to get into cheering someday, the comps look like so much fun. I just hope she will want to do it!

My DD started competitive cheer last year when she was 8. Before that she did 2 years of cheering for the local youth football league. We started her in tumbling classes when she was 4, and she's done that pretty consistantly other than about a 6 month break she took due to a combination of burn out and fear of the back handspring. She went back to tumbling at the same time she tried out for the cheer team (got her BHS for keeps 2 months later).

I really wish I had started her earlier. The minis are so cute to watch! Our gym has a show team and a competitive team for the minis, depending on where their skills are at. They will take kids as young as 3-4.

I will admit that I once thought all stars wasn't "real" cheerleading since it wasn't the traditional idea. But once I looked into it more, it was the perfect fit for my DD. Tumbling is her strength, but she also loves to dance, and well, she's kind of loud, so cheering is definitely her niche.