2008-2009 Cheer Parent Thread!!!!

[rbuzzotta]

Glad to hear Jenna will be back in action cheering in the summer!!!

Steph's video for HPU was due today. HOwever, due to her ankle injury, she was given a few more days extenson by the coach. She only began jumping and tumbling last week (since Dallas). She put in 6 hours of learning to coed stunt Tuesday and will be back again taping tonight. The gentleman she is stunting with is a Northeastern grad and he also cheers on East Elite's Open Coed team. He is amazing and has gotten Steph to perform some stunts that just shock me. He said he could not believe coed stunting has come so natural to her. Also, which we found out after she asked him to help her with the video, he is a very good friend of the HPU cheer coach (which does not hurt!! LOL!!). This is how she was given the extension on submitting her video. The live tryouts are this weekend and we hope to have her video complete and submitted by MOnday. I will post it for you all to check out!!

I am leaving for Disney next Wednesday with my other daughters. Steph will be flying down with her team next Friday. My husband wll also come down next friday!!!

All I pray for is that her team hits their routine!! I am not looking for them to win it all (although, that would be awesome!!) but I want them to HIT!!! They have gone through tooooo many injuries and illnesses all year and have actually only had one full practice all year!!! They are a great bunch of kids who are so supportive of one another (no rivalries amongst teammates). I hope they HIT so they can be proud!!

Good luck as everyone finishes up their season. It is bittersweet for me!! One chapter closing and hopefully, another opening (HPU). Steph will find out if she made the team on or before April 27 (Worlds weekend..........as if I won't be nervous enough as is, now waiting for that positive phone call!!).

 

[rbuzzotta]

The HPU video is finally complete!!!! Here is the youtube link. She's a little nervous in the cheer and interview. She did the interview right after a 2.5 hour practice!!! LOL!

Check out the TWO ankle braces!!!! I have to buy stock in those.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D4nQ3SSdf0

I am leaving bright and early to head to WDW. I am staying at Port Orleans French Quarter for 2 nights before I move over to OKW and my DH joins us. Steph will fly down with her team (full paid bid...yahoo!) on Friday morning and stay at AllStar Sports!! She competes at 11:17 or 11:27 on Saturday.............send the pixie dust.

Anyone else at Worlds this coming weekend? If so, I'd love to meet up! I am taking my laptop so I will have internet access!!

 

[kidzmom3]

she looks excellent!! Crazy music, but I am sure that college age would love it.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Stephanie's video is great! I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thanks!! And yes, the music is crazy but that is the type most other's have use in their videos.............LOL!! Not my music that's for sure!!

Off to the airport........

 

[goofy!]

The HPU video is finally complete!!!! Here is the youtube link. She's a little nervous in the cheer and interview. She did the interview right after a 2.5 hour practice!!! LOL!

Check out the TWO ankle braces!!!! I have to buy stock in those.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D4nQ3SSdf0

I am leaving bright and early to head to WDW. I am staying at Port Orleans French Quarter for 2 nights before I move over to OKW and my DH joins us. Steph will fly down with her team (full paid bid...yahoo!) on Friday morning and stay at AllStar Sports!! She competes at 11:17 or 11:27 on Saturday.............send the pixie dust.

Anyone else at Worlds this coming weekend? If so, I'd love to meet up! I am taking my laptop so I will have internet access!!

Stephanie looked awesome!

I watched a bunch of the other HPU tryout videos that popped up after watching hers and Stephanie's was definitely one of the best!

Good luck this weekend, both at Worlds and hearing good news from HPU.

 

[addicted2dizney]

Stephanie looked awesome!

I watched a bunch of the other HPU tryout videos that popped up after watching hers and Stephanie's was definitely one of the best!

Good luck this weekend, both at Worlds and hearing good news from HPU.

Hi! The video looked great! One of the cheerleaders at jenna's gym sent a tryout video as well. Hopefully HPU will have TWO beautiful blonde flyers!! Have a wonderful time at Worlds!! Enjoy it!! Let us know ASAP about HPU!!!!

Here's some Pixie dust for extra luck!

 

[Tink561]

What do you look for in a gym? I am looking at a couple of gyms for my daughter for next year. I'm new to the competitive cheer scene and would love to hear what you all consider pros/cons. My daughter is 3 so she will be on a Tiny team.

Thanks!

 

[addicted2dizney]

What do you look for in a gym? I am looking at a couple of gyms for my daughter for next year. I'm new to the competitive cheer scene and would love to hear what you all consider pros/cons. My daughter is 3 so she will be on a Tiny team.

Thanks!

oh gosh... she's 3? run run run while you still can!
really, don't do this unless she is just begging you to do it! lol..

I had to change gyms last year and it was a hard thing to do. I would look for a successful gym that offers a large variety of teams and levels so you know your child has a place to grow to as she improves and ages. I have to ask you, do you have other children that cheer or is she your first? I would wait a bit, I know the tiny teams are a lot less time, commitment and money but if you don't have to put yourself in the position of having that kind of commitment yet, I would avoid it. There are so, so many years for that. Mine started cheering the local pop warner at age 5 and did that until she was 11, when she asked to do all stars we made the move. 5 years later going into my 6th season and the merry go round NEVER stops!

If you have any gyms in mind, let us know, so many great cheer moms on here and maybe we can give you some good feedback. I know tons and tons of programs across the country and I know others on here do as well.
good luck!

Are you near top gun? do they have tinys? I would just go there if I lived in southern FL! My kid would kill to cheer there!.

 

[kidzmom3]

What do you look for in a gym? I am looking at a couple of gyms for my daughter for next year. I'm new to the competitive cheer scene and would love to hear what you all consider pros/cons. My daughter is 3 so she will be on a Tiny team.

Thanks!

if your from south Florida, you should be looking at Brandon All Stars. they have some amazing teams.

In All Stars there is a large learning curve for parents. It would help if you knew what you would like to get out of cheering. If you are looking for fun, no pressure, look to the smaller gyms. They will have just a couple of teams at lower levels. If you are looking for the full package experience. Travel, big competitions, very committed kids and parents, look for the big known teams.

Good luck, its fun but exhausting and financially brutal. It's not just the monthly fees. Its practice wear, camp wear, team sweatshirts, warms ups, Fan gear for you and your family to support your Cheer Princess (CP or Cheer Prince). Its the hotel stays, the restaurant meals (because the team is going out together after comps). Its the fast food because you have to run to practice and the souvenirs you can buy at every competition.

 

[kidzmom3]

I also forgot the price of Privates:

private tumbling lessons to get that next skill

private flying lessons, to try to push up a level

 

[Tink561]

You're right, I probably should run, but... it seems like so much fun. We have tried ballet but she doesn't like that at all. She has done gymnastics and really enjoyed it. She's been tumbling with a coach for a few months and LOVES it so we're going to give cheer a try. I have friends who have done it with their girls so I've heard about the costs, time, etc.

We're in Palm Beach County Florida. She is going to attend cheer clinic at Palm Beach Lightning for the next couple of weeks and then do try outs. We were also looking at the Royal Gemz but found out yesterday that gym is closing so Lightning it is. I checked the Brandon All Stars site but they're in Tampa. Top Gun is down in Miami and that is too far.

My friend's daughter is older and cheers for Lightning. I really like the feel of the gym. There are no gym fees for first year Tiny/Minis so we'll get a bit of a break to try it. We'll pay uniform, competition (though they don't go to all) and then travel cost. So it will be a way to try it and see how it goes before it gets outrageous.

Thanks for the information! I'm up for any and all tips for a new Cheer mom!

 

[kidzmom3]

You're right, I probably should run, but... it seems like so much fun. We have tried ballet but she doesn't like that at all. She has done gymnastics and really enjoyed it. She's been tumbling with a coach for a few months and LOVES it so we're going to give cheer a try. I have friends who have done it with their girls so I've heard about the costs, time, etc.

We're in Palm Beach County Florida. She is going to attend cheer clinic at Palm Beach Lightning for the next couple of weeks and then do try outs. We were also looking at the Royal Gemz but found out yesterday that gym is closing so Lightning it is. I checked the Brandon All Stars site but they're in Tampa. Top Gun is down in Miami and that is too far.

My friend's daughter is older and cheers for Lightning. I really like the feel of the gym. There are no gym fees for first year Tiny/Minis so we'll get a bit of a break to try it. We'll pay uniform, competition (though they don't go to all) and then travel cost. So it will be a way to try it and see how it goes before it gets outrageous.

Thanks for the information! I'm up for any and all tips for a new Cheer mom!

well, it is fun! My 2 girls love it and for most of the year we are cheer consumed. The tiny's are so adorable. I love when they use pigtails instead of a ponytail. I also love the look of tiny's with knee socks. I don't really like it on the older girls, but the little ones are so precious.

 

[Kelash265]

Hi, everyone! I'm so excited to have found this thread. My 11 yr old dd is a cheerleader on youth level 1 this yr. She's moving up to Junior 2 for next season. We're headed, tonight actually, to Virginia Beach for Finals! Nwxt year our teams are going to try to get a bid for Worlds. Soooo excited!

 

[mygirlkristi]

I am so glad to have found this thread. I have been searching the web for a good cheer parent forum - does anyone know of one?

I have a ? and need some advice. My dd is 8 and cheered jr. level 2 this past year. She has been working towards her back tuck - almost has roundoff bt - just needs a light spot.

She had her all star try out this past Saturday and did a nice roundoff, bkhsp, tuck combo (light spot on the bt still). She was hoping to go junior level 3 - but she was put on youth level 2 again.

I understand my kid doesn't totally have her back tuck yet. But there are about 5 girls who are 12 years old who got moved up to jr. 3 simply becasue they are now too old for youth 2 - and none of those girls have a back handspring yet. Also, another girl, age 11, did the same combo as my dd (even with the light spot on the bt) and she made level 3.

It seems unfair to me that my dd is being held down at level 2 while these girls get to move on. My daughter has been working so hard at private lessons - and I am feeling so upset for her.

We are fairly new to this (1 year in) - so is this just how it works? Is this the way it's done? I could really use some advice.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Was she a flier or base in level 2? It may be that she is not ready for the extended stunts for level 3 and is too small to be a base.

I am so glad to have found this thread. I have been searching the web for a good cheer parent forum - does anyone know of one?

I have a ? and need some advice. My dd is 8 and cheered jr. level 2 this past year. She has been working towards her back tuck - almost has roundoff bt - just needs a light spot.

She had her all star try out this past Saturday and did a nice roundoff, bkhsp, tuck combo (light spot on the bt still). She was hoping to go junior level 3 - but she was put on youth level 2 again.

I understand my kid doesn't totally have her back tuck yet. But there are about 5 girls who are 12 years old who got moved up to jr. 3 simply becasue they are now too old for youth 2 - and none of those girls have a back handspring yet. Also, another girl, age 11, did the same combo as my dd (even with the light spot on the bt) and she made level 3.

It seems unfair to me that my dd is being held down at level 2 while these girls get to move on. My daughter has been working so hard at private lessons - and I am feeling so upset for her.

We are fairly new to this (1 year in) - so is this just how it works? Is this the way it's done? I could really use some advice.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I hope that my reply made sense. A lot of times the determining factor may not just be tumbling. The coaches have to balance stunt groups out. If the girls are older and bigger than your DD then she probably would not be able to be a base unless there is another girl to base across from her that is the same size. She would have to be able to fly in extended stunts and be able to full down... Her tumbling may not have been the reason for the level 2. I know she is very disappointed. It is very frustrating for the kids and the parent when they work so hard! Tell her to keep working on it. Maybe she can ask to be an alternate on the 3...

 

[mygirlkristi]

Thank you for answering me. My dd is pretty tiny - she is a flyer - and that is why she wanted to move up - to learn the more difficult level 3 stunts. She has been dying to learn full down. She's not scared and she is fine with full extensions - heal stretch - etc. Still working on her scorpion - almost there.

Is it normal for the older 12 yo kids to get bumped to jr. 3 even w/out a back handspring? This is a small gym - there are not tons of teams. It's basically jr. 3, youth 2 or youth 1. But I am just feeling frustrated at the time, energy and money that went into her private lessons - should I continue them now? I just don't know...

 

[polkadotminnie]

If it is a small gym then yes sometimes they have to move girls up without tumbling or risk losing team members. It is very frustrating. If it were me, I would ask the coaches if they intend to keep working the tuck during practice so she can continue to improve. I would spend the money on a flying class to work on the scorpion and hold off on privates until next spring before tryouts again. If they will not work on the tuck with her, I would look for another all-star gym in your area and see where they would place her.

Thank you for answering me. My dd is pretty tiny - she is a flyer - and that is why she wanted to move up - to learn the more difficult level 3 stunts. She has been dying to learn full down. She's not scared and she is fine with full extensions - heal stretch - etc. Still working on her scorpion - almost there.

Is it normal for the older 12 yo kids to get bumped to jr. 3 even w/out a back handspring? This is a small gym - there are not tons of teams. It's basically jr. 3, youth 2 or youth 1. But I am just feeling frustrated at the time, energy and money that went into her private lessons - should I continue them now? I just don't know...

 

[mygirlkristi]

I have no idea where to find a flying class - can you give me some direction there? We have a private tumbling coach - but yes, I will ask them tomorrow night about whether she'll get to keep working the tuck. Tomorrow is her first practice since the try out. It seems like they condition and tumble in the summer - then by August they start the routine and they don't get to tumble as much.