*** 2010-2011 *** Cheer Parent Thread

[goofy!]

We had Jamfest in Detroit today and our girls (and boys) rocked it! The Youth 1 team took first place and my dd's JR 2 team took second place plus got "Most Entertaining" while her SR 3 team also took first! We're off to a fantastic start! Can't wait for the rest of the season!

Congrats

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

Congrats to all those that had competitions this past weekend!

Good Luck to all those with competitions this weekend coming up!

Prayers out to the family that was harmed in the car wreck last week (I'm a little late with the update )

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

 

[kidzmom3]

OK so here's my update.

DD14 is on Sr. Lvl 4 and they did Awesome as well. They not only got 1st place but highest score with Paid Bid to Worlds and 50% off Nationals.

I thought only level 5 teams were allowed to compete at Worlds.

 

[goofy!]

I thought only level 5 teams were allowed to compete at Worlds.

Level 6 and only senior level 5. No j5's anymore.

I am guessing Eeyores#1Fan meant either US Finals or IALC. At least that is the only thing I can think of with some sort of bid process . Still a great job by her daughter's team.

 

[kidzmom3]

Level 6 and only senior level 5. No j5's anymore.

I am guessing Eeyores#1Fan meant either US Finals or IALC. At least that is the only thing I can think of with some sort of bid process . Still a great job by her daughter's team.

Definitely good job! Just wanted to check about the Worlds bid, because I was pretty sure I knew the levels allowed, but began to doubt myself.

 

[woodkins]

Just got back from UCA Regionals in Toms River NJ. Our Gym did fairly well. DD had her first ever competition & not one tear! Her youth L2 team got 1st by default as they were the only ones in their division, but they did a pretty clean routine with only 1 drop so we were happy with that. Her Junior L3 team got 1st out of 4 teams and earned their bid to Nationals! They hit every stunt and got really high scores. Our coed L4.2 and senior 3&4 also got first and a third, so it was a great way to start the season.

We will be doing Jack Frost in MA Dec. 5th, let me know if anyone will be there too!

 

[goofy!]

Just got back from UCA Regionals in Toms River NJ. Our Gym did fairly well. DD had her first ever competition & not one tear! Her youth L2 team got 1st by default as they were the only ones in their division, but they did a pretty clean routine with only 1 drop so we were happy with that. Her Junior L3 team got 1st out of 4 teams and earned their bid to Nationals! They hit every stunt and got really high scores. Our coed L4.2 and senior 3&4 also got first and a third, so it was a great way to start the season.

We will be doing Jack Frost in MA Dec. 5th, let me know if anyone will be there too!

Congrats! How fun. Nationals in Disney World, how much better can it get? Loved that competition when we went!

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

Definitely good job! Just wanted to check about the Worlds bid, because I was pretty sure I knew the levels allowed, but began to doubt myself.

Don't doubt yourself...I'm not a cheer person AT ALL but trying to get the grasp of this stuff since the girls like it so much. Granted I should be better by now but I really don't pay attention to some things...just what my girls are doing and making sure it's still fun for them. So to clear things up, you are correct as well as goofy. DD's team got a bid to US Finals Destination

 

[goofy!]

DD's team got a bid to US Finals Destination

That is fantastic

Keep us up to date on how they are doing!

Hey, I am still learning all this stuff too. Our small small team just got their world's bid, so it was fresh in my mind. I am amazed by the parents that can keep it all straight And somebody had to explain to me what the heck a small small team was. (Small Senior limited coed).

 

[goofy!]

Competition season finally got underway this weekend for our kids.

We had a 2 day nationals, although it was more like a 2 day regional competition as there was no out of state competition.

Off to a great start. 8 firsts, 1 second and High Point in every level from 1 - 6.

However, they had to scratch the small small team as there were injuries on the practice mat yesterday. One hospital run, but everybody ok. Luckily they have till Feb to recover as we don't compete again until Feb.

 

[missypie]

Yet another practice with people missing or injured - D hurt, one girl at state football playoffs, one a no-show. I see the other teams practicing the pyramid until it's perfect and D's team has barely had a chance to practice it at all. I can definitley understand why some gyms forbid HS cheer.

 

[goofy!]

Yet another practice with people missing or injured - D hurt, one girl at state football playoffs, one a no-show. I see the other teams practicing the pyramid until it's perfect and D's team has barely had a chance to practice it at all. I can definitley understand why some gyms forbid HS cheer.

That is so frustrating. And I feel your pain. DD's team was pulled from this past weekend's competition due to a few too many unexcused absences. And this is a special needs team.

A friend's daughter on one of the other teams had a 104 temp 2 weeks ago and missed a couple of practices. While that is an excused absence, it fell within the 2 week window of no absences period before a Nationals. It wasn't to be mean or unsympathetic to the sick girl, it was just to make sure the team had consistency with her alternate for 2 weeks before the competition.

As you can tell, our gym has an uber strict absentee policy and they won't hesitate to pull an athlete or an entire team out of a competition due to absences.

However, as frustrating as it is to miss a competition, we parents support the policies as we have very few absences and the discipline and commitment of the athletes is phenomenal. And the kids seem to love it and thrive on the structure.

My guess is our wayward special needs parents got the message loud and clear that if they don't show up with their kids, they don't get to compete and screw it up for the rest of the kids. I doubt we will have many absences from here on out.

 

[Arkansan]

RE unexcused absences: our gym has implemented a "fine" of $50 per EACH unexcused absence this year. Excused absences are for illness, family commitments, and school activities (NOT homework; just things like band or choir concerts or something else that counts toward a grade that is held in the evening) All the parents signed the agreement and the gym charges the credit card on file once per month. I haven't heard of anyone I know being charged, so I don't know if the gym is bluffing or if it just hasn't applied to the people I know. It scares me, though!

We had our first Jamfest in Hot Springs this past weekend. Overall, the gym did pretty well. Our Sr. Level 4 team didn't compete because of Arkansas High School Rules (you can't compete on an Allstar team until all HS competitions are complete), but the Sr. Level 2 did great! They got 2nd place by only a .1 of a point! They were crushed, but did such a clean routine. They just need to add some tumbling and more difficulty.

The other teams also did well, but no firsts. It always feels good to get the first competition over with, though. Now they can re-work things and only get better!

Congrats to everyone on their great finishes!

 

[missypie]

Our gym is strict and imposes a large fine if a girl misses in the two weeks before a competion....but we don't compete again until mid-January. Plus, there always seem to be the "walking wounded" like my D, who show up but mark almost everything due to an injury.

 

[donnajon]

well, we are quitting cheer as of tonight! I will not let a coach abuse my child. This season has not been the same as the last two and the kids only got their music two weeks ago! They competed yesterday and had five falls! We all knew they were not ready. I had a parent come up to me and say that was the worst performance they ever saw but my DD was awesome the whold time. She is a base/backspot and isn't going to let her flyer fall. However in the pyramid, the middle girl (who fell 3 of the 5 falls) pulled her flyer over and made her fall.
DD11 was scared to go to practice today because the coach told them they were going to have to run the entire time and do suicides until they puke. I told her to stop anytime it was inappropriate and call her dad to come get her. DD has gastro issues (she had her gall bladder removed and still has other issues that the coaches know of) and was diagnosed with Sever's Disease last week. This is where you have extreme heel pain cause by constant pounding of the feet in sports and the cartiledge in the growth plate cracks. The did hard running and suicides, push ups etc. for an hour and a half. Oh, and they came in 5th place. She made them run by the 5th place plaque and yell "5th place" as they ran by it. When DD and another girl started crying, the coaches asked why they were crying. She tried to leave to call us but the coach wouldn't let her out of the room! And they coach told them if anyone didn't like it they could quit because it would not hurt her feelings. This is her second year in her own gym. It wasn't like this last year. I have always told my kids that they signed up for a year and they have to stick it out but I draw the line when the kids are being abused. I have 3 kids at they gym and one crosses over so her routines will feel the absence!
Does anyone here cheer for Charlotte Extreme or know anything about them? We are thinking about making the hour commute to them next year. I'm going to enroll her in a tumbling class so she maintains her skills. She is just now getting her tuck.
There has been a LOT more going on this season and this was just the final straw. Until tonight, we were just going to find another gym at the end of the season.

 

[missypie]

Donnajon, does the coach own the gym or is she an employee? Because if she is an employee, I'd try to get her fired rather than leaving the gym. If she owns the gym, I would make sure I told her exactly why you are leaving. And believe me, I wouldn't tolerate the coach's behavior either.

Cheer disasters have so much to do with coaching. For example, last year we had a girl who busted her tumbling every time. She could do the skill about 1 out of every 3 or 4 times....the coaches would threaten to have her not do her pass, but then they'd relent. They are sweet people but that cost us points at every competition and the girls had a hard time being nice to the girl who busted. That was a coaching issue.

 

[woodkins]

well, we are quitting cheer as of tonight! I will not let a coach abuse my child. This season has not been the same as the last two and the kids only got their music two weeks ago! They competed yesterday and had five falls! We all knew they were not ready. I had a parent come up to me and say that was the worst performance they ever saw but my DD was awesome the whold time. She is a base/backspot and isn't going to let her flyer fall. However in the pyramid, the middle girl (who fell 3 of the 5 falls) pulled her flyer over and made her fall.
DD11 was scared to go to practice today because the coach told them they were going to have to run the entire time and do suicides until they puke. I told her to stop anytime it was inappropriate and call her dad to come get her. DD has gastro issues (she had her gall bladder removed and still has other issues that the coaches know of) and was diagnosed with Sever's Disease last week. This is where you have extreme heel pain cause by constant pounding of the feet in sports and the cartiledge in the growth plate cracks. The did hard running and suicides, push ups etc. for an hour and a half. Oh, and they came in 5th place. She made them run by the 5th place plaque and yell "5th place" as they ran by it. When DD and another girl started crying, the coaches asked why they were crying. She tried to leave to call us but the coach wouldn't let her out of the room! And they coach told them if anyone didn't like it they could quit because it would not hurt her feelings. This is her second year in her own gym. It wasn't like this last year. I have always told my kids that they signed up for a year and they have to stick it out but I draw the line when the kids are being abused. I have 3 kids at they gym and one crosses over so her routines will feel the absence!
Does anyone here cheer for Charlotte Extreme or know anything about them? We are thinking about making the hour commute to them next year. I'm going to enroll her in a tumbling class so she maintains her skills. She is just now getting her tuck.
There has been a LOT more going on this season and this was just the final straw. Until tonight, we were just going to find another gym at the end of the season.

We left a gym 2 years ago for the same reasons. The reason why the girls did poorly is that they weren't prepared for the competition properly by their coach....she should be the one running suicides, not the girls I would absolutely leave that gym and take tumbling somewhere else to maintain skills. It took me 4 months just to get my dd back to a cheer gym for tumbling, that is how terrified the previous coach had her.

I hope you find a new cheer home for your girls and they can still find the fun in their sport.

 

[polkadotminnie]

well, we are quitting cheer as of tonight! I will not let a coach abuse my child. This season has not been the same as the last two and the kids only got their music two weeks ago! They competed yesterday and had five falls! We all knew they were not ready. I had a parent come up to me and say that was the worst performance they ever saw but my DD was awesome the whold time. She is a base/backspot and isn't going to let her flyer fall. However in the pyramid, the middle girl (who fell 3 of the 5 falls) pulled her flyer over and made her fall.
DD11 was scared to go to practice today because the coach told them they were going to have to run the entire time and do suicides until they puke. I told her to stop anytime it was inappropriate and call her dad to come get her. DD has gastro issues (she had her gall bladder removed and still has other issues that the coaches know of) and was diagnosed with Sever's Disease last week. This is where you have extreme heel pain cause by constant pounding of the feet in sports and the cartiledge in the growth plate cracks. The did hard running and suicides, push ups etc. for an hour and a half. Oh, and they came in 5th place. She made them run by the 5th place plaque and yell "5th place" as they ran by it. When DD and another girl started crying, the coaches asked why they were crying. She tried to leave to call us but the coach wouldn't let her out of the room! And they coach told them if anyone didn't like it they could quit because it would not hurt her feelings. This is her second year in her own gym. It wasn't like this last year. I have always told my kids that they signed up for a year and they have to stick it out but I draw the line when the kids are being abused. I have 3 kids at they gym and one crosses over so her routines will feel the absence!
Does anyone here cheer for Charlotte Extreme or know anything about them? We are thinking about making the hour commute to them next year. I'm going to enroll her in a tumbling class so she maintains her skills. She is just now getting her tuck.
There has been a LOT more going on this season and this was just the final straw. Until tonight, we were just going to find another gym at the end of the season.

I can't say I blame you at all. You are not paying that kind of money to have your kids screamed at and made to feel miserable. I really enjoyed meeting you last year at the International All Levels. I really hope everything works out for you. Did it snow there today? We have 8 inches here in Alabama. We are supposed to compete in Chattanooga on Saturday. I hope it melts before we have to drive there. There are no snow plows in this area to clean the roads.

 

[goofy!]

well, we are quitting cheer as of tonight! I will not let a coach abuse my child. This season has not been the same as the last two and the kids only got their music two weeks ago! They competed yesterday and had five falls! We all knew they were not ready. I had a parent come up to me and say that was the worst performance they ever saw but my DD was awesome the whold time. She is a base/backspot and isn't going to let her flyer fall. However in the pyramid, the middle girl (who fell 3 of the 5 falls) pulled her flyer over and made her fall.
DD11 was scared to go to practice today because the coach told them they were going to have to run the entire time and do suicides until they puke. I told her to stop anytime it was inappropriate and call her dad to come get her. DD has gastro issues (she had her gall bladder removed and still has other issues that the coaches know of) and was diagnosed with Sever's Disease last week. This is where you have extreme heel pain cause by constant pounding of the feet in sports and the cartiledge in the growth plate cracks. The did hard running and suicides, push ups etc. for an hour and a half. Oh, and they came in 5th place. She made them run by the 5th place plaque and yell "5th place" as they ran by it. When DD and another girl started crying, the coaches asked why they were crying. She tried to leave to call us but the coach wouldn't let her out of the room! And they coach told them if anyone didn't like it they could quit because it would not hurt her feelings. This is her second year in her own gym. It wasn't like this last year. I have always told my kids that they signed up for a year and they have to stick it out but I draw the line when the kids are being abused. I have 3 kids at they gym and one crosses over so her routines will feel the absence!
Does anyone here cheer for Charlotte Extreme or know anything about them? We are thinking about making the hour commute to them next year. I'm going to enroll her in a tumbling class so she maintains her skills. She is just now getting her tuck.
There has been a LOT more going on this season and this was just the final straw. Until tonight, we were just going to find another gym at the end of the season.

I don't blame you at all!!

I am also one of those parents that insists our children finish out their commitments. However, in this case, my kid would be out of there immediately. Not only does it sound like the coach is abusive, but the aspect of teaching such poor sportsmanship to my kid would be the deal breaker.

Take heart that not all gyms are like that. We are lucky to have fallen into such a gym where winning is the goal, but you are never admonished for not coming in 1st. Crossing my fingers that your daughter will find a great gym that is a much better fit.

 

[donnajon]

Thanks everyone. It is the owner of the gym so there isn't much I can do. I honestly don't think she will be open next year. I will tell her why we have made this decision but I am sure she won't hear it. It is amazing the lack of insight on her part. She is convinced these kids were ready. Seriously, they didn't finish choreography until NOVEMBER 15! And the music just came two weeks ago. They practiced over Christmas break three times but the girl that fell three times and pulled the pyramid down wasn't at any of those practices. These are Youth 2 kids. They are in elementary school! And she has the gall to post on her facebook page that practice yesterday was good and a lot was accomplished. It was all I could do not to post, "You mean abusing elemtary school aged children and taunting them when they cry is a good practice?" I have to calm down before I tell her why we are not coming back.
And it did snow here - 4 to 5 inches. So no practiced today for DD8 or tomorrow for DD11. That gives me more time to think about what I am going to say. DD definitely wants to cheer next season. She is all for taking tumbling somewhere else to keep up her skills until May.
Be careful on the roads and good luck everyone in your competitions.