Anyone have young kids( elementary) in cheerleading?

[ADisneyQueen]

I'm thinking of putting dd8 in cheering this year. She loves gymnastics, but since our ymca does not have a team, it is limited to just a class a week. She also likes jazz dance class. She's really loud and energetic and I think she would like it, but what about the stunts? She's thin, so I'm afraid they'd want her on the top of the pyramid.
Practice is twice a week for 1 1/2 hours or maybe a little less. They are in parades and some shows and also compete.
What is your experience? Is it a pain to drive to the competitions?

 

[GRUMPY D]

I felt the same way when my daughter joined cheering but at that age they have adults or high school senors as spotters and it is also a great way for her to make new Friends

 

[stephie1012]

i cheered for soooo many years maybe 10 i think...when theu get older it gets scarier...there are limits and rules as to how high they can go in a lift. at that age its not that high. and like pp said there are spotters. it doesnt sound like an intense program so i would be ok with it....here they practice 4-5days a wk depending on games and comps for 2hrs a day.

 

[pookybean]

my dd has cheered since she was 5 (she is 9 now) and they just started doing pyramids last year. they arent very high, and during practice the coaches are right there, and during comps they have spotters close by. i would think that if its your dd's first time cheering or if she seems anxious they wouldnt put her on the top at all.

cheerleading is a great sport to get into, and if your on a good squad its so much fun.

2 nights a week is nothing, we usually practice 3 or 4 nights and have a game on sat. there is no resemblence of a schedule here during football season!

 

[skw444]

My dd is almost 7 and she is doing cheerleading this year. She went to a stunt clinic on Saturday and had spotters and they were just getting up on each other's backs...nothing more than 1 person high. It's very intense here though...practice the first week was Monday-Thursday for 3 hours, then this week, it's been 3 days a week for 1.5 hours. Next week, school starts so we will practice twice a week for 1.5 hours, with a game on Saturday. And then we have a cheer competition in October.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Do the girls do a lot during practice? DD hates waiting around. In her gymnastics, there are 10 girls. When they do beam, they have to wait their turn, and that can be 10-15 minutes of waiting around. I don't know why they don't have something else to do then. Still, she really loves it.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

I'm a cheer coach - have coached at that level for nearly 15 years. If she's interested in cheering for a rec league (football, basket ball or wrestling) practices should be fairly simple and she'd be in maybe 2 comps? For a new cheerleader, this is the route to go, IMO.

If she's interested in competing and being on a competition squad...get ready for alot of hours and alot of money spent. My squads would meet 4 times a week for 2 hours. And most would have gymnastics in addition to practices.

Time length of competitions can vary. It all depends on how organized they are and how many teams are competiting. We easily spend an entire day at a competition. UP at 6am to meet by 7am to get to the comp for our warm up mat time by 8am. Comp begins at 10am and honestly...it'll go until close to 4pm by the time awards are handed out.

I truly believe that a good cheerleading program can do wonders for young girls. I wish your daughter the best!

 

[sashagiselle]

Cheer is big in Texas, I put my daughter in last year when she was 5 1/2, but most girls on her team have been in it since they were 2 1/2. We have to do a lot of private lessons for my dd to catch up. Its a competitive program so even at that age they are doing stunts and pyramids. It has been a wonderful experience for us, she has alot more confidence and friends. I really like that cheer is a combination of gymnastics and dance. Good luck, Im sure your daughter will love it!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

We do cheering but not compeition cheering but she does also do dance which has recitals and such. Is it a pain...yes. There are moments that dha dn I just want to come home and relax and not worry about it. Does sometimes she wants to do something else and not dance class....yes she does. BUT overall the time and effort is so worth it in the long run.