Punishment pushups for a 6 yr old?

[Minnie824]

So, DD6 has been in cheerleading since she was 4. This is her third year. She was on the tiny level 1 and now this year this is her first year on a mini level 2. Anyway, their year starts mid May so they've been doing new stuff a little over a month now. They're working on stunting and basket tosses and stuff (I'm not a cheerleader nor familiar w/the terms so I'll do my best to explain). So they're really new to this...they never did the tosses in the tiny level. DD is 6, as are most girls on the team, some 7. She told me recently that if they drop a girl, the coach makes them do pushups. Like 30-50 pushups at a time. I guess I get that they need to get strong, but to me, they're little and still learning and I'm not all that thrilled with the punishment of pushups for dropping someone. Is this normal at this age, in cheer or in other sports?

 

[golfgal]

Sorry but I can't get past 6 YEAR OLDS tossing other kids around

If they are going to do the routines, they need to get strong enough to catch a kid. Is it really that many push ups or is your DD exaggerating?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I don't think it is a big deal. I also doubt they have to do 50 pushups. It's probably more like 10.

 

[Anjelica]

Hmm....

My daughter recently turned 7 and has been in the bigger gymnastics classes since she was a couple months shy of 6. Their coaches/teachers are GREAT with the kids and are always joking with them. However, if the girls are caught sitting down while waiting to do their apparatus they have to do 10 or so push-ups. The girls (the little ones - not the coaches) are usually giggling the whole time they are doing it.

 

[MushyMushy]

OMG, do you really want your daughter being tossed and dropped or being the one to drop a child at this age? I've never heard of such a thing. Our little cheerleaders just jump around a little and shake pompoms, looking cute.

If I were you, I'd talk to the pediatrician to see how safe it is to do strength training and push ups at that age.

 

[jrmasm]

Push ups are not dangerous. 6 year olds throwing 6 year olds is. I wouldn't worry about the push ups.

 

[Anjelica]

If I were you, I'd talk to the pediatrician to see how safe it is to do strength training and push ups at that age.

It's not weight training. It's push-ups which are completely fine at that age (and yes we have talked to our pediatrician about gymnastics with the push-ups, etc.).


As far as the throwing around a 6 year old - I can't speak to that. I don't know what age is appropriate. I didn't do cheerleading till junior high and high school so that's well past 6.

 

[Magic Mom]

The kids ( all ages) have to do pushups as punishment at the barn DD takes riding lessons at. It's not a big deal.

 

[princessmom29]

I don't see a problem with the tosses or the push ups. It is standard procedure around here to do both on that level team. For those questioning: It is more about skill level than age. If these girls are on a level where baskets are a required element, the should have tested in at a skill level that allows them to be safely done. it really is a safe stund with little chance of injury when done with an adult spot, which should always be the case at this level. A drop would be considered anytime the spotter has to step in. The child should not actually be hitting the ground. There are usually at least 3 girls on the ground throwing and catching one flyer so full fleged drops are rare. Ususally one of the 3 misses her hold. The flyer is still "caught", it just doesn't look pretty.

 

[princessmom29]

OMG, do you really want your daughter being tossed and dropped or being the one to drop a child at this age? I've never heard of such a thing. Our little cheerleaders just jump around a little and shake pompoms, looking cute.

If I were you, I'd talk to the pediatrician to see how safe it is to do strength training and push ups at that age.

Strength training without weights is fine per our ped, and I asked when DD was 3 and starting dance. It is pretty much the same muscle building process as running around and playing, only focused on a specific puscle group. At least that is how it was explained to me. As long as it is not taken to the extreme, as to cause a child to be completley exhaused ect, it is fine. DD6 has been doing strength and flexability exercises at dance since 3, and at the cheer gym since we strated classes earlier this year with an eye to join allstars next year. They need to build core body strenth to do what they do safely. A child with a strong core is at much less risk for injury. Taht is why we are waaiting a year on allstars. She needs to build the core strength necessary to toss, base, or fly because it is diffent than what is needed for dance.

 

[shortbun]

I agree that I would be less concerned about the pushups than the 'dropping' a child. I think you may be into a program that is a tad bit too militant. Exactly what is your goal for your daughter? Is this supposed to be fun or are you working toward a college scholarship?

 

[Minnie824]

I agree that I would be less concerned about the pushups than the 'dropping' a child. I think you may be into a program that is a tad bit too militant. Exactly what is your goal for your daughter? Is this supposed to be fun or are you working toward a college scholarship?

Thats kindof my issue. DD LOVES LOVES LOVES cheerleading. She started at 4 in a park district one and some neighbors suggested this one, which is competitive. I want her to have fun. In no way am I looking for a scholarship in a decade, or a career out of it. But so many of the parents and staff are SO into it (alot were in cheerleading themselves). That is just so not me, which is making me criticize stuff more. We've signed up and paid for the whole year already (which goes thru April) and we'll reevaluate then. As soon as DD stops having fun, I'm done with it.

Thanks for all the input so far. I guess its kindof new to me to make the girls do the pushups, but it sounds as if its more common than I was aware.

 

[Tinkermommy]

My DD doesn't do cheer leading, but in her martial arts class she has to do push-ups for talking, being late to class, etc. It's usually 10 to 20 and she's been in martial arts since she was 6.

I don't like the idea of kids throwing each other around at that age though.

 

[luvsJack]

Being dropped is one of the reasons dd chose to get out of cheering. She was dropped and it hurt (thank goodness just her pride more than physical). Being one of the smallest girls, she was always expected to be the one in the air. So, that was one of the factors (there were others) that made her decision.

When she was on a squad, if they dropped someone they had to run laps. At least the push ups might strenthen their arms so they CAN catch the other girls.

These stunts are not really safe at that young age, imho. Its just like pushing younger pitchers in baseball to do pitches that can damage their arms, young athletes seem to be expected to do more and more at a younger and younger age and its just not always a good thing. All leagues, teams, etc do it; but if you talk to an orthopedic doctor most can tell you why they shouldn't.

 

[MushyMushy]

Strength training without weights is fine per our ped, and I asked when DD was 3 and starting dance. It is pretty much the same muscle building process as running around and playing, only focused on a specific puscle group. At least that is how it was explained to me. As long as it is not taken to the extreme, as to cause a child to be completley exhaused ect, it is fine. DD6 has been doing strength and flexability exercises at dance since 3, and at the cheer gym since we strated classes earlier this year with an eye to join allstars next year. They need to build core body strenth to do what they do safely. A child with a strong core is at much less risk for injury. Taht is why we are waaiting a year on allstars. She needs to build the core strength necessary to toss, base, or fly because it is diffent than what is needed for dance.

Okay, I didn't know it would be safe without weights. I just remember from when my kids were younger that it was a no-no to do strength training because of their growing muscles, but I don't remember specifics.

If that's the case, then I would have no problem with it. I think punishments like running laps, doing push ups or other strength/stamina building activities are a good thing in sports/band/cheering, etc.

But I still don't like the tossing.

 

[adaygaby]

Nothing wrong with push-ups. I'm an asst coach for a 6yr old baseball team and when the kids are goofing off/not paying attention we make them do 10-20 push ups.

I would be a bit worried about the "dropping".

 

[luvmy3]

My boys take MA and push-ups are used as a punishment for them in class. Also they get tossed all the time however its done by the instructors. If they started being tossed by the classmates I wouldn't have a prioblem with it, they are learning the tecniques, the instructors are there and they have mats down. I wouldn't be bothered by it in Cheer, they have to learn those techniques sometime if they are going to do the sport, the earlier the better IMHO.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

DD(7) has taken Taekwondo since she was 5, and there is rarely a class when she doesn't have to do pushups for something. Occasionally, it is for something like goofing off, but it is usually because she doesn't have any sense of urgency and takes her time doing every little thing (like putting her pads on).

This is one of those things that is pretty standard for sports. Most of the coaches were brought up with the same type of training.

 

[castleview]

Have them do all those pushups and see if their arms are strong enough to catch kids now .

As a former gymnast and coach, I don't agree with this sort of punishment at this age. Frankly, I want the kids to think of pushups as something that will enhance their strength, not as a punishment. The coach is not teaching the girls by doing this. Do they practice catching with a dummy or even a bag first?

Since cheerleading is still young as a "sport", it will be a while before most coaches have the correct technical and teaching skills. I'm not big on six year olds lifting and tossing. Truth be told, I'm not big on cheerleading...but that's another thread.

 

[woodkins]

DD 7 is on a Junior Level 2 All Star Cheer Team. Her team also does push ups, v-ups etc if they drop stunts, as well as if they are not doing jumps properly etc. At the end of each practice they do 1/2 hour of conditioning: suicides, push ups, squats etc.

All of my dd's coaches are certified, have coached on a collegiate level etc. They are doing basket tosses, full ups and twist downs. The girls make their teams based on ability level not age. My dd tumbles with all of the high school girls since she has her standing back tuck, layout etc. I choose to keep her on the level 2 team as the girls are closer in age than on the level 3&4 teams.

I don't have a problem with the conditioning as "punishment" for dropping stunts etc. We have had problems at our prior gym with the way the coaches were speaking/yelling at the girls, criticising rather than critiquing and ultimately one coach threw a shoe at a girl....needless to say that is our former gym