cheermommaRN
Cheer Parent
- Dec 14, 2009
- 3,894
- 9,954
As a parent of an ex-elite track gymnast I get the part with adding all the extra classes. Cheer is a far less time commitment then gymnastics. When we lived that life we had 12 hours of practice and then a 3 hour TOPS session on Saturday mornings. When we moved to Texas and started cheer (gymnastics in TX is a whole other animal cp wasn't ready for) I was shocked to hear we only had 2 practices a week and they were only 2 hours! I figured something must be wrong and signed her up for every extra class I could. That didn't last long though she did develop a wicked performance style thanks to the Panther athletes she shared a private with.
First big difference...gymnastics = 10 levels and elite
cheer = 5 levels period (you could consider level 5 "elite" but still not comparable to a level 10 gymnast)
I'm curious as to why you pulled her from gymnastics? Small and compact is one of the preferred body types. It's also weird that she only has bar/beam skills. Most gymnastics facilities want the younger ones to develop all their events at the same rate so you don't have a level 5 that can't kip.
Honestly, everything you described is status quo for all star cheer. Either buckle up for your 8 seconds or you have gone straight to the point a lot of us veterans are at..."this is for the birds and when is my kid aging out?"
First big difference...gymnastics = 10 levels and elite
cheer = 5 levels period (you could consider level 5 "elite" but still not comparable to a level 10 gymnast)
I'm curious as to why you pulled her from gymnastics? Small and compact is one of the preferred body types. It's also weird that she only has bar/beam skills. Most gymnastics facilities want the younger ones to develop all their events at the same rate so you don't have a level 5 that can't kip.
Honestly, everything you described is status quo for all star cheer. Either buckle up for your 8 seconds or you have gone straight to the point a lot of us veterans are at..."this is for the birds and when is my kid aging out?"