OT 5 Year Olds Kicked Off Of Team After Taking Approved Vacation

[mstealtoyou]

I have a very long and funny story about my Little Bit trying to do "school cheer" when she was about 6. Those people had no qualms about not letting her on the team and I know I'm biased but she was cute as hell, yet, they had no problems. The cliff notes are she was unable to make 1 of the 3 practice days they required. (She had YE practice that day and we were already obligated to them on Tuesdays) Because she can't "learn the cheers" in just 2 days a week and "maybe cheer just isn't her thing." Ok?!?!? .......damn what I wouldn't give to know the names of those coaches who wouldn't let her on their team! You were SO wrong......Bwajahahahah. And just like that (snap) my husbands dreams of watching football and drinking hot chocolate on Saturday mornings went up in smoke!

 

[FlexyTumblerMom]

I have a very long and funny story about my Little Bit trying to do "school cheer" when she was about 6. Those people had no qualms about not letting her on the team and I know I'm biased but she was cute as hell, yet, they had no problems. The cliff notes are she was unable to make 1 of the 3 practice days they required. (She had YE practice that day and we were already obligated to them on Tuesdays) Because she can't "learn the cheers" in just 2 days a week and "maybe cheer just isn't her thing." Ok?!?!? .......damn what I wouldn't give to know the names of those coaches who wouldn't let her on their team! You were SO wrong......Bwajahahahah. And just like that (snap) my husbands dreams of watching football and drinking hot chocolate on Saturday mornings went up in smoke!

There could be some really amazing school cheer squads in my area if the directors would be more flexible when it comes to practice attendance - my CPs middle school alone has about two dozen high level gymnasts, AS cheerleaders and comp dancers who could EASILY learn the cheers and routines one weekend and just show up a few minutes early for games and pep rallies to review before going on - they would be amazing! But instead they have squads filled w/ girls who can't stunt, tumble or dance a tenth as well as the more active girls, because they are the only ones who have enough time on their hands to make the *mandatory* (meaning you get benched if you miss more than so many) 2-3 day per week practices that are not even on a regular schedule.

I don't know what the answer is - I just think the whole thing is ironic . Your story made me think of it.

 

[gofriars610]

@mstealtoyou dang, Little Bit was on YE at 6? I could barely walk in a straight line at 6.

 

[cheermomforever]

There could be some really amazing school cheer squads in my area if the directors would be more flexible when it comes to practice attendance - my CPs middle school alone has about two dozen high level gymnasts, AS cheerleaders and comp dancers who could EASILY learn the cheers and routines one weekend and just show up a few minutes early for games and pep rallies to review before going on - they would be amazing! But instead they have squads filled w/ girls who can't stunt, tumble or dance a tenth as well as the more active girls, because they are the only ones who have enough time on their hands to make the *mandatory* (meaning you get benched if you miss more than so many) 2-3 day per week practices that are not even on a regular schedule.

I don't know what the answer is - I just think the whole thing is ironic . Your story made me think of it.

There r HS here that could really use AS cheer students, but the coaches lay the rule down either AS or HS. Well they lose out because they do not choose HS. Do not understand why u would not want great athletes! Our coach helps out as much as possible with schedule and has tumbling with most of our local HS once a week.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

So you are assuming everything in the article is correct and 100% accurate and no important tidbits of information were left out? After hairgate I would hope we would all realize there could be very important facts that the media hides in order to create shock value and increased readership/publicity.

I'll give you another example of how easily things can get misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. I coach a middle school team. After one game I waited 45 minutes after the game for the parent to pick up. We called, texted - no response. When the mother picked up and I told her that she was supposed to pick up at 5:30, she said "I went to the first game and it ended at 6:30. I wasn't about to wait around an hour for her" I informed her that the previous game started at 5 and that is why the game ended at 6:30 but this game started at 4 and all of the information had been given ahead of time - both by a facebook post and a group text. I told her if she was late again her kid would not be able to cheer. She got home and called the AD to report me and said I threatened to kick her kid off the team because she was "about 10 minutes" late picking up. I guess I should consider myself lucky that she didn't go to the newspapers and television stations.

I'm tired of the entitlement, the "I'm never wrong and I'm going to let the entire world know I was wronged and screwed over". It just needs to stop.

All the yes.

I've coached HS for quite some time. Things are almost NEVER as they seem.

Examples:

1. I approve all of the uniform orders at our fitting. Most kids are pretty good about trying on and ordering the size that fits reasonably well. One year, I had a junior insist on her skirt size being the same as last year. The skirt did. not. zip. She needed another cheerleader to hold it together to zip it. I could not allow her to order that. I said "Becky, you need to try on a skirt that comfortably zips. I am not approving a skirt that doesn't zip." What did the parent call me and say? That I CALLED HER DAUGHTER FAT.

2. I had a sophomore flyer start bailing on full downs. All the drills. All the help. All the changing bases. To no avail. We had a discussion about transitioning to basing full-time. She agreed. I swapped her out for another flyer. What did the parent call me and say? THAT I SAID HER DAUGHTER WAS TOO HEAVY TO BE IN THE AIR (and actually told my admin that.)

I have said before that my HS parents are far crazier than parents I've had in other cheer contexts. I don't know what it is.

 

[FlexyTumblerMom]

There r HS here that could really use AS cheer students, but the coaches lay the rule down either AS or HS. Well they lose out because they do not choose HS. Do not understand why u would not want great athletes! Our coach helps out as much as possible with schedule and has tumbling with most of our local HS once a week.

I always wonder if it were a similar situation w/ the boys football/basketball teams if the situation be the same - like if club/AS sports teams were where all the top athletes spent their time, would they still let those top talent boys just show up and play for the school teams w/o attending regular practices. My bet is that they would .

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

^^^^^I try to share my HS kids with All Stars because it makes for a more well-rounded team (although I have some talented kids who have never done all stars.)

I am trying to get better with coordinating with different schedules. Part of the deal that I have with parents whose kids do any sort of other time consuming activity (all stars, dance, whatever) is that I need advanced notice.

What I can't tolerate is when you knew you couldn't make XYZ but didn't tell me until the last possible minute.

Example: You knew when you made the team in April that your All Star team does XYZ Regional the day of ABC High School comp on February 19th. Yet you just don't tell me. Then come February 10th, you're like "Um, I can't be at ABC. I have XYZ Regional with All Stars, sorry!"

That is where I get a little less excited about sharing kids. You need to tell me BEFORE the season starts.

 

[Cheermom1969]

I always wonder if it were a similar situation w/ the boys football/basketball teams if the situation be the same - like if club/AS sports teams were where all the top athletes spent their time, would they still let those top talent boys just show up and play for the school teams w/o attending regular practices. My bet is that they would .

It's a CIF rule in our state that you cannot do club soccer/football/basketball/baseball, etc., and play on your school team while it's "in season." So that conveniently takes care of that issue.

 

[amy1k]

^^^^^I try to share my HS kids with All Stars because it makes for a more well-rounded team (although I have some talented kids who have never done all stars.)

I am trying to get better with coordinating with different schedules. Part of the deal that I have with parents whose kids do any sort of other time consuming activity (all stars, dance, whatever) is that I need advanced notice.

What I can't tolerate is when you knew you couldn't make XYZ but didn't tell me until the last possible minute.

Example: You knew when you made the team in April that your All Star team does XYZ Regional the day of ABC High School comp on February 19th. Yet you just don't tell me. Then come February 10th, you're like "Um, I can't be at ABC. I have XYZ Regional with All Stars, sorry!"

That is where I get a little less excited about sharing kids. You need to tell me BEFORE the season starts.

To go along with this thread derail, though...what in the world is an athlete to do when the schedule conflict is created WELL into the season? I've mentioned this all over the board, but our HS state competition was JUST scheduled within the last month for a Saturday in January when my daughter's Allstar team will be in California. I'm TRYING to find a solution, but not getting much help from any coaches. The high school coach is just threatening ("if you don't attend state, you'll be kicked off the team!"). The Allstar people are being kind and offering to try to find out the schedule window to no avail...so maybe we can fly out Saturday afternoon. The reality is, SOMEBODY has to give. There are three girls from her AS team on her HS team. It's obviously out of their control. All I know is, she's never doing both again. Ugh.

/rant

 

[quitthedrama]

To go along with this thread derail, though...what in the world is an athlete to do when the schedule conflict is created WELL into the season? I've mentioned this all over the board, but our HS state competition was JUST scheduled within the last month for a Saturday in January when my daughter's Allstar team will be in California. I'm TRYING to find a solution, but not getting much help from any coaches. The high school coach is just threatening ("if you don't attend state, you'll be kicked off the team!"). The Allstar people are being kind and offering to try to find out the schedule window to no avail...so maybe we can fly out Saturday afternoon. The reality is, SOMEBODY has to give. There are three girls from her AS team on her HS team. It's obviously out of their control. All I know is, she's never doing both again. Ugh.

/rant

You go to the media
jkjkjk
That is a crappy situation. There really is no solution. In our area very few people who do allstars do basketball cheer because it is just too hard to work around. I hope it all works out but the stress of dealing with it is no fun.

 

[amy1k]

Hahaha! No. Can you imagine trying to sell the story of the plight of a poor little cheerleader trying to shuffle all her teams? Hahaha!

 

[mstealtoyou]

@mstealtoyou dang, Little Bit was on YE at 6? I could barely walk in a straight line at 6.

6 turning 7 yes! She was blessed to have people who saw the diamond in the rough so to speak. I questioned the placement actually. "WHAT in the heck is she supposed to do on that team?" Answer was "She's supposed to watch and learn." And she did. That year she mostly stood behind a stunt then ran out to tumble. Front spot a group in the pyramid. Tumble tumble tumble. Hahaha. The next season she front spotted a group and you would have thought she was last pass by the smile on her face. We've been very lucky to have staff and big girls who believed in her. She rose to the challenge!

 

[NJ Coach]

We don't allow our AS kids to compete for HS. They may cheer sideline, as long as it doesn't interfere with us. But then there are the issues we have with people taking vacations in season (which I still don't understand).

Bottom line, if you have a rule, it has to be for everyone. From the inexperienced littles to the phenom teenagers.

 

[amy1k]

I'm sure everyone will be creating new rules after this season. It's just worked out basically fine until this year.

 

[CheerBank]

We gave the HS coach the all-star comp schedule the second we got it. Fortunately only two potential conflict weekends and the HS coach emailed me the other day to see if cp could compete at a HS comp on a Sunday when she had an all-star comp on that Saturday. We are very lucky that she was willing to work around cp's schedule this year. If we had too many AS comps during HS season, cp would have only cheered through football season.

We had a conflict a few seasons ago with an AS comp where we had a vacation booked a a year in advance - and this was an AS comp this gym had never gone to before. It fell on the last weekend of the Christmas break. Cp was taken out of the routine in October (she actually got injured around the same time so she would have been out anyway) and basically had to sit and watch until we came back - on 2 teams - and was eventually worked back into the routines but not with the same spots she would have had, which we fully understood.