All-Star Save Youth 5

[kristenthegreat]

I agree with your last few posts. I posted something a couple days ago in the standing double thread from a parent perspective on how our elite tumblers today in Junior and Senior were a result of a much different time in All Stars. Elite tumblers are highly motivated and have an internal push that is not there in every athlete. There are many very beautiful and talented tumblers who can double and have the ability to double but don't for many reasons. Are some afraid? I'm sure they are They are more the majority out there. The contributions they bring to a team may be measured in so many other ways. A beautiful trick pass to full also counts and has just as much value. Very few can do theseelite amazing passes to double and standing to doubles because it is very difficult. The score sheets push to have more and more doubles and who are the kids they look to to bring numbers up? Thhe kids beyond the phenoms. That pressure can make them walk away because there is only value placed on the elusive double.

In response to yours and KB's posts- If people have forgotten how the competitiveness of allstars has changed, just watch videos from 2005-now. In 5 years, you've gone from winning with straight-up stunts to needing a MINIMUM of a full-up one leg to various release moves and multiple creative sequences. That's just in stunts..

 

[specialtpass]

I agree with your last few posts. I posted something a couple days ago in the standing double thread from a parent perspective on how our elite tumblers today in Junior and Senior were a result of a much different time in All Stars. Elite tumblers are highly motivated and have an internal push that is not there in every athlete. There are many very beautiful and talented tumblers who can double and have the ability to double but don't for many reasons. Are some afraid? I'm sure they are They are more the majority out there. The contributions they bring to a team may be measured in so many other ways. A beautiful trick pass to full also counts and has just as much value. Very few can do theseelite amazing passes to double and standing to doubles because it is very difficult. The score sheets push to have more and more doubles and who are the kids they look to to bring numbers up? Thhe kids beyond the phenoms. That pressure can make them walk away because there is only value placed on the elusive double.[/quot

I also wanted to add that I in no way want to see doubles taken out or athletes held back if they can double. I guess I'm trying to see it from an industry perspective. I personally want to see those elite athletes throw those passes on Junioor and Senior teams.

 

[KB_Legend]

Amen, times are changing, coaches are getting better, kids are growing up in better systems, the standards of excellence are MUCH higher and the rules need to change to acomodate these changes...

 

[AbstractSpaniard]

I agree with this! I would like to know how many of the kids who have worlds rings on Shooting Stars, Senior Elite, Stingray Orange, were also on Twinkles, Youth Elite and Stingray Youth 5. I would guess quite a few! Youth 5 must have been doing something right all these years to produce athletes of this calibur!

This is precisely right. My younger sister is one of these athletes. She was on the first ever undefeated Youth Elite squad at CEA, then the Junior and Junior Coed Elite teams that won NCA, then moved to the first Senior Elite team that won worlds. She was one of those athletes one the level five team who didn't have a double full (and she's proud to say so). However, like some have stated before, the stunting, jumping, and performance foundation that the youth level 5 division gave her harnessed her talents and refined them into something that was better than "any young athlete who has a double full." Youth age children learn the proper level five grips, stunting techniques, and timing coordination that is necessary to compete with the other powerhouse junior programs once they age-out. Without the youth level 5 division the junior level 5 divisions will suffer because these children will not have had years of perfecting the elite level techniques that are provided through the youth division and gyms will have to focus on giving level five training to 'green' junior five kids.

And as far as "not having anything to look forward to" is concerned, these children thrive on the thrill of one day being on that senior team that fights for a world title. While they are on youth and juniors the ultimate goal is to win national championships, whether they win year after year or not. Some of these children are just proud to showcase their skills because they are just that- CHILDREN, who happen to be excited about their talent and want to showcase it to the best of their abilities. Imagine the swell of pride some of these athletes have today knowing they are on one of the very few youth level five teams in the industry! That confidence carries out into their life past the boundaries of the cheerleading floor.

 

[KB_Legend]

but if youth level five is restricted and they don't allow double fulls then they don't actually lose any of the stuff you just mentioned. right?

 

[AbstractSpaniard]

True, and that reply wasn't in response to restricting the level. I'm not for the restrictions, but if it must be done to keep the division alive then so be it. I was responding to the thought of losing the division entirely. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding.

 

[just_kay_today]

but if youth level five is restricted and they don't allow double fulls then they don't actually lose any of the stuff you just mentioned. right?

By restrictions you mean...? Just double fulls (because L5 cheer is more than doubles and most Y5 teams aren't funded on the kids with double fulls)? Or kick doubles and double downs (because these are skills that will be necessary to carry them into the upper divisions where they will be required to know grips, catches, tosses, and technique)?

 

[CheerLaydee]

What?!?! She made it all the way to Sr5? So, I'm assuming from everything I've learned from this thread that any wins for her now are just like "ho hum, big deal. Been there, done that"? She's got to be permanently injured from being on the Y5 team. I'm sure she was forced and pressured into tumbling too as a youth. That poor thing. Better save for counseling later in life from all that cheer abuse!

I have no money left to pay for her counseling! I spent it all on privates! LOL

Seriously, she is a well adjusted 16 year old girl. She is obviously very competitive and thats all her, cheer is what makes her world go round. Even after all these years she is still excited for every single win, every new tumbling pass or stunt. This will be her 5th time to Worlds and she was and is just as excited to get the bid this time as she was the very first time. I can't even amagine taking away the Youth 5 division. These young talented kids need it.

 

[ctgatormom]

This is precisely right. My younger sister is one of these athletes. She was on the first ever undefeated Youth Elite squad at CEA, then the Junior and Junior Coed Elite teams that won NCA, then moved to the first Senior Elite team that won worlds. She was one of those athletes one the level five team who didn't have a double full (and she's proud to say so). However, like some have stated before, the stunting, jumping, and performance foundation that the youth level 5 division gave her harnessed her talents and refined them into something that was better than "any young athlete who has a double full." Youth age children learn the proper level five grips, stunting techniques, and timing coordination that is necessary to compete with the other powerhouse junior programs once they age-out. Without the youth level 5 division the junior level 5 divisions will suffer because these children will not have had years of perfecting the elite level techniques that are provided through the youth division and gyms will have to focus on giving level five training to 'green' junior five kids.

And as far as "not having anything to look forward to" is concerned, these children thrive on the thrill of one day being on that senior team that fights for a world title. While they are on youth and juniors the ultimate goal is to win national championships, whether they win year after year or not. Some of these children are just proud to showcase their skills because they are just that- CHILDREN, who happen to be excited about their talent and want to showcase it to the best of their abilities. Imagine the swell of pride some of these athletes have today knowing they are on one of the very few youth level five teams in the industry! That confidence carries out into their life past the boundaries of the cheerleading floor.

Well said...One the best arguments ive seen for keeping youth 5 yet!!

 

[KB_Legend]

I could be wrong but I believe the tumbling and stunting restrictions were voted on separately, and I am in favor of restricting tumbling but do not think it's necessary to really restrict stunts (with the exception of baskets). I also don't think a double down is a skill that requires the amount of time to learn that skills like full ups or tic tocs (particularly not after a year or two of good full downs), nor is it one that carries the risk of high level tumbling so it would not be a major factor either way IMO

 

[buffyyy]

gosh,why can't they just keep it how it is?!

 

[Num1Stunta]

I think this whole debate would not be as difficult if the youth division was a 9-12 age group, and if we treated is as senior open 5 with restrictions.... jmo

 

[cealindsay1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp4IYEW2s

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[ACEDAD]

I think the reduction in Youth 5 is a result of the growth of ProX and, ultimately, the Fierce Board. Before the boards growth, Youth 5 had many more teams. As the boards grew and people kept talking about how Twinkles or Youth Elite or Rays were the bomb, the other gyms stopped trying to compete. It's not that they couldn't compete, but without any "buzz" around their teams, kids lost interest; they gave up before stepping on the mat. How could anyone compete with the latest 8 year old and her double/double?

Instead of having to eliminate or restrict Youth 5, we should eliminate or restrict discussions of the youth teams on the Fierce Board. Maybe a new seed of interest would be planted.

 

[newcheerdad]

I think the reduction in Youth 5 is a result of the growth of ProX and, ultimately, the Fierce Board. Before the boards growth, Youth 5 had many more teams. As the boards grew and people kept talking about how Twinkles or Youth Elite or Rays were the bomb, the other gyms stopped trying to compete. It's not that they couldn't compete, but without any "buzz" around their teams, kids lost interest; they gave up before stepping on the mat. How could anyone compete with the latest 8 year old and her double/double?

Instead of having to eliminate or restrict Youth 5, we should eliminate or restrict discussions of the youth teams on the Fierce Board. Maybe a new seed of interest would be planted.

When in doubt, blame the internet.