All-Star Restricting Tumbling To Your All Star Gym Only??

[cupieqt]

We do it for several reasons, one being that we are in the business of teaching gymnastics and we put kids on our team with the expectation that they'll train only with us.

We would definitely give a pass on long distances and elite camps so there are always exceptions. We try to be flexible so even if a kid that lived close to us wanted to tumble but couldn't find an open class time that they needed (highly unlikely bc private lessons are available if none of our numerous classes are) we would allow for it then too.

Another reason we want them to train with us only is progression. I think consistency is key to progression. I see a distinct difference in technique too when kids come to us from other gyms (rampant fast tracking going on around here) and it can take a long time to re-train.

 

[dohnutt]

I know of a gym that has this rule, but the coaches are also not allowed to do privates with cheerleaders outside of the gym, whether they cheer elsewhere or not. I guess I could understand not wanting your cheerleaders to tumble elsewhere (although I don't agree with it) but I feel like not allowing kids from outside your gym to take privates is turning away business and what could be a potential athlete.

 

[worldsring09]

open gym? how does this fit in with training and progression when open gym is "supervised" and not "spotted"? and do these gyms with this rule turn away athletes from other gyms who show up at their open gyms?

 

[cupieqt]

open gym? how does this fit in with training and progression when open gym is "supervised" and not "spotted"? and do these gyms with this rule turn away athletes from other gyms who show up at their open gyms?

We dont offer anything without spotters provided. Idk of anyone else that does but if they do, our athletes could not go...especially because I wouldn't want them tempted to try a skill they're working but still need a spot for. We do not turn anyone away but I do ask them if they're allowed by their contract and if their gym is aware of them coming to us.

 

[aquarider]

Well it's hard when your drive to the gym is more than an hour one way. To drive 2-1/2 hrs to take a 1 hr tumbling class is extremely difficult, especially with the price of gas. We found a gymnastics gym 10 minutes away with a tumbling class taught by a gymnastics coach. While his methods were somewhat different the results were excellent! He also had great strengthening exercises and required a longer warm-up, thus less chance of injury. It was interesting to train with a "gymnastics view" of tumbling. They are actually much stricter about NOT letting you throw a skill until you're ready and until you've mastered the elementary skills. Maybe we were just lucky... Our gym understood the distance issue and didn't mind our training closer to home. An added bonus was that the class was an hour and a half rather than just an hour!

 

[lolsmileyface_backAGAIN]

for safety reasons my a$$.

 

[lakerfantlc]

I think some tumbling is better than none....and as long as you arent having private lessons...kids are pretty sharp and even if they are in a class and hear a different instructor say something different, they can weed out what their real coach wants...I would think most companies would want the athlete to be working on tumbling and conditioning if they live far from their home gym.... IMO (we live 2 hrs from our gym)

 

[cheermommaRN]

I don't know why a gym would have an issue with an athlete tumbling at another gym....if you are traveling a long distance it is almost impossible to attend tumbling classes that are just an hour long. And in regards to tumbling on vacation, I told the owners at Spirit we would be attending tumbling at World Cup and they were just happy she would be doing something! I think tumbling at a different gym with different coaches can give an athlete a whole new perspective on what they are struggling with.
When Texas was hit by the ice storms all the cheer gyms were closed for a week, kids were climbing the walls and plotting break in attempts just so they could tumble. Some went to ASI for a "free" class because it was the only place open, as far as I know no one got in trouble.....

 

[Mamarazzi]

I agree with smiley. Refuse to shimmy, though.
Anyway, I think this has about 5% to do with safety, and 95% to do with business. They don't want to lose athletes. The market up there is jam-packed with really awesome gyms and athletes that dip into the forbidden pool might just want to stay.
Nitros kinda kicked our tails last season and their policy evidently works well, though I disagree with it completely. If you're treating your athletes well, and offer the absolute best training, there shouldn't even be an issue about visiting another gym to tumble because no one would want to.

 

[timmis]

How could safety be an issue if the athlete was tumbling at a well-known, successful gym? (Cheer Athletics, World Cup, California, Stingrays, ect)

 

[RetiredCoach91]

I think this is a fear driven policy. When I worked there I couldn't tell you any kid that tumbled at another gym. Even if anyone did I wouldn't care.

 

[cheerinfo]

I hate Hate HATE this about this industry. Who are YOU to tell me where I can take my children and pay for services?? As long as my child is at your practice, contributes all she has, is loyal to her team...who CARES where she gets her skills?? I have witnessed this for years and years, and I have yet to change my stance on this. If I prefer an instructor that my child is comfortable with that just happens to be at a different gym, so be it. She is using her skills for her team, so who cares where the skill is learned. I don't care if you live 2 hours from the gym or 10 minutes. I can take my children wherever I choose if I feel it is better. Not saying I DO that or promote that it be done, but IF I did, then that is MY choice and MY business and MY money for MY children. Kids won't leave your gym unless they are unhappy there. Has nothing to do with them taking a tumbling class or private lesson or stunt class or open gym somewhere else. If they like where they are cheering, they will stay. No kid gets "lured" away unless they were unhappy anyway. Safety issues? Hogwash. This "policy" bothers me as much today as it did 10 years ago. I just don't agree with it. Period. OK...I am done venting on that subject now.

 

[yojaehs]

Ok, this is NOT a policy at my gym but I do understand why a gym owner would say this. From reading the "e-mail" it doesn't seem to indicate that this is based on a single drop by incident. It looks as if maybe a child in their program has been injured or possibly taught incorrect technique at another gym. In that case, I would support this 100%. There are gyms in my area that I know kids of mine go to, I specifically say "don't listen to him/her, they don't know what they are talking about, but enjoy the trampolines" etc. etc. If a parent does not agree with that policy they are free to leave (unless they are on a Worlds team, bahahaha) Many gyms have policy's that I don't understand, but many are put in place for a reason. I will tell you what I DID like about the e-mail sent out by this gym, and that is they said the reason is bc they want to ENSURE that the correct progression is taught, and they are correct, you can't control what is taught OUTSIDE your gym. I actually think this is a smart policy. Don't like it, GO TO ANOTHER GYM!

 

[cheerinfo]

Just because you don't like one policy doesn't mean you should have to leave the gym. What if a coach AT that gym leaves after 5 years, and your kid ALWAYS tumbled with that coach. And that coach goes to Gym B down the road. If my child wishes to continue with that coach because she has done well with him/her, I do NOT believe it is anyone's place to restrict me from paying for those services if I so choose. Doesn't mean I want my kid cheering on a team at Gym B, but that is where my kid wants to tumble. I should be able to have that choice.

 

[Keep_Believing]

My question.. is this a common practice amongst gyms? How do you handle this situation, if your athletes live far away & tumble elsewhere during the week? Your thoughts? GO!

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: [email protected]​

Date: June 22, 2011 10:45:25 PM EDT​

To: IDENTITY DELETED TO SPARE "IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL"​

Subject: Important Please Read​

This is a mass email going out to all members of the Nitro Nation.​

There is to be absolutely NO tumbling at any other gym if your are on a Nitro team. This has been a policy in our handbook since day one. This is for safety reasons. We do not know what these instructors at other locations are teaching and if they are going in safe progression according to the USASF rules and guidelines.​

Year after year the Nitro program produces quality tumbling in a safe and progressive manner.​

Failure to comply will result in IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL from the Nitro organization.​

This is the only warning being given.​

If a gym feels this way I appreciate that they put in down in writing. It lets the parents know how the gym feels & the expectations.