All-Star How Is A 12 Y/o On Wildcats?

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Apr 14, 2017
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I don’t feel one way or they other about it. I’m just so confused as to how a preteen is on an open team. Can someone who knows the age rules better than me explain it?
 
Is wildcats international?
For non international as long as she turns 13 before august 31. For international or senior open she can be turning 14 anytime before dec 31 2020.

So she could be 12 now and turn 13 after August 31 this year and be too young for non open or non international teams such as panthers but still be eligible for international or open because she will turn 14 sometime in 2020.
 
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If a child, and I use that word purposely, is 12 and will turn 13 in 2019 (up to Dec 31) then they are age eligible because they will eventually turn 14 during 2020. However, the current season could be over and well into the 20/21 season before they actually turn 14. Personally, I don't think a 12 yr old should be on an open team...but no one ever asks for my opinion. [emoji1787][emoji23]

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I have mentioned it before but you can be eligible for an open or international team with adults and no maximum age (due to the calendar year) before you are eligible for a senior worlds team that caps at 18/19. It seems backwards to me, but it isn't new.
 
I have mentioned it before but you can be eligible for an open or international team with adults and no maximum age (due to the calendar year) before you are eligible for a senior worlds team that caps at 18/19. It seems backwards to me, but it isn't new.
Agree, totally crazy. And most 12 yr olds aren't mature enough to be with full grown adults who they should consider a peer of sorts. Makes me crazy.

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For example from a recent FloCheer Article:

Woodlands Elite
NEW TEAM
Gunsmoke – Senior Open Small Coed Level 6

Gunsmoke is the newest addition to the Woodlands Elite family and they will be taking on the Senior Open Small Coed Level 6 division.

We really wanted to move into the Open division to give some of our kids who were not quite old enough for a Senior Worlds team the opportunity to compete at Worlds,” explained Woodlands Elite Coach & Managing Partner, Lynne Shearer.

With the age requirement being 14 by December of Worlds year, that actually allows some kids who miss the cutoff for Senior Worlds teams to still be able to compete. We have a lot of Colonels who have been on that team for many years and with the age going up to 13 they have missed moving up for the last two years. With this division, we can also have a home for some of our kids who are aging out and still want to cheer."


*** I have seen previews of this team on social media and they already look incredible! ***
 
Is wildcats international?
For non international as long as she turns 13 before august 31. For international or senior open she can be turning 14 anytime before dec 31 2020.

So she could be 12 now and turn 13 after August 31 this year and be too young for non open or non international teams such as panthers but still be eligible for international or open because she will turn 14 sometime in 2020.

Huh. Good for her I guess? I mean she’s obviously a talented kiddo, but this team might not be the best place for her mentally or emotionally. She’ll have no one to act her age with and I’d be very surprised if she can maintain the level of maturity required for the long-term. Which is not a dig at her, it’s just that, you know... she’s 12. She’s not supposed to be fully mature yet. Nobody at that age is. I’m just not sure it’s entirely fair to her.

But CA has a strong reputation for training super skilled and focused athletes from a young age so what do I know. Hopefully she can handle it.

That being said, this does nothing to assuage those who decry CA for depending on minuscule flyers for their success. And the coach in me gets it: work smarter, not harder. My former coach perfected that strategy. Her routines were never super flashy but they still won everything because they racked up points in the most efficient ways. Totally get it.

But on the other hand, they’re Cheer Athletics. They’re the New England Patriots of AS. So surely their bases are good enough to put more than 60 pounds in the air, right? I would think they shouldn’t need this loophole as much as they do.

I said I didn’t feel one way or another about this but it appears I’ve changed my mind.
 
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My 13 year old is on an open team. ‍♀️ Her teammates are all older than her and she probably won’t be having sleepovers but then again we live 3 hours from the gym so I’m not sure that’s a consideration anyway lol.

I’d prefer her on a more age appropriate team i suppose, but we’ve been at this a long time and it’s about more than buddies and pool parties at this point. I can assure you she won’t be hanging out with college kids on the weekends. She had a skill set the team needed and she wanted the spot so.. it is what it is.

She’s also good friends with one of the wildcat youngins.. she is a beast of a kid and I wish all of the things for her this season!

Happy summer everyone!
 
My 13 year old is on an open team. ‍♀️ Her teammates are all older than her and she probably won’t be having sleepovers but then again we live 3 hours from the gym so I’m not sure that’s a consideration anyway lol.

I’d prefer her on a more age appropriate team i suppose, but we’ve been at this a long time and it’s about more than buddies and pool parties at this point. I can assure you she won’t be hanging out with college kids on the weekends. She had a skill set the team needed and she wanted the spot so.. it is what it is.

She’s also good friends with one of the wildcat youngins.. she is a beast of a kid and I wish all of the things for her this season!

Happy summer everyone!
U drive 3 hours each way for cheer? Wow!
 
As I’ve mentioned before, often it is easier to accelerate a very academically advanced middle schooler into college than into higher level high school classes. The college students are usually better able to accept the younger student as belonging for academic reasons, and there is less expectation that everyone will be best friends, only that they can work together. There will be people who work and who cannot stay around, people who do hang out together, people who can legally drink and those who cannot, etc. In high school, it is a lot harder to be out of the norm because there is a more obvious norm to be out of.

I can see coaches deciding that it is better for an athlete to be the youngest open vs the youngest senior, all else being equal, due to team maturity and dynamics.
 
I mean some of the things I talked about in high school/college that I assume that age group still talks about, I wouldn’t want a 12/13/14 year old overhearing. Even if they hear it at school, home, etc. they still don’t need to overhear it at practice during a water break :confused:

We have junior coaches that are 16/17 and although I am 10000% sure they have heard swears and know “adult” topics, I would not accept them talking about it around me or anyone else.
 
Without getting into the whole age difference thing, I just wish they’d raise the international age so you’re eligible for senior teams first

And raise the "senior open" age too! As far as I know, USASF sets the ages for Senior teams and Senior Open teams, so I think they could fix this in theory--it just doesn't make sense that a 12 year old (who used to be allowed on a senior team not too long ago!) can be on a Senior Open team first.
 
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