All-Star Any Gyms In The Atlanta Area Have A Good J5 Team?

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I know CAO Elite is trying to have a Youth or Junior 5 this upcoming season.

They've been amazing this past season. I've enjoyed watching them at the comps we've been to. I thought about CAO but I didn't know if they had a J5.
 
I don't know that area gyms beyond the "names". However, my advice is make visits to several gyms. Get a feel for each, and find one that feels comfortable. They may or may not have a J5, but that doesn't mean they won't in 2 or 3 years. My question would be (since your daughter is working to get level 4 skills) if they have a J4. If they do, is it a young team, do they plan on keeping the core together and moving up together? Since she's not a level 5 yet (and there's no guarantee of level 5), I would look for the level 4 first. Everything else will take care of itself in time. Most important is how well you like the gym, not necessarily the future levels.
 
I don't know if they've already been mentioned but ATA seems to have a good amount of junior talent! Don't know for sure that they already have a J5!!


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Really there is only one current choice for a GOOD J5 in the Atlanta area and that's GREEN!!!

Hands down those kids are great and I'm sure will continue to be as they progress.

The only other gym in GA that had a J5 this season was GA Allstars, however they also competed as a restricted 5 I believe and maybe a 4 at some competitions.

I believe ATA north had a co-ed 4 that did well and ATA south had restricted 5.

The ONLY gym that consistently has a J5 though is Rays. However, as was mentioned earlier, just because a gym doesn't have one now doesn't mean they won't have one in the future.

My suggestion is find a gym where your CP is happy and thriving. No offense but this should be more about what makes CP happy then where you want her to be. The only reason I say this is I've tried keeping mine where I wanted them instead of where they wanted to be and the results were disastrous.

Good luck, I hope you find a new gym that makes you CP happy.
 
That's true. Stingrays is definitely an option. I was just hoping they weren't the only option
Is there a specific reason why you were hoping Rays was not the only option?

My advice would be to base your decision more on where you daughter is now rather than where she *may* be in the future. I can tell you from experience that a child may move very quickly through levels 1-4 and NEVER gain level 5 skills. Its not uncommon for a kid to go from zero tumbling to a gorgeous layout in a season or 2 but the "twisting" part never click and that is OK! Being a level 5 cheerleader is not the end all be all, I promise.

I would also advise you to visit several different types of gyms. I'm a firm believer that not every gym is for every child. Some children thrive in a small gym environment where they are the big fish in the little sea. Other kids are much happier being the little fish in the big sea and have no desire to be the "star" of the gym so to speak.

I also think its best to visit gyms during a team practice so that you can get a feel for their coaching style. Some coaches yell, some are more motivating ... neither style is wrong but as her parent you will know which style fits best with your child.

At the end of the day you know what is best for your child. Winning isn't everything to everyone and if your child is unhappy in a situation she will not thrive.

GOOD LUCK!
 
Is there a specific reason why you were hoping Rays was not the only option?

My advice would be to base your decision more on where you daughter is now rather than where she *may* be in the future. I can tell you from experience that a child may move very quickly through levels 1-4 and NEVER gain level 5 skills. Its not uncommon for a kid to go from zero tumbling to a gorgeous layout in a season or 2 but the "twisting" part never click and that is OK! Being a level 5 cheerleader is not the end all be all, I promise.

I would also advise you to visit several different types of gyms. I'm a firm believer that not every gym is for every child. Some children thrive in a small gym environment where they are the big fish in the little sea. Other kids are much happier being the little fish in the big sea and have no desire to be the "star" of the gym so to speak.

I also think its best to visit gyms during a team practice so that you can get a feel for their coaching style. Some coaches yell, some are more motivating ... neither style is wrong but as her parent you will know which style fits best with your child.

At the end of the day you know what is best for your child. Winning isn't everything to everyone and if your child is unhappy in a situation she will not thrive.

GOOD LUCK!


Ultimately, we wound up at a gym that doesn't even have a level 5 (go figure lol). Thanks so much for the sound advice. You are on point. She started doing her layout without being spotted after a week of working on it so I totally get what you're saying. As far as Stingrays, I'd rather not go there for a reason or two. For one thing, it's about 45 minutes away on a good day and the traffic going to that area in the evenings is horrible. At the end of the day, my nerves are too shot to even attempt to be stuck in traffic with these Atlanta drivers. Secondly, while Stingrays can put together a clean routine, they bore me (sorry Stingrays).
 
so even though they could make your daughter successful, you wouldn't want her there because it would bore you?
so even though they could make your daughter successful, you wouldn't want her there because it would bore you?


Absolutely. It's superficial and selfish but I can do that when its my investment and my daughter was torn between Stingrays and where she is now. Now when/if she gets level 5 skills, I just may be as superficial to take her up to Marrietta to try out for Stingrays. Plus, success is measured subjectively so your idea of success may not equal mine. My daughter is at a gym where she is happy and gaining new skills daily. I know she'll be challenged and pushed to her limits every single practice. She'll learn discipline, showmanship, and develop a strong work ethic. I also know that 9 times out of ten, she'll come home as a champion from her latest competition. While Stingrays is a wonderful program, it's not for us at this time. And let's be clear...Stingrays aren't the end all be all in Atlanta. My child can achieve success elsewhere just as quickly as she can at Stingrays.
 
Absolutely. It's superficial and selfish but I can do that when its my investment and my daughter was torn between Stingrays and where she is now. Now when/if she gets level 5 skills, I just may be as superficial to take her up to Marrietta to try out for Stingrays. Plus, success is measured subjectively so your idea of success may not equal mine. My daughter is at a gym where she is happy and gaining new skills daily. I know she'll be challenged and pushed to her limits every single practice. She'll learn discipline, showmanship, and develop a strong work ethic. I also know that 9 times out of ten, she'll come home as a champion from her latest competition. While Stingrays is a wonderful program, it's not for us at this time. And let's be clear...Stingrays aren't the end all be all in Atlanta. My child can achieve success elsewhere just as quickly as she can at Stingrays.

never said it was the end all be all. there are plenty of gyms in atlanta that hold their own. i just thought it was a little odd that you wouldn't choose a gym because their routines bore you, that's all.
 
I'd take a clean routine, that won't scare me to death, then a flashy routine that gives me a heart attack the entire 2:30. But we may just be weirdos...;)

I wasn't trying to throw shade on the program. If anyone is a weirdo, it's most likely me but I'm cool with that.
 
I wasn't trying to throw shade on the program. If anyone is a weirdo, it's most likely me but I'm cool with that.
We say on this board many times that not every gym is for every child. What's shocking to myself & garrettt, is that you said Stingrays bore you, because they're clean...it just sounds weird....Like choosing flashy over clean? But that's IMHO.
 
We say on this board many times that not every gym is for every child. What's shocking to myself & garrettt, is that you said Stingrays bore you, because they're clean...it just sounds weird....Like choosing flashy over clean? But that's IMHO.

Well I know for a fact that you can be clean and put on a show. I don't recall using the term flashy. Being clean doesn't necessarily mean they're entertaining. There is a big difference between the two terms. One speaks strictly to the execution and technique and the other speaks to how people relate to it (either you're feeling it or you're not).
 
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