All-Star Gym Hopping

I do not agree with the term "gym hopper" I think thats its juts something cheer gyms say to make you stay at their gym. If you're not happy at a gym then of course you should leave. I have been to 3 gyms and I left because they just weren't the perfect fit for me. Everyone is different and may not be as happy at certain gyms.

example of a Gym Hopper to me is being with 6 gyms in 2 years and that is amongst 3 different states and they didnt find themselves in these states due to family, job, etc. They moved just so their CP's could cheer for several big name gyms and it didnt work out, they caused problems at each and every gym, to the point word traveled to another gym within 50 miles they were turned away.

CraftyKat said:

I totally agree with the idea of us being "customers". We parents are here to put our childs needs first. It is not our responsiblity to make a gym successful. We pay a great deal of money and the time commitment is huge. We have to look out for what is best for our cp. I don't think leaving in the middle of the season is the right thing to do. You made a committment and many other cp's are counting on you, but after the end of the season its your choice as to what to do next.

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Our gym charges a $500 "quitter's fee" if cp leaves mid-season for anything besides an injury that has sidelined him/her for the rest of the season or a job transfer and have to move. It's really helped keep our athletes in place for the enitre year.

I personally hate the label "Gym Hopper" after all, like someone else said earlier in this thread it a business and in my opinion just like a nail salon if I'm not receiving the service I've paid for I'm going to find someone else to do my nails.
After sticking it out for many years in our local smaller gyms and a lot of drama I allowed my CP to make the move to CA to be on Cali Coed. It was by far the best decision we've ever made. She found where she fits in, a program that fits her. Yes she tried several different programs in AZ that either didn't push her as far as she wanted to be pushed or just had different goals then she does. And that's just part of it. She's now found her home at program that is perfect for her. I've seen this happening a lot AZ and there has to be a reason for it. Several of the top athletes have chosen to go out of state to find their "home" some as far as Texas, and really that is no one business but their own. As parents we need to do what's best for our child.
I do think a lot of the drama comes from the adults involved, and really should stop. It hurts others (mostly the kids) when rumors get started or lies get told. It's bullying and is just wrong. It's better to just be happy for the person, don't let it end your friendships, support them, be happy for them when they win, if you cared about them as a teammate then care about them as an opponent and this goes both ways for the person who left and the one who stayed.

There is 'gym-hopping' and there is 'gym-switching'. Otherwise known as 'trying out somewhere different.'

I have no problem with the latter, although the former is used more often than is probably warranted. Gym hopping is typically synonymous with ring/win chaser (although now that you can win rings at Summit, ring-chaser now covers everyone lol). There are some people who have 'technically' gym hopped, but it all depends on who you are and your 'reasons', which will determine whether or not it's deemed acceptable.

dawgshow said:

Shame on the other gyms for allowing it!

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Its so annoying!!! They left right after we reworked the routine for an injured teammate!

You're not married to a gym. The gym is a business, and you are the customer. If they are not giving you a good enough product, obviously you're going to find a business that delivers a better product


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Everyone's replaceable. Even gyms. Many a gym owner forgets this and pays dearly.

megaflipper said:

Everyone's replaceable. Even gyms. Many a gym owner forgets this and pays dearly.

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Yup...it's definitely a two way street.

I think its tricky. I'm from England so obviously its a bit of a smaller pool when it comes to cheer. Still, there's always controversy when people move, especially to a bigger gym.

I personally started with a very small team, which then closed down. When I was at university I cheered for the uni team all 3 years. When I was about to graduate I looked at the programmes within travelling distance. I chose the one with the best coaching, facilities and the biggest range of teams. I figured that would give me the best chance of finding somewhere to fit.

I have recently moved gyms again (although ended up sitting out the season through injury). The move was motivated because I was moving area - it was no longer feasible to cheer at the gym I'd been at, as much as I loved them. Again, I looked at the teams near my new location and tried to pick the best fit - I wanted an all-girl team because as a base, all girl suits me better. I wanted to either stick at Level 4, which I had been competing, or push to Level 5. The gym I picked ended up being the one which was nearby AND had a team I thought I'd fit with.

I wouldn't consider myself a gym hopper, because I've never left a gym 'just because'. It's always been for location, or team fit. However, I am certain that some people would class 4 gyms in 10 years as gym hopping.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that in my book, you're only a 'gym hopper' in the negative sense if you leave because of bad blood or to chase a win. If it's logistics or team placement or levels, then fair enough. The old gym wouldn't meet your needs.

EnglishRose said:

I wouldn't consider myself a gym hopper, because I've never left a gym 'just because'. It's always been for location, or team fit. However, I am certain that some people would class 4 gyms in 10 years as gym hopping.

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4 in 10? Not likely. Maybe 4 in 4, depending on circumstances (like if the gym closed). 4 in 10 you spent at least 2 years per gym, hypothetically. That's can be very common.

Yes! That happens everywhere! Here in New Jersey tons of athletes are switching from smaller well known gyms to move to World Cup because they want more opportunity to make themselves better! There are also people I know that are moving to different states just to be a a large well known gym like Cheer Athletics or Twisters!

I have to say that the term "gym hopping" is crazy. I am both a gym owner and cheer parent. From an owner's perspective we have a service we are selling. If I don't do my job then you should leave. You have no moral obligation to stay. It's hard when dealing with people and friendships form. The fact is you pay to come there. From a parent, I would have no problem changing if I don't feel my child is getting their money's worth. It is not the athlete nor the parents job to help a gym grow. If you do the right thing you will. Very simple. It drives me nuts for a gym owner to pull heart strings on a child to get them to stay. Get off your butt, coach, they will. Very simple!


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Personally, I really can't stand when an athlete has been at a gym for 7+ years, leaves that gym for another one, and people say mean things. The way I see it, it can be really beneficial to the athlete to go somewhere else! Unless they have bad intentions, let them be. New coaches means a new perspective, so there's a huge chance they're going to grow and become even better. More power to them

(Then again, I've grown up around the equestrian world where it's encouraged to train with quite a few different trainers, just to get a different perspective.)

stuntjumptumble said:

You're not married to a gym. The gym is a business, and you are the customer. If they are not giving you a good enough product, obviously you're going to find a business that delivers a better product


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I don't believe in divorce


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