All-Star The Future Of Tumbling

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Jul 2, 2013
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It's pretty obvious that all-star cheer has come a long way since the 90's, and even the first worlds, particularly in the level of difficulty. It was pretty hard to imagine people throwing double fulls on floor in the early days but now they're a requirement in top-tier routines. Does anyone think USASF will up the limits on safe tumbling passes from two twisting rotations to 3 or 4 in Level 5 (and 6) routines? Triple and quad fulls are competed by male and female gymnasts alike safely, with legs pasted together.


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USASF have been limiting in tumbling, if anything else. Top athletes are pushing themselves to do triples and quads and were upset by the resent restrictions in top tumbling passes at allstar level, which limited the creativity and skills which could be expressed in passes. Of course, the top tumblers are still throwing sick passes (eg, Kelsey Rule at Worlds 13) but probably couldn't do the tricks they would have liked to as the rules constricted them. Sorry, rant over. No, I don't think USASF will allow triples or quads when they have limited the top tumblers in the past- double standards by any means :)
 
If the majority of athletes throwing sloppy doubles with poor technique were allowed to start attempting triples on the floor with the obvious lack of technique trained into them, it would be injuries left right and center waiting to happen, and stating the obvious; many more tumble busts. technique and safe progression are valued to me over pushing for a new trick with poor technique.
 
I agree that safe skill progression is more important than just big skills, but is limiting talented, Level 5 athletes the answer? Shouldn't USASF spend the time educating coaches, the people who have control over what pass the athlete is throwing, on how to coach proper skill progression? Or maybe the system of judging should treat sloppy/unsafe tumbling more harshly. I hate ACL-busting tumbling as much as the next guy, but if we want the sport to keep moving forward, why are we holding its athletes back?


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It was very hard to explain to my boyfriend why gymnasts can do triple fulls, but level 5 cheerleaders can't. He saw a video online of a cheerleader completing one and he went on to say how its unfair that it's illegal. Just an interesting view of someone outside the cheer world.
 
It goes back to the recent tumbling restrictions.... I completely understand the USASF's thinking (though I do not agree with the outcome) in limiting level 5 athletes' tumbling due to safety issues. And being a former gymnast of 12 years and then going to cheer, I do somewhat agree that skill progression is not always a priority, i.e: letting somebody with a "not-so-perfected" full begin double twisting. But that also reflects on the coaches' ability to teach the correct progression. Being a level 5 athlete and having coached tumbling before, I find it frustrating that our skills are being limited. I know that I (along with MANY other hard working, talented level 5 athletes) are angry that our hard work is being put to waste. Many people argue that All Star Cheer should be a legitimate sport; but we have to stop and ask: Is limiting skill going to help us or hinder us? I'm not suggesting that people be allowed to throw double backs and quad fulls, but at least bring back the old rules. Just limiting skill, if anything, takes away from the sport. IMO, I believe that there needs to be some sort of certification or something to ensure that skill progression is made a priority. If that were to happen, we could see tumbling become safer, and possibly more difficult in the future.

Sorry for the rant lol... just my personal opinion and my view :D
 
MAYBE I could see triples, but quads? VERY few male gymnasts have competed them, and not a single female gymnast has ever successfully completed it (unless you go by cheer standards in which Nastia's 3 3/4 twist would be considered a quad)
 
Unless there are major changes on score sheets that cause coaches to focus more on technique, I don't think allowing these skills is a good idea. Parents and coaches will push these kids harder and harder, and 3 year old back handspring threads will turn into 3 year old standing full threads. Just "whipping it over" will be the norm.
One of the things I like best about Michigan cheer is the focus on technique. In the tumbling round, you have the exact same number of people throwing the exact same skills as every other team. You have 12 standing tucks? Cool, so does every other team in your division. Janky tucks won't get you to state finals. Beautiful tucks will get you a state championship.
To be honest, I'd rather see a beautiful full than a horrendous triple any day.


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Can I ask an ignorant cheer mom question? Are these skills (double backs, triples, etc) currently illegal? We share our gym with gymnastics and t&t and I often watch their upper level athletes and think it would be cool to see those skills on our floor. Safely, of course!
 
Can I ask an ignorant cheer mom question? Are these skills (double backs, triples, etc) currently illegal? We share our gym with gymnastics and t&t and I often watch their upper level athletes and think it would be cool to see those skills on our floor. Safely, of course!

yes the rules are currently limited to one flipping and two twisting actions


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Unfortunately I see USAF limiting more things in the future rather than opening up the skills. Double backs were once legal in college and level 6. You have to take into account that MAJORITY of the coaches in the country are not properly educated. Those uneducated coaches would feel the need to keep up and have these skills being attempted would be catastrophic. Heck MAJORITY of the tumbling (levels 1-5) is very bad. I wish and have begged for better coaches education to be mandatory but until then I don't think anything higher should be legal.


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I can't be the only one who saw the tumbling restrictions as a drive from the USASF to encourage more synchro tumbling under the guise of safety and progressions.

So no, I don't think it will change any time soon but yes, I think the future has a lot of full team doubles. Oh, and the last pass will always be rewarded or Varsity wouldn't have named a shoe after it… ;)
 
I would say that the majority of artistic gymnastics coaches are working with years of personal experience as an athlete; as well as years of asking questions, observing, and sponging up coaching knowledge to safely execute skills. I am in NO WAY saying cheerleading coaches are not qualified to teach double backs, and triple twisting; I would love to see our sport progress. I would like however, our sport to grow and develop more coaches with stronger knowledge of tumbling.

Another thought I had; In an artistic floor routine there are typically 4 tumbling passes, with dance and leaps inbetween, but this is no where near the exhaustion I feel after multiple tumbling passes, jumping, stunting and dancing for 2 and a half minutes. These triples and other high level tricks are attempted on far less exhausted performers. I personally would NOT want to execute a triple after an intro, stunt sequence, jumps, and standing tumbling.

I just believe in safety first...
 
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