All-Star Having Issues With My Gym

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Aug 2, 2013
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I'm quite honestly fed up with my gym. I've been there for two months, but what I'm seeing is very disappointing. Only about 1/3 of the team has a RO BHS when we're a Senior 2 team, and nobody works on their skills, nor do they want to. We've had ONE person get a standing BHS in the whole two months, but that was it. The coaches are making threats to move us down to Senior 1, which defeats the purpose of me being at this gym, because I switched due to my Junior 2 team being disbanded at my old gym. Girls aren't showing up to practice because they "don't feel like it", everyone just sits there and talks when they're supposed to be stunting/working on skills, and nobody even tries. All the coaches do about it is talk to us about it, and everyone goes back to not caring. They don't even try to punish anyone. I want to switch, but I just had a switch (I didn't know the gym was this bad) and there's really no other gym to switch to, since all the other gyms are either too expensive, don't have a Senior 2 team, or are too far away. My parents aren't willing to commute any more than we currently do (30-40 mins.) Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
 
been there, done that. common problem with senior teams. my suggestion would just to be to try to motivate your teammates as best as you can. talk to your coaches, and try to have a team meeting and lay out goals for the season. it can be really hard to stay motivated if you feel there is nothing worth the effort. if you lay out the goals near the beginning of the season, then everyone is on the same page. Maybe some goals could be winning a big competition, getting 3/4 of the team with ro bhs, things like that. try not to get frustrated and have a negative attitude about it, but instead just push YOURSELF, and encourage the rest of your teammates. if not, talk to your coach and see if there are any other teams for you at the gym. :)
 
Wow...sounds like you are in a tough sitution. Have you and your parents talked to the coaches/owners? Are the girls new to All Star? It sounds like a parent meeting might be in order. Skills are one thing...but certainly the lack of effort/attendance are things that could be addressed. Do you get the sense that this is isolated to this team? Are there things you like about your new gym and would prefer to stay if things improve? May be you could talk about double teaming on another team.

I know as a parent there is a lot time and dollars invested in All Star and having switched gyms already - probably means a certain amount of money has already been invested between the two gyms. As an athlete I am sure you do not want to feel like you are compromising your season either.

Good luck.
 
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I think we can all empathize with this situation, @Hithitpull . It's incredibly frustrating.
If the coaches talk and talk and talk, but really don't DO anything about the issue, you're kinda stuck. They're not taking this seriously enough, obviously.
For the time being, all you can really control is yourself. Be the athlete you want others to be. Work that tumbling, practice those jumps. Get better, and let everyone see it. Hopefully that will prompt others to follow your example.
 
Are there any other teams available at this gym? If you continue to work hard and let the coaches know how dedicated you are, they may be willing to put you on a team that has a better work ethic, even as an alternate. If this is your only option, try not to let other's bad attitude ruin your love for the sport - focus on improving and gaining new skills. Good luck!
 
They are starting to pull people, someone got pulled yesterday and another girl is on the edge of being pulled. The team's work ethic still stinks. And if I talk to the coaches, my parents are going to be mad because it's "not my problem," which they've told me about before, and the coaches most likely wouldn't be very appreciative of my concern. Right now I'm focusing on my skills, and I'm starting to work tucks. While it's unlikely I'll have my tuck before the first competition (we compete in a little less than 3 weeks) I may be able to be moved up to Senior Coed 3 or at least become a crossover later on. I think this team has a better work ethic, from what I've seen of their athletes.
 
I think Sr 2 is usually one of the hardest levels to coach. A lot of time there are kids on there that are Level 1, and may never be Level 2 athletes, but I'd say majority of gyms do not have Senior 1 to put them on, nor would the kids stick around to be on it. Also, there a lot of times are High School kids that have been on teams that are stunting at a higher level than Level 2. They get bored, but they won't be moved up, because they don't have tumbling. It's definitely a tough spot to be in.
 
I think Sr 2 is usually one of the hardest levels to coach. A lot of time there are kids on there that are Level 1, and may never be Level 2 athletes, but I'd say majority of gyms do not have Senior 1 to put them on, nor would the kids stick around to be on it. Also, there a lot of times are High School kids that have been on teams that are stunting at a higher level than Level 2. They get bored, but they won't be moved up, because they don't have tumbling. It's definitely a tough spot to be in.
This!! Couldn't have said it better myself. Spot on assessment of sr 2!
 
I'm quite honestly fed up with my gym. I've been there for two months, but what I'm seeing is very disappointing. Only about 1/3 of the team has a RO BHS when we're a Senior 2 team, and nobody works on their skills, nor do they want to. We've had ONE person get a standing BHS in the whole two months, but that was it. The coaches are making threats to move us down to Senior 1, which defeats the purpose of me being at this gym, because I switched due to my Junior 2 team being disbanded at my old gym. Girls aren't showing up to practice because they "don't feel like it", everyone just sits there and talks when they're supposed to be stunting/working on skills, and nobody even tries. All the coaches do about it is talk to us about it, and everyone goes back to not caring. They don't even try to punish anyone. I want to switch, but I just had a switch (I didn't know the gym was this bad) and there's really no other gym to switch to, since all the other gyms are either too expensive, don't have a Senior 2 team, or are too far away. My parents aren't willing to commute any more than we currently do (30-40 mins.) Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
This truly sucks and you have every right to be frustrated. If your not able to go anywhere else, my suggestion would be just to focus on becoming the best cheerleader you can be. Focus on making yourself better and who knows maybe you'll be mvp of the team.
 
Not really sure if I should post this here or open a new thread about it but since this seems quite related I thought I give it a shot...

I have a similar problem with the team I (co -)coach. We're a senior team and we're not too bad in my country. But for some reason the girls are either not disciplined enough or not motivated enough. They don't show up for practices and give us lame excuses about not being there and when they are at practices they just don't seem to want to be there ( not always, and not all girls, but a great deal of the time).

I do know they like it, because when you see Facebook and IG and stuff they seem to really want it and talk about train hard and stuff. But my guess is they want to reach our goals (national champs) without working for it.

We've tried several things, punishing them for being late / not showing up, talking to them, motivating them but it just doesn't seem to affect them in any way.
We can't pull girls from our team cause our team is just too small and it's too hard to find replacement.

Any tips or ideas about what to do?


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Not really sure if I should post this here or open a new thread about it but since this seems quite related I thought I give it a shot...

I have a similar problem with the team I (co -)coach. We're a senior team and we're not too bad in my country. But for some reason the girls are either not disciplined enough or not motivated enough. They don't show up for practices and give us lame excuses about not being there and when they are at practices they just don't seem to want to be there ( not always, and not all girls, but a great deal of the time).

I do know they like it, because when you see Facebook and IG and stuff they seem to really want it and talk about train hard and stuff. But my guess is they want to reach our goals (national champs) without working for it.

We've tried several things, punishing them for being late / not showing up, talking to them, motivating them but it just doesn't seem to affect them in any way.
We can't pull girls from our team cause our team is just too small and it's too hard to find replacement.

Any tips or ideas about what to do?


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Maybe you need to have a meeting with all of your athletes. Ask them how to handle the problem (and even if they believe it is a problem at all!). You have to get the girls to realize the issue as a group.
Then I would have a parent meeting and discuss the same issue with them. If they are paying the money and don't make the girls show up you may need to spell it out as a cost for them. Then maybe (hopefully) they will talk to their daughters.
I would finally suggest going onto You Tube and showing them the practice that teams like Cali SMOED endures to be champions. Let them see what it takes! Let them see how a champion is made and not born....

Good luck!
 
Thanks! Maybe we have to make it into some kind of official meeting or something because when we did the talk at the end of the practice there really wasn't any response.
Weird thing is, they all watch the cheerleaders series about smoed and they're raving about how great they are and all.

I'm not sure if the parent meeting would help since most of our team members are 14 and older (half is even 18+) and come to practice alone. Well, it might be a last resolution. :)

Tonight's practice seemed to be a little better. I just think it's so weird to be that motivated and that disinterested at the same time. I would want to say it's because of their age but then again, I'm not that much older so yeah ;)


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