All-Star Cheer Extreme Questions And Answers From Courtney

[Ceacoach]

Does Sr. Elite practices start getting more difficult when your team gets ready to go to UCA, NCA, Cheersport, JamFest Nationals, and WORLDS? If so, how does it change?

Yes...we start working much more on running full outs from a cardio stand point. And we focus much more attention on details.

 

[xtremeteal4life]

How do you manage to still look so good w/o sleep?!

 

[xtremeteal4life]

I was being serious too!

 

[StarshipTrooper]

This is a great question. We are often wondering the same thing. The reality is that in Kville kids don't stay Level 4 very long and with the advent of Mini level 3 and youth level 5, those that come up through our program are true level 5 athletes by the time they are junior age and stay that way. We certainly attract numerous level 5 kids, but mostly our team rosters are FILLED with kids who will be Level 5 whether they are this month or not come October. We think of it this way : If cheerleading were analogous to elementary school, and Level 2 was second grade, Level 3 was third grade...etc...the expectation would be to graduate from one level to the next each season. If we can't make that happen for an athlete and they summarily "fail" their grade and return back to the second grade ( repeat level 2 again )...we failed as their teachers. It is funny to me to see the celebration that exists on teams of athletes who have been level 2 for 3 or 4 years. To us, that is the equivalent of celebrating the same spelling test words for the 4th year in a row and being excited about knowing them. This is not meant to be offensive...just an analogy to see why we do have so many level 5 teams. We feel our parents as our customers are paying for instruction first and foremost...not assembly of skills. This is also why our lower level teams do not achieve the ability to be truly competitive in a division until the end of the season ( when they have actually become level 2, level 3, etc ). It is astounding to look back and see the growth over a season from the Showcase to the last competition. We think our parents appreciate watching the metamorphosis of the team...and each season we ask our parents to make sure they still stand by this decision. It would be much easier to compete kids at their current level without expecting them to progress.

Of all the questions and answers on this thread, for some reason I find this the most interesting and potentially controversial,

 

[tumbleyoda]

Of all the questions and answers on this thread, for some reason I find this the most interesting and potentially controversial,

??? I don't see it as controversial. I see it as what has worked for her and her program. Every gym owner has a vision or blueprint for how they desire to acheieve their goals. Agreeing or disagreeing with the methodology of it is irrevelant. I only think it would be controversial if gyms attempted to immediatley replicate en masse what she stated in the post.

 

[cljacks99]

How long has beach camp been a tradition for? Do you know of other gyms that do anything like it? My little one thinks it is even more fun than Christmas and cant wait to see what kind of prizes and stickers you have this year..

 

[StarshipTrooper]

??? I don't see it as controversial. I see it as what has worked for her and her program. Every gym owner has a vision or blueprint for how they desire to acheieve their goals. Agreeing or disagreeing with the methodology of it is irrevelant. I only think it would be controversial if gyms attempted to immediatley replicate en masse what she stated in the post.

OK, it's not controversial to you or me, I wonder if everyone else agrees? I think it will lead to interesting discussion.

 

[tumbleyoda]

OK, it's not controversial to you or me, I wonder if everyone else agrees? I think it will lead to interesting discussion.

It is not controversial to me because I keep it in the context of her experience. Taken in that context and having obeserved from afar it makes sense for her and her program. The problems occur when someone without having the exact same experience or exact same context attmept to fully replicate what they see has worked for someone else. Many epic failures in many arenas in life come from simply imitating what they see worked for someone else.

How many books are on our bookshelves with people who have written if you do _______________ you will get ________ because I have? Rarely does it reward with the same results. Why? Because there are so many different variables you can not account for that also must be factored into the equation. I see this happen all the time in the church world. Small church pastor tries to imitate Mega Church pastor = epic fail.

I see this as no different

 

[Num1Stunta]

Of all the questions and answers on this thread, for some reason I find this the most interesting and potentially controversial,

I see how it could be controversial, but I have to agree. If kids aren't going to be progressing their skills, why bother paying all that money when they could cheer for rec or high school for free and have the same amount of progress and development?

 

[cheerinfo]

I see how it could be controversial, but I have to agree. If kids aren't going to be progressing their skills, why bother paying all that money when they could cheer for rec or high school for free and have the same amount of progress and development?

While I see both sides, just to be "devil's advocate".... Why do they HAVE to progress? Kids do sports for all different reasons, which is why the level system is so great. My kids do it because they are competitive and want to win, etc. They are both level 5 cheerleaders, and that is great. But some kids like to do it as an "activity", for more of the social aspect of it, and why should they not be able to do that? Not saying I would pay all that money for it if they weren't trying to progress, but for many kids, they just like to be a part of something. So if all they ever get is a back handspring, level 2 is there for them. That goes for every kid, at every level. I feel that all stars is very different than rec or school even at the lower levels. I will use Stingrays as an example. Even their half year teams, to me, look more polished and together than a rec team (MOST, not ALL) that has been together since summer. I feel that way about all their level teams. They learn more, learn differently, etc. But not all kids are going to have the same drive or attain the same skills. So I feel that the level system, in addition to being progressional for those that WANT to progress safely, also offers kids of all talent levels to be a part of this community.

 

[Justacoach]

I think it is controversial because not every kid is talented enough to become a level 5 athlete in a few years. I would say in my experience that only the best athletes can successfully level up from 2 - 5 every single year by maxing out skills in each level.

 

[socratesofcheer]

How's this for controversy:
I whole-heartedly disagree with a kid that gets only level 3 skills is a failure to themselves and the coaches. I think it is a narrow-minded thought process.
I compare it to football, your elite (level 5) athletes are going to become starters as a freshman and go play big time college ball at Oklahoma.
The next group of kids (level 4) will still play and they will play college ball at a smaller school, say, Indiana or a strong 1AA team like App State.
The next group (level 3) may get to play now and then, but, only as a senior. Then they move on to intramural ball at their local college.
The next group (level 2) never plays, they are out there because the either love the game of football or they love the uniform.
At least in All-stars that level 2 kid gets to contribute, enjoy the sport, and maybe even be the star of their level 2 show.

 

[StarshipTrooper]

I see how it could be controversial, but I have to agree. If kids aren't going to be progressing their skills, why bother paying all that money when they could cheer for rec or high school for free and have the same amount of progress and development?

You're preaching to the choir, but my kid is level 5 on a premier team. I am the choir for that philosophy, but I think others may feel different. I think we'll hear from them.

 

[AllstarObsession]

You're preaching to the choir, but my kid is level 5 on a premier team. I am the choir for that philosophy, but I think others may feel different. I think we'll hear from them.

so its wrong for me to cheer just because im stuck at a standing backhandspring?

 

[socratesofcheer]

so its wrong for me to cheer just because im stuck at a standing backhandspring?

NO! see my post above.