USASF Tumbling & Age Grid Changes for 2012-13

Mar 28, 2012

—

Andre

in Spirit

Here are the changes the USASF will implement during the 2012-13 season:

Tumbling

Standing fulls and standing double fulls are not allowed
Double fulls are only allowed in running tumbling and must be preceded by a back handspring
Consecutive bounding, twisting skills are not allowed

Age Grid

All Open teams (5 and 6 [also Open 4 if it is added in the future]) must be 17yrs old and older
Eliminate the International age rule for U.S.A. teams. – All athletes on USA teams must be of the legal age according to the age grid by August 31st of that season. This includes Worlds. The rule, an athlete may be younger than the allowed age as long as he/she becomes of the legal age by the calendar year of the competition, no longer stands.
Eliminate Mini L3
Eliminate Youth 5 Restricted by placing additional limitations on Youth 5 (No tumbling double fulls, No kick doubles in baskets, Braced flips may not twist)
Youth top age is raised to 12
No longer separate Junior Coed 3 and 4 from their counterpart All Girl teams
Bottom age on Senior teams, Levels 1- 4 and Senior 5R, will be 10 years old
Senior 5 teams will remain at 12

USASF Rules to Implement for 2012-13

Comments

66 responses to “USASF Tumbling & Age Grid Changes for 2012-13”

Maureen

March 28, 2012

Hi, I know that this is the new rules and all but its not fair. I have been trying so hard to get my standing full and my two to double and I finally got it, but now I know that all my hard work has been destroyed.

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1. Andre
  
  March 28, 2012
  
  I hear you. It will be interesting to see if the reaction causes anything to change before the rules are implemented.
  
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2. cheerleader
  
  April 14, 2012
  
  i hope they realized making all these big changes in the tumbling skills will ruin worlds. tons of kids worked there but off for amazing passes that show that the impossible is possible. worlds will be a joke now single twisting is too common everybody will be good enough for worlds. i see a bunch of other cheerleaders possibly giving up cheer to join in the tricking community because of these rules. i understand there made to keep the sport safe but every flip or stunt that is done in this sport is dangerous. you might as well get rid of cheerleading if you think about it. yes its awful to see someone get injured but these kids joined the sport knowing what their risking, they like the challenge.i can see why no triples or double backs arent aloud they are very elite and difficult moves but now a days double twisting is becoming more common.please dont ruin it for all the kids that put all there hard work and determination into these skills it will kill them. i know cause its already affecting me
  
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Cheer Mom

March 28, 2012

Cheerleaders under the age of 10 should be grandfathered on a Senior team if they are currently on one My daughter has worked her butt off for her Level 3 and 4 skills and our gym does not offer this level for her age group. She will still be 9 on the Aug 31st cut off.

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1. Andre
  
  March 28, 2012
  
  That’s not a realistic option since there is no reliable way to know who was on a Senior team this/last year.
  
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  1. Angela
    
    May 10, 2012
    
    There needs to be some fair way to handle this, though. My daughter attends a very small gym and is level 2. The only level 2 team they have is a senior level 2, and they don’t have enough younger girls to make a separate youth or junior level 2 team. She is the only one that will still be under 10 after the cutoff date. Their only other competitive team is coed level 4. That means that even though she has solid level 2 skills, she will be stuck on the rec team made of mostly 4-6 year olds. I can understand not putting an 8-9 year old on a coed level 3 or 4 team (like a rival gym in our city does), but what does it hurt for a small gym who has to combine age groups to make a team to have one child on a senior level 2 team? We are not talking about advanced tumbling and stunting here, so safety should not be an issue. Our gym is very family and values oriented, so I don’t have to worry about her being negatively influenced by 15-16 year olds.
    
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  2. Andre
    
    May 21, 2012
    
    What is a fair way that can actually be implemented?
    
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  3. Angela
    
    May 24, 2012
    
    Perhaps they could phase the changes in over time? I don’t know if I can wave a magic wand and solve this, but I can see where it definitely puts small gyms at a disadvantage. There is the very real possibility that our gym may not be able to make a team for my daughter. She is Level 2 and the only other kids they have younger than 10 are ages 5 and under on the tiny show team.
    
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  4. Andre
    
    May 25, 2012
    
    Your daughter can be on a Junior team with everyone 14 & younger. She just can’t be on a Senior team until she is 10.
    
    Small gyms are at a disadvantage because they have fewer people to choose from, not due to this change to the age grid.
    
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Brandi Baldrige

March 28, 2012

I don’t think it is fair to raise the senior level age to 10. We are a small gym and my daughter has busted her butt all year to get her tuck series so she could be on a level 3 team next season. She is already working on layouts and now she misses the age cut off by 25 days! What happens to all the little kids who have all the right skills for the higher levels but nothing but a level 1 or 2 to be on? They will lose interest and not want to do it anymore. What are the chances that these rules will not take effect?

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1. Andre
  
  March 28, 2012
  
  Honestly history says they’ll complain for a while and continue cheering. Just because someone is on a L3 team doesn’t mean they can’t continue to work or the skills they are ready for.
  
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  1. Stacy Fuchs
    
    March 29, 2012
    
    Basically it just discourages them and that is ur opinion
    
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  2. Andre
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    It probably will discourage some, but the rules changes will probably impact less than 5% of the cheerleaders in my lifetime.
    
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Cheerleader

March 28, 2012

I’ve been a cheerleader all my life. our squad was putting so much hard work to full squad standing fulls/doubles and now all of the hardwork is practically put to waste. the rules are 100% UNFAIR to all the hardworking athletes in the cheerleading world! all of our hard work on our speciality passes and standing twisting skills is now put to a waste. if we were worried about being hurt in the first place, we wouldn’t of joined the sport! all I can say is that me and my whole team think these new rules are extremely unfair and should be revised. a handful of us are seriously considering ending our cheer careers because of this. make all cheerleaders lives much better. PLEASE CHANGE THE RULES BACK.
sincerely,
every living person who has ever been a cheerleader.

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cheer girl

March 28, 2012

i think this is stupid because a lot of people have worked so hard on some of their skills…and now you just took it away.

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Nicole Chiappetti

March 28, 2012

do you realize so many people are upset and might quit their dream of cheerleading? theres so many talented kinds with specialties to doubles and standing fulls , etc.. that wont be able to do it in the routine. so its saying they learned how to do all that for nothing. so usasf, i dont know what your doing but to EVERY allstar cheerleading, ur tearing it apart. cheer isnt going to be the same anymore.

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Worlds Level 5 cheerleader.

March 28, 2012

It is not fair to change the level five rulls. so what theres going to be no more worlds?! your basically turning level five into a level four, i mean its gonna be so pointless to become a level five team if you cant even work on things. think about how many cheerleaders arent going to cheer next year, this whole program is going to decrease incredibly.

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I Agree!

March 28, 2012

The rules changes and image policy are valid and appropriate to me. We have to remember our athletes need to develop as children not just as all star cheerleaders. Too many of the younger athletes are being injured working on skills that are not developmentally appropriate. Some sustaining life changing injuries. Having a more modest image policy protects every type of athlete’s self esteem and promotes a family friendly environment. Being an all star cheerleader should be a happy memory one day, not one that is riddle with injuries or feelings of insecurity. Good for you USASF!

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1. Stacy Fuchs
  
  March 29, 2012
  
  Every girl is different and should not b treated like every other girl
  
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Nikki

March 28, 2012

In my personal opinion, i’ve been going to a gym that turned their SR. small coed team into a total success with standing fulls and double fulls, they do double ups too. they have been working SO hard this ENTIRE season. so my question is.. so because this is a safety issue, why wouldn’t have this been changed a long time ago? coming into the sport i knew for a fact that it was dangerous and i had somewhere to go far with the sport and get as many skills as i possibly could. i don’t understand why usasf would change the rules for SOO MANY ATHLETES who have been working extremely hard, i know this season will be the last for many if these rules aren’t changed. cheerleading will NEVER EVER be the same.

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Kim

March 28, 2012

I am a parent of a competitive collegiate cheerleader, who honed her skills on one of the best all star teams in the country. Those skills helped her get on a collegiate team and are helping pay for her college. Eliminating the stunts that are required for college will drastically alter a girls chances of making a college team. This is something that the USASF should consider!

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1. Cyn
  
  March 30, 2012
  
  A level 6 team would have the skill level of stunts required for collegiate teams… as a senior… she should be old enough to do one…
  
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Suzie

March 29, 2012

Gymnasts have been performing skills equally as difficult, if not even more difficult than the skills cheerleaders perform during a routine. Many people have broken their necks on double backs and I can guarantee there have been a crazy amount of fractured spines on bars. Taking away these skills won’t make cheerleading any safer. It is just as easy to bust a running full as it is to bust on a double punch double. What USASF needs to do, is change the regulations for coaching. The reason so many cheerleaders are injured in tumbling is not because it is too difficult, it is because they are not properly coached. Gymnasts have coaches that are trained and must meet a certain requirement to be allowed to coach. I have personally been a part of gyms without tumbling instructors where the coaches just say “Ok time to tumble. Go work on a double. Just throw it.” That will NOT help an athlete learn good technique. It is occasions like this when injuries occur. No matter how many skills USASF decides to take away INJURIES WILL STILL HAPPEN!!! Why? Because they are too dumb to realize the problem is that anyone can become a coach nowadays. It is not hard to be a certified cheerleading coach AND most gyms have coaches who ARE NOT even certified. I’ve seen more injuries on straight fulls and even standing tucks than I’ve seen on standing fulls. USASF needs to check themselves, and start to realize the real problems with cheerleading injuries.

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1. Andre
  
  March 29, 2012
  
  I agree with much of what you said. I think the problem is the coaches that don’t teach properly and the parents that take their kids from the coaches that are trying to teach right because a different coach will let them work on the skills they want, but aren’t ready for.
  
  The USASF isn’t strong enough to mandate coaches training, but that’s a topic for another day.
  
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  1. Stacy Fuchs
    
    March 29, 2012
    
    Ok then basically u r punishing the cheerleaders that have heart and love what they r doing
    
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  2. Andre
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    I’m not following your logic.
    
    FYI – I’m not a USASF employee and never have been. The only checks the USASF has given me are for credentialing coaches and working as a Safety Judge at Worlds.
    
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  3. Stacy Fuchs
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    My daughter will b 9 in July. We r a small gym out of Texas. They were going to have a youth level 3 and senior level 3 which basically u do the same stunting and tumbling skills on these teams so what is the logic of not being able to b on a senior team unless u r 10. I don’t think they understand small gyms r 75 and less kids we may have a couple or more girls who make it a senior level team by their age and to make a team they bring up girls who have the skills and mentality to do it and we just don’t throw tumbling skills we learn how to do them and so them right
    
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  4. Andre
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    Most people don’t want their younger children with other children that much older. Are there many areas in life in which you want your daughter hanging out with people in high school?
    
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Kayla

March 29, 2012

I hate that the cutoff date is August 31st! I know it changed last year, but if it would have stayed May I could still cheer one more season.. and I’m only 21 days to old. It sucks!

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Ariel

March 29, 2012

I know these are the new rules, but you have to expect people to fight against them, like me. My parents have put LARGE amounts of money into me getting my double standing full over the last year…And I got it around two months ago, you know how excited I was to show everyone, and show off for the 2012-2013 season, very excited. My team, my parents, and myself, are extremely unhappy with these rules..

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1. Andre
  
  March 29, 2012
  
  Fighting for what you believe in is something all of us at Spirit Post support. I ask that as you do it you come with solutions, not just complaints.
  
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Taylor Nicole

March 29, 2012

SERIOUSLY?????? No standing fulls thats ridiculous!!! What about all the girl that have worked so hard to get there standing full??? Some people even had to push themselves to get there full to be on the team?? This is all crazy!!!! These rules suck:( Do u know how much money i pay and others pay and how hard we work to get these skills??

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I totally agree!

March 29, 2012

I wish ppl would put there own selfish pride & conceit down for one moment to look at the BIGGER picture. Our number one goal is to be recognized across the board as a SPORT, and with these MINOR new rules it gives our sport more validity, organization and structure to help push the idea of us being truly recognized as a responsible sport. If you want to throw doubles so bad go join a gymnastics team. This is ALL-STAR cheerleading there is more to our routines that tumbling AND “legally” cheating using a 9 year old in a level 5 stunt?? That takes absolutely no skill but alot of irresponsibility if you ask me. Suck it up and be more creative in your routines and other areas of skills. Gees!

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Stacy Fuchs

March 29, 2012

Explain to me why my daughter can b on a youth level 3 team in a small gym and would b doing the same stunts and tumbling on senior level 3 who has all the skills and more than some of the seniors and now all of a sudden cannot b on a senior team bc it is not safe. Does not make since we could not even have a senior team from our small gym if we did not have the younger ones. U r hurting the older ones too by telling them there is no room on a squad bc we only have 2 or 3 that r of age ridiculous

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Stacy Fuchs

March 29, 2012

A solution would b to keep it like it was. Yes I am complaining bc it is my daughter that it effects who has been practicing w this team for awhile and they r like sisters. And the older ones deserve to b able to cheer. Confidence is what they need!!!!!

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1. Andre
  
  March 29, 2012
  
  Keeping things as is doesn’t address or fix anything.
  
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  1. Stacy Fuchs
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    How does it fix it if she can do the same skills and tumbling on a youth or junior level 3 as a senior level 3. Not all gyms and all coaches r the same and definitely not all girls r the same.
    
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  2. Andre
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    I’m not following your logic here either. Levels are based on skill, regardless of Age.
    
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  3. Stacy Fuchs
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    But they r saying she can’t b on a senior level 3 but can b on a youth level 3 whichhas the same skills
    
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  4. Andre
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    That change was based on whether or not young kids should be on a team with older kids.
    
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  5. Cheerleader
    
    March 30, 2012
    
    but really, what’s there to change and fix? the cheerleading world was just fine the way it has been! if girls are talented enough to be pushed up a level then let them! if minis are level 3 material then let them be a level 3 team! I don’t understand any of this. all that these rules are doing is making cheerleaders want to quit and stop following their dreams. I mean really, no standing fulls or doubles? that’s not doing us anything. you can get just as hurt doing a standing full as you can a standing tuck… all these rules are doing is making cheerleading more boring and contributing to the “cheerleading is not a sport” thing. so please, tell me what you guys need to fix and maybe that can help change our minds a little. but there was absolutely nothing wrong in our cheer community! these rules are just going to make cheerleading itself decrease in size. let little kids show off what they can do by being on a mini 3 or youth r5! theyre obviously able to throw the skills if they are on such a team! and most importantly don’t apply all of these stupid tumbling rules. they’re gonna make cheerleading look so boring and then the worst level 5 teams are going to suddenly be one of the best! unfair if you ask me. kids work for all of this and now your gonna just take it away.
    
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Stacy Fuchs

March 30, 2012

So then tell me how is it fixing anything by changing the age on a senior level when she can do the same thing on a junior or youth level.

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Sarah

March 30, 2012

We cheer because it is difficult. We cheer because (no matter how long you’ve been doing it for) every year that we return, there is always a new skill to learn. Whether it be in stunting or tumbling, who cares! We live for the challenges that cheerleading continues to present to us. I’ve been doing it for just shy of a decade and I still learn new stunts all the time. If it were up to me, I’d create a level 7 instead of restricting that which we already have. That would allow for even more learning. Since cheerleaders are getting real good faster and younger than ever before, we need to adapt in order to accommodate our growing skill level. Our bodies and minds are capable of so much more than we credit them for. Year after year, we are getting a better idea of what the human body can actually do. We have proven ourselves to people outside the world of cheer by simply amazing them. We bend, jump, flip, and throw bodies in ways that normal people can’t even fathom. But to impress eachother we need to push the limits even further. Who’s going to have the best tumbling pass at worlds this year? What’s the next hot stunt? Who’s going to throw the next kick6? kick7? sure, be careful with what should be allowed into the rules. But don’t take out things we can already do. If someone else crashed in burned maybe they are on to difficult of a team. That is what we have different divisions for, no? We love to compete but we love throwing all the illegal stuff too.. it inspires us to work even harder than we already do (if that’s even possible)! Should we give up the competitions? just become rec teams in order to keep playing around? or give up the team spirit and just go to open gyms? It wouldn’t be in our nature but it may happen in this rebellion. Perhaps independent competitions should just run by their own rules to keep the athletes happy. It would defeat the purpose of regulating the sport across the board BUT then again the new rules are defeating the purpose of the sport itself. Let us fight for the 1st place trophies. Let us continue to have greater aspirations than those who’ve trained on our mats before us. And for cheerleading’s sake, let us tumble!

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1. James
  
  April 25, 2012
  
  Heck yes!!!!!!!
  
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Cyn

March 30, 2012

I think the rule changes are great!!! It gives smaller gyms a chance to compete at the level of well established gyms… Also, if you have standing fulls as a team, then your standing pikes should be pretty legit (which means no touch downs). For up and coming teams, getting full squad tucks with no touch downs would be a pretty difficult task. Besides cheer isn’t only about the tumbling anyway!! Get some really clean stunts. The fact is, not many teams are hitting the difficulty that clean anyway… why keep pushing harder difficulty..? You wouldn’t make a person without a tuck throw a full….. same thing… Keep doin’ what your’re doing USASF!!!!

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1. Me
  
  March 31, 2012
  
  Our level 4 team has full squad standing tucks and I have never seen ONE touch down from them. Maybe a stunt fall or something but that is called cheerleading you fall you try to get better… Our level 5 team almost has full squad standing fulls. Most of them have running doubles… Do.you.know how hard they have worked for these skills?! Very hard!!! These rules ruin all heir hard work!
  
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Cyn

March 30, 2012

for everyone complaining about stunt regulations… ummm Level 5 is not the end all be all… hello! Level 6?

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Kala

March 31, 2012

Is this gonna stick????????Yahhh for beginning Youth programs on Age 12! This helps new gyms with young students develop a little more before juniors —- and then in turn beef up Juniors when they are ready! I think we loose a lot of juniors bc they age out when still developing in Youth teams if they start sport late.

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lvl.5cheer

April 1, 2012

i thought about it, and what they’re basically doing is turning level 5 into restricted level 5. because restricted level 5 had the same rules, but now all of level 5 will have those rules. im not saying it makes these rule changes good or fair, but thats kinda what it is. no standing fulls though?? wow… i think it would be much more reasonable to just take out standing double fulls or something. that would affect alot less cheerleaders, but sort of decrease the number of injuries that happen during standing tumbling.

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Cheermom

April 2, 2012

Not sure what to think. I think all the rules are fine, with the exception of the age changes. My daughter is very talented in tumbling and in stunting and our gym is small so the only opportunity she has been given is to be on a Senior age team. It is infortunate because for her to use her abilities I will need to switch to a different gym :( However, I do understand why it is set into place, but I think they should change the cutoff date. Why August 30th?? That is not even when season starts, why not November 30th. I think by changing the cut-off date is a way better option. Is there a way to change this date??

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1. Andre
  
  April 2, 2012
  
  The cutoff date was set to be more in line with the date school districts use to determine which year you start kindergarten.
  
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James

April 25, 2012

As a coach I an appalled by these rules changes. School cheer has been sucking lately because of too many adults underestimating what an athlete can do. But because of surface issues it’s understandable. However, in all star, we use a SPRING FLOOR! Come on now! These changes are stupid! Yes the skills are dangerous! Duh! That’s why we do it! I’ve broken bones doing this sport and I didn’t stop! It’s worth the risk to the athlete. While I understand the age rules, the skill rules make absolutely no sense. And no amount of argument on the USASF’s part can change the fact that these. Ganges are an epic fail. Stop trying to tell athletes what they can do and can’t do otherwise this great institution may very well fall out of favor. Injuries can and will happen and coaches in their own gyms should be the ones who are trained properly. Growth is not limitation. You are stunting the progression of this sport and it’s embarrassing.

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tammy

May 3, 2012

Please confirm the age rule for me. My daughter turns 9 in October. She has the Youth level 3 skills. Does this mean because her birthday is after August 31st and if she wants to be on a youth team that she has to be on a mini team as well because of the cross over rule??? Than you I look forward to your response.

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1. Andre
  
  May 4, 2012
  
  The final age grid hasn’t been released, but the latest announcement from the USASF said the maximum age for Youth will be 11 and there is no minimum age. Also, there is no USASF rule that would require an athlete to be on 2 teams. This means your daughter could be on a Youth team only this season per USASF rules. If your gym has more policies in place about athletes being on 2 teams that would solely be a gym policy.
  
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Brandi Baldrige

May 4, 2012

I have heard that small gyms will be allowed exemptions for the age rule on senior levels. Have you heard about this?

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1. Andre
  
  May 5, 2012
  
  Not from the USASF. I’ve heard some EPs are going to ignore this rule from small gyms, but nothing about the USASF making an exception for small gyms.
  
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Cheer Mom

May 21, 2012

I appreciate the concern for my child’s safety; however, age restrictions will not guarantee safe gym practices. Many gyms will continue unsafe instruction; the only difference will be that the athletes will be older. A cheerleader’s team placement should be a decision made with the consultation of the athlete, parent, and coaches. Parents should be aware of what is going on in the gym. No national rule will ever take the place of active and involved parenting.

Cheerleading has made great strides. Small gyms have created an image of cheerleading in communities across the country and around the world. These gyms should be encouraged to thrive and continue to grow and succeed. The new rules will hinder this, and thus hinder the progress of cheerleading in general. Small gyms need major TLC. They are in danger of failing!

As for the concern about my young child being around much older team mates, that is not a concern. She practices with them whether they are on the same team or not. Parents are an active presence in our gym, and the older athletes (usually) enjoy and are often motivated by the spirit and drive of the younger team members.

My daughter will not be eligible for a senior team for two years. During this time her friends who are a year or two older will be eligible. One of the neat things about cheerleading is the bond that forms on the teams. These kids perfect individual skills for the benefit of the team. Team bonding is drastically hindered by this rule. My daughter has developed a strong sense of self, because she has accomplished so much. Now those accomplishments will have no use for two years. Her gym will not be able to form a Level 3 youth or junior team; it is too small. Also, she is tall for her age (taller than most 10 year olds). Flying is her passion, and her height is a limitation at the junior and youth level. What suggestions do you have for these athletes?

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1. Andre
  
  May 21, 2012
  
  Nothing will guarantee safe gym practices and nothing will take the place of good parenting. If the cheer world was full of great, rational parents we wouldn’t have so many stories about Suzy’s mom and how crazy cheer moms are.
  
  I’ve heard small gyms talk about how this will hurt small gyms and large gyms talk about how this will hurt large gyms. In order to be a successful business you must be able to adapt. Those that can’t will go out of business and I don’t think I will miss them.
  
  Do you push for your child to be around older, high school age kids in other areas of her life or is that restricted to cheer?
  
  My suggestion would be to choose whatever you think is best. If she can’t fly on a team at your current gym and flying is most important to you, then find a gym that will allow her to fly. If the family atmosphere of your gym is most important, stay. Either way you’re going to have to make compromises with they gym you choose and which compromises to make is up to you. The hindering team bonding comment makes little sense to me. Your daughter will still be on a team and able to bond with them. I don’t see what will hinder that.
  
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  1. Cheer Mom
    
    May 21, 2012
    
    She has already bonded with several team members who will be permitted on a senior team. They are 10. Since these are the kids with the same ability level, they have become her friends.
    
    The frustrating part is that in some locations there are no options for the kids. They work hard under one set of rules from a young age hoping to be on an advanced team. Then the rules suddenly change, and they are no longer able to achieve those goals.
    
    The biggest problem is that all the gyms within 90 minutes are facing the same issues with the new age structure. Unfortunately, that’s not an option. There are no options. No other teams would offer her the chance to fly due to the fact that she is the same size as many 12 year olds. No other gyms offer non-senior level 3 teams, so she is not able to “use” her tumbling in competition. We are willing to take her to another gym if that’s what it takes.
    
    No, she does not spend time with older kids outside the gym. However, that is irrelevant. She spends very little non-school time outside the gym, period. She has friends her age in the gym, and they are on the same team. That, however, will soon change. Her friends will soon be on a senior team as mentioned above.
    
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  2. Andre
    
    May 21, 2012
    
    I can see us going back and forth indefinitely without coming to any sort of agreement, so I’m going to bow out now.
    
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Stacy Fuchs

May 21, 2012

How many girls r normally on a senior team under the age of 10??? My suggestion would b to limit it to 2 girls under the age of 10 if they have the skills to b on that squad

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1. Andre
  
  May 21, 2012
  
  There’s not a good way to determine the number of kids under 10 on a senior team right now. The athlete registration system will help so that question may be answerable this time next year.
  
  Why 2?
  
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Cheer Mom

May 23, 2012

The rule change for senior levels is not fair for small gyms. We just started a cheer team in Alaska so my daughter wouldnt loose her cheer skills and she is 8 we only have enough girls to make 1 team and its seniors because of it begin our first year, small gym not as much intersted students at the time in AK. (Fairbanks, AK) So my daughter the reason we decided to start a cheer team can no longer cheer on the cheer team because of the change in age for senior team. We have to be a senior team because most of our girls are 16-17 we cant be a jr team we only have 5 girls who are junior team age level. I believe if your a small gym you should be allowed to keep the old age rules you have less limitation in athletes so why make them go by the same rules a large gym does when they have TONS of opportunities.

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1. Andre
  
  May 25, 2012
  
  What you are asking for isn’t fairness, it’s for small gyms to be given an advantage, with the key word being given.
  
  Plus you can have a Junior team with 5 people if you choose.
  
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Mike

June 10, 2012

R these rules set in stone as far as the age for senior teams? And if not do u know when they will be official.

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1. Andre
  
  June 10, 2012
  
  I’d proceed as if they are final, but there was a comment saying “The USASF is still evaluating options to address the concerns of Small Gyms (75 athletes or less).” leaving the door open. I haven’t heard anything about options being looked at for Small Gyms.
  
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