My 12-year-old daughter *really* wants to do a college sport involving tumbling. She is a third level Xcel Platinum (expected to move to Diamond next year), and given how competitive gymnastics has become, we know even D3 isn't likely. She raised college cheer as an option.
Does anyone have experience with their gymnast being recruited for college cheer? What does she need to start doing for this to be a possibility? Since it sounds like cheer operates differently than other NCAA sports, I'm having a hard time getting clarity.
FYI she is not interested in diving, and we have concerns about the quality of colleges for acro & tumbling, so we are not considering either of these sports at the moment.
Thanks in advance!
First off, I am glad she is only 12yrs old, sometimes there is a common misconception that gymnasts can just switch to cheer but they really are two different sports and while gymnasts know how to tumble which can make the transition easier there is still a lot to learn. A few things to think about:
1) What has she looked into so far regarding cheer? There are a variety of styles at a variety of schools from sideline cheer at football games all the way onto "making mat" at a top school and competing at the "big show" in Daytona. Is she/you guys thinking scholarship money or just something fun to do, make friends and keep in shape while away at school. There are also different types of cheer (co-ed and all girl) these are also different and the skills it takes to make these teams are different.
2) Has she ever cheered before/will she like it? There is a large difference between gymnastics and cheer like it or not the "glitz and glam" of cheer is a real thing. Some people love it, some tolerate it and others choose to do acrobatics and tumbling. Does your daughter love performance in gymnastics? Is she good at it? Cheer can be about the show so to speak.
3) Tumbling itself in cheer is different than gymnastics. In college cheer is performed on non-sprung floor with shoes on. This can be a transition for gymnasts in itself which needs some practice (although not a huge hurdle). Backwards tumbling is primary, very little forward tumbling (I think this is partially cultural, partially the floor). Two types of tumbling in cheer standing (ie a standing tuck) and running, can she do both of these well? There is less focus on technique in cheerleading tumbling and generally as long as you are not wiping out you will get the points for instance pointed toes are not a thing. Tumbling is focused on rotational tumbling ie. layouts, fulls and double fulls in combinations with whips etc. For instance on a team a tumbling pass might be round off full, handspring, handspring full. Or round off, handspring, whip, full etc. There are no double backs etc. Also in cheer you generally have to tumble in unison unless you are a top featured tumbler. Will she be alright with having to adjust to a longer, faster, slower handspring etc?
4) While an individual high level tumbler may be recruited just to tumble being able to do all aspects of cheer well is certainly an advantage. Learning to stunt in multiple positions and being well rounded will certainly help your chances of making a team somewhere.
Cheer is a fun sport. I did it for years at a high level when young. If she wants to do something low key depending on the school would probably be fine. The area she wants to attend school will definitely matter as well. There are geographical differences in who cheers and at what level throughout the US. Watch some videos to learn more about it and find somewhere close by with a reputable program and have her try it out if she is really interested. It is also good to remember that although she has been training gymnastics for years there are many young girls who started cheer at the age she was starting gymnastics.