Expert: Nicole - 4/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: What does a strong tumble pass look like in an all star individual mini cheer tumble pass comp.? My daughter who is 7 is talking about wanting to compete in an individual event in this category, but I wouldn't want to put her in it unless she is doing similar passes to most of the girls who are involved in this individual category.

Thanks,
New Cheer Mom

ANSWER: Hello! Thanks for taking the time to write me about your dilemma. In order to further answer your question, I need to know a little more information about your daughter and her gym. Does she compete on an all-star mini level team? What is her tumbling experience as of yet or what level tumbling is she? If you could just provide me with a follow-up message answering some of these questions I would love to help you!

Cheers! Nicole

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello! Thanks for taking the time to write me about your dilemma. In order to further answer your question, I need to know a little more information about your daughter and her gym. Does she compete on an all-star mini level team? Yes, she is on a mini level 2 team. It is her second year on an all star team, but she has never done an individual competition.  What is her tumbling experience as of yet or what level tumbling is she? She can do a lot of  backhandsprings/ round off backhandsprings in a row and just got her round off backhandspring back tuck, but it (form/perfect landing) is not always consistent. If you could just provide me with a follow-up message answering some of these questions I would love to help you!

Thanks,
Stormy


Answer
Thanks for the follow-up. First off, individual competitions are also competed in levels, and the mini division has levels 1-5. Your daughter sounds like she is beginning to gain some level 3 tumbling, therefore I think it would be beneficial for her to compete on level 3 for her individual routine. As I am sure you are aware, the only difference between Level 2 and 3 tumbling is that tucks and punch fronts out of round-offs or another running pass are allowed (NOT standing tucks or punch fronts). Since the competition season does not start until late fall/early winter, your daughter has all spring and summer to be working on perfecting that handspring tuck and adding some level 3 difficulty to her passes. Here are a few suggestions for Level 3 individual passes for her to work on:  

- Round-off backhandspring (single or series) back tuck
- Round-off backhandspring back tuck backhandspring
- Front walkover round-off backhandspring(single or series)back tuck
- Front walkover round-off back tuck

Also, if you and your daughter feel that Level 2 is the place for her in her individual, a few unique passes include:

- Round-off back handspring stepout with 1/2 turn, round off back handspring, back handspring stepout
- Round-off backhandspring step out, backhandspring, backhandspring step out.
- Front walkover, round-off backhandspring backhandspring stepout


These type of passes are solid for her levels, and usually score a lot of points. One of the benefits of individual competition is that the tumbling passes and routine in general can be personalized and choreographed to cater to you daughters specific needs, strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. The key to the passes that you will see from the girls involved in this category is creativity, and I think with the essentials such as back and front handsprings, back and front walkovers, a clean round-off and back tuck, she could go very far in the Mini Individual category and will not have a problem with her passes in comparison to her competition. I hope my advice helped, and let me know how it goes!

cheers! Nicole