It’s evaluation week.

The gym is buzzing with excitement and a hint of nervous energy. The athletes are eager to show off their new skills, dreaming of the team they hope to make. But there’s also a bittersweet feeling in the air. The season they just wrapped up—with all its memories, victories, and team bonds—has come to a close.

For our athletes, evaluation week is a roller coaster of emotions.

They wonder:

• Will I be with my same teammates?
• Will I make the team I want?
• Will I move up a level?
• Will my best friend be with me?

As a mom, your heart aches with them. You want nothing more than to see them happy, proud, and progressing. You silently hope for that “next level,” that older age group, that milestone they’ve been working toward.

But as a coach and a mom, my view of evaluation week is a little different.

There’s no stress—just excitement. Because I know I’ve prepared them.
Not just to make a certain team, but to handle whatever comes.

I don’t hype them up about what team they might make. I ground them in reality. I tell them: focus on the team you’re on now, the skills you’ve mastered at your current level. That’s what matters.

We talk honestly:

“You’re still eligible for mini this season, so you may stay at that age group.”

“You’ve aged out of mini, so it’s time to move up to youth.”

If they were on a Level 1 team, I encourage them to showcase their best Level 1 skills. Want to throw a Level 2 pass? Great! Show us what you’ve been working on. That standing tuck? Awesome—but don’t forget to perfect your Level 2 skills first. That’s what truly counts.

We even have the hard conversations—the ones about stunt positions.

“Hey, you flew last year, but if you make this team, you might base—and that’s okay. You’re strong. You’re adaptable.”

During stunt evaluations, I encourage them to try every position. Learn it all. Be coachable. Give it your all.

What I Wish Other Cheer Moms Knew
As both a mom and coach, here’s what I want every cheer parent to understand:

Progress Matters More Than Progression
It’s okay to repeat a level or stay in the same age group. It doesn’t mean they aren’t growing. It means they’re building. Strengthening. Elevating their skills.

Sometimes, I think hard about what I want for my own daughters. Do I want them on a higher-level team where they might only do a few stunts or tumble passes… Or on a team where they’re fully involved—flying, jumping, dancing, leading?

For me, the answer is always the team where they can contribute more.
Where they feel seen, valued, confident.
Because that is what keeps their spirit alive.
That is what fuels their love for cheer.

When They’re Disappointed
Yes, sometimes they come home from placements upset. That’s normal. It’s human.

And that’s where I step in as a mom—not to fix it, but to frame it.
I remind them of the season ahead.
The friends they’ll make.
The memories they’ll create.
The skills they’ll sharpen.

Final Thoughts
Cheer is so much more than just “leveling up.”
It’s about the heart, grit, and commitment it takes to get there.
It’s about teamwork, growth, and joy.

So if you’re in evaluation week—mom, dad, athlete, or coach—remember this:

Trust the process.
Trust your coaches.
And most importantly, trust your child.

That’s what builds great athletes.
That’s what builds great teams.
That’s what keeps the love for this sport alive.

-Coach Shay
And A Mom Of 3 All Star Athletes