All-Star Acro&tumbling Vs Traditional Cheer

[njallday]

A&T teams don't compete cheer but the schools can still have sideline and competitive cheer teams. Look at Oregon as an example. Now as for STUNT they compete both. Not sure how this is legal but they do it.


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OSU competed at NCA, as well. i don't know how that works, but it seems it shouldn't be legal at all.

 

[Gannon Coach]

Hi everyone! I am new to the board, but thought I'd try to answer some of the questions posed in this thread.

I was recently hired at Gannon University to coach competitive cheer. We are a small (3,000 undergrad enrollment) DII university and the school just added Competitive Cheer AND Acrobatics & Tumbling as varsity-level sports. In addition, we have a third program, our gameday team (the team the university has traditionally fielded).

So at Gannon there are now three programs for athletes to choose from -
Acrobatics and Tumbling - compete at A&T meets
Competitive Cheer - compete at local/regional competitions & NCA College Nationals
Gameday Cheer - cheer football and basketball games

Both A&T and Competitive Cheer are considered varsity sports and both teams have been allocated athletic scholarship money. The gameday cheer program is still managed under the athletic department and I oversee that program, but there is a separate coach. Both the A&T coach and I are full-time, the gameday coach is part-time.

There can not be any overlap between A&T and Competitive Cheer. For this first year, we're allowing students to do both competitive & gameday cheer if they choose. The overlap this year is minimal (maybe 4 girls)and I expect it to get smaller each year until their is no overlap. (Their gameday team has not traditionally competed in the past, so there are some upperclassmen who would like to compete but not give up the team they've been on for years.) Both the A&T and Competitive Cheer teams are all-girl this year, though competitive cheer going co-ed at some point down the road is not out of the question.

I can't speak for other schools, but everyone at Gannon is very excited about adding both of these sports and the opportunities we can now offer! They are excited about investing in both programs. The A&T coach and I work very closely together (we often go on recruiting trips together) and are very supportive of each others' programs. Even though the skill set we require is very similar, the format of competitions/meets is different and we're excited to be able to provide athletes the CHOICE of which sport is best for them. I'm a huge supporter of A&T in general and want that program to be successful, and I know the A&T coach would say the same for my program.

Since both of our sports are new, we focus on educating people as much as possible about the differences between our sports and on making sure the athletes we recruit select the program that is the best fit for them. I personally am so excited about the level of support the university is providing to both teams as varsity sports and am looking forward to seeing how both programs grow and evolve!

Feel free to take a look at the press releases on both sports on our website:
A&T:
Gannon University Athletics - Gannon University Adds Acrobatics & Tumbling Program; Names Chelsea White Head Coach

Competitive Cheer:

Gannon University Athletics - Gannon University Announces Addition of Competitive Cheerleading


I would be happy to answer any questions I can - feel free to message me or email at [email protected].

As a side note, both of us are still actively recruiting for the upcoming season, so if you know of any graduating seniors interested in competitive cheer or A&T, feel free to pass on our info or contact us!

 

[LaideeJai]

I've watched a few videos online, and I actually like the concept. It's putting cheerleading into more of an Olympic styled format. When I first watched it, my first thought was if cheerleading does ever make it to the Olympics it would probably be in this format. I plan on watching Baylor when the next season starts, since Kiara Nowlin is going there. It seems like something I can really get into.

 

[coachrah]

The only school I know of at the top of my head would be Quinnipiac.

Quinnipiac did not replace their cheerleading team with Acrobatics and Tumbling. Quinnipiac still has a sideline cheerleading team and A & T is a Varsity sport on campus.

 

[Akallstar907]

A&T teams don't compete cheer but the schools can still have sideline and competitive cheer teams. Look at Oregon as an example. Now as for STUNT they compete both. Not sure how this is legal but they do it.


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See that's the problem with STUNT in my opinion. According to NCAA rules, athletes can't compete in two "sports" of the same skill set. (So like, a football player can't also play rugby.) It also means that if STUNT wants to become an official NCAA sport, they have to stop allowing the use of the same athletes that also compete at NCA. (But we all know that this is all owned by varsity so who knows if that will actually happen.) So that is why I like A&T better. They aren't involved with all of this crap that STUNT/NCA is involved with.


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[yojaehs]

For me it goes back to the kids. Sideline + Competition + STUNT = too much. A&T only compete = plenty.

Of the athletes I've spoken to that have participated in both. Stunt is too much. They don't hate it but by the time they have cheered on a full football & basketball season as well as prepare for nationals adding STUNT in the mix is just exhausting. The A&T kids that I know love it.

Now I will admit I've spoken only to a very minimal amount of participants of each. But each have valid points.


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[callmecoach]

Hi everyone! I am new to the board, but thought I'd try to answer some of the questions posed in this thread.

I was recently hired at Gannon University to coach competitive cheer. We are a small (3,000 undergrad enrollment) DII university and the school just added Competitive Cheer AND Acrobatics & Tumbling as varsity-level sports. In addition, we have a third program, our gameday team (the team the university has traditionally fielded).

So at Gannon there are now three programs for athletes to choose from -
Acrobatics and Tumbling - compete at A&T meets
Competitive Cheer - compete at local/regional competitions & NCA College Nationals
Gameday Cheer - cheer football and basketball games

Both A&T and Competitive Cheer are considered varsity sports and both teams have been allocated athletic scholarship money. The gameday cheer program is still managed under the athletic department and I oversee that program, but there is a separate coach. Both the A&T coach and I are full-time, the gameday coach is part-time.

There can not be any overlap between A&T and Competitive Cheer. For this first year, we're allowing students to do both competitive & gameday cheer if they choose. The overlap this year is minimal (maybe 4 girls)and I expect it to get smaller each year until their is no overlap. (Their gameday team has not traditionally competed in the past, so there are some upperclassmen who would like to compete but not give up the team they've been on for years.) Both the A&T and Competitive Cheer teams are all-girl this year, though competitive cheer going co-ed at some point down the road is not out of the question.

I can't speak for other schools, but everyone at Gannon is very excited about adding both of these sports and the opportunities we can now offer! They are excited about investing in both programs. The A&T coach and I work very closely together (we often go on recruiting trips together) and are very supportive of each others' programs. Even though the skill set we require is very similar, the format of competitions/meets is different and we're excited to be able to provide athletes the CHOICE of which sport is best for them. I'm a huge supporter of A&T in general and want that program to be successful, and I know the A&T coach would say the same for my program.

Since both of our sports are new, we focus on educating people as much as possible about the differences between our sports and on making sure the athletes we recruit select the program that is the best fit for them. I personally am so excited about the level of support the university is providing to both teams as varsity sports and am looking forward to seeing how both programs grow and evolve!

Feel free to take a look at the press releases on both sports on our website:
A&T:
Gannon University Athletics - Gannon University Adds Acrobatics & Tumbling Program; Names Chelsea White Head Coach

Competitive Cheer:

Gannon University Athletics - Gannon University Announces Addition of Competitive Cheerleading


I would be happy to answer any questions I can - feel free to message me or email at [email protected].

As a side note, both of us are still actively recruiting for the upcoming season, so if you know of any graduating seniors interested in competitive cheer or A&T, feel free to pass on our info or contact us!

Thanks for the info! Glad to see the two can coexist as separate sports and still be successful, even at a smaller school. Good luck with your team!

 

[sigmalovee]

Quinnipiac did not replace their cheerleading team with Acrobatics and Tumbling. Quinnipiac still has a sideline cheerleading team and A & T is a Varsity sport on campus.

I meant in regards to the fact that Quinnipiac use to have competitive cheer not just sideline.

 

[sigmalovee]

Hi everyone! I am new to the board, but thought I'd try to answer some of the questions posed in this thread.

I was recently hired at Gannon University to coach competitive cheer. We are a small (3,000 undergrad enrollment) DII university and the school just added Competitive Cheer AND Acrobatics & Tumbling as varsity-level sports. In addition, we have a third program, our gameday team (the team the university has traditionally fielded).

So at Gannon there are now three programs for athletes to choose from -
Acrobatics and Tumbling - compete at A&T meets
Competitive Cheer - compete at local/regional competitions & NCA College Nationals
Gameday Cheer - cheer football and basketball games

Both A&T and Competitive Cheer are considered varsity sports and both teams have been allocated athletic scholarship money. The gameday cheer program is still managed under the athletic department and I oversee that program, but there is a separate coach. Both the A&T coach and I are full-time, the gameday coach is part-time.

There can not be any overlap between A&T and Competitive Cheer. For this first year, we're allowing students to do both competitive & gameday cheer if they choose. The overlap this year is minimal (maybe 4 girls)and I expect it to get smaller each year until their is no overlap. (Their gameday team has not traditionally competed in the past, so there are some upperclassmen who would like to compete but not give up the team they've been on for years.) Both the A&T and Competitive Cheer teams are all-girl this year, though competitive cheer going co-ed at some point down the road is not out of the question.

I can't speak for other schools, but everyone at Gannon is very excited about adding both of these sports and the opportunities we can now offer! They are excited about investing in both programs. The A&T coach and I work very closely together (we often go on recruiting trips together) and are very supportive of each others' programs. Even though the skill set we require is very similar, the format of competitions/meets is different and we're excited to be able to provide athletes the CHOICE of which sport is best for them. I'm a huge supporter of A&T in general and want that program to be successful, and I know the A&T coach would say the same for my program.

Since both of our sports are new, we focus on educating people as much as possible about the differences between our sports and on making sure the athletes we recruit select the program that is the best fit for them. I personally am so excited about the level of support the university is providing to both teams as varsity sports and am looking forward to seeing how both programs grow and evolve!

Feel free to take a look at the press releases on both sports on our website:
A&T:
Gannon University Athletics - Gannon University Adds Acrobatics & Tumbling Program; Names Chelsea White Head Coach

Competitive Cheer:

Gannon University Athletics - Gannon University Announces Addition of Competitive Cheerleading


I would be happy to answer any questions I can - feel free to message me or email at [email protected].

As a side note, both of us are still actively recruiting for the upcoming season, so if you know of any graduating seniors interested in competitive cheer or A&T, feel free to pass on our info or contact us!

Thanks for posting, this information is really helpful. I just have two questions if you dont mind answering. Is A&T considered a college sport under NCAA? Can a college choose which sports they want to include under the varsity level even if it is not recognized as one nationally?

 

[Deleted member 15]

See that's the problem with STUNT in my opinion. According to NCAA rules, athletes can't compete in two "sports" of the same skill set. (So like, a football player can't also play rugby.) It also means that if STUNT wants to become an official NCAA sport, they have to stop allowing the use of the same athletes that also compete at NCA.

The NCAA doesn't recognize cheer as a sport so would they prevent an A&T athlete from cheering?

 

[Daniellerae]

It reminds me a lot of Michigan cheer. Maybe that's why I'm so attracted to it...

 

[yojaehs]

The NCAA doesn't recognize cheer as a sport so would they prevent an A&T athlete from cheering?

If A&T IS a sport (to my knowledge they have reached emerging sport status) that is what would prevent them from cheering. All A&T programs follow the NCAA guidelines so whatever NCAA allows or doesn't allow is what I assume they follow.


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[Deleted member 15]

If A&T IS a sport (to my knowledge they have reached emerging sport status) that is what would prevent them from cheering. All A&T programs follow the NCAA guidelines so whatever NCAA allows or doesn't allow is what I assume they follow.


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The NCAA doesn't stop someone from playing football and running track or playing baseball and cheering. Why would they stop someone from A&T and cheering if they are considered different activities?

 

[yojaehs]

The NCAA doesn't stop someone from playing football and running track or playing baseball and cheering. Why would they stop someone from A&T and cheering if they are considered different activities?

If its legal I don't see why they wouldn't be allowed to via A&T. I would see how the Varsity rule that a University is only allowed to compete in One national would prevent them. But then again that doesn't stop STUNT so maybe it's possible.


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[Gannon Coach]

Thanks for posting, this information is really helpful. I just have two questions if you dont mind answering. Is A&T considered a college sport under NCAA? Can a college choose which sports they want to include under the varsity level even if it is not recognized as one nationally?

Of course I don't mind!

A&T is currently governed by NCATA (more info at thencata.org). The organization's goal is for the sport to evenutally become recognized as a college sport under the NCAA; they currently have/are working toward emerging sport status (not sure exactly where they are in the process so I can't say with any certainty what the correct current status is). For this reason, they follow all of the NCAA rules and regulations as they apply to other sports (i.e. hours of practice, academic eligibility, etc).

At Gannon, Competitive Cheer is included as a varsity-level sport because the institution recongnizes the program and the team members as student-athletes and treats it as a sport - essentially, this program and its athletes have access to all of the same resources (athletic training, athletic scholarships, etc) as student-athletes on other sports. In addition, as a university we have decided that we will apply and enforce all of the NCAA regulations as if we were governed by the NCAA - so all of the same requirements in terms of academic eligibility, number of hours permitted, etc will apply to the competitive cheer team. So even though we're not officially recognized by the NCAA, we are a sport in the school's mind - not sure if that helps to clarify. I know that at Gannon, competitive cheer isn't intended to count for Title IX, which is a factor as well.

I hope that answers your questions, but feel free to ask further if I wasn't clear! This is one of the toughest things about "cheering" in college -whether referring to A&T, STUNT, competitive cheer or sideline cheer - there are so many options and so many interpretations that it can be very confusing. This is how we're structuring things at Gannon, and I'm very optimistic about the opportunities and choices it provides for cheerleaders who are looking to continue building their skills in college!