- Jun 18, 2013
- 939
- 2,144
I am moving my reply to a comment in a parent area thread out here because I would like to read some open discussion about this topic. I know I have read these kinds of things before but I am amazed that the culture continues. Maybe I'm crazy and I see things the wrong way. In that case I crave the shared experiences that can help me see that as well. Apparently a World's level athlete was removed from their team during practice because busy body parents at the athlete's gym saw a picture of the athlete with another gym's athlete on social media and the parents have the Coach(es)' ear. My intent isn't to discuss this particular situation. I have no idea who the athlete is, what gym this is, or what team it is. I am just using this as a jumping off point.
Here is my comment:
Absolutely ridiculous. So very sad and ridiculous. Why do gyms, owners, and coaches think they own these athletes? Why do they think that their behavior is somehow justified? An athlete on a World's team knows there are others that could take their position at any gym, even if the place taker isn't the whole package. It doesn't matter if the coaches continually say it or not. You aren't on a level 5 team without knowing it. Unless you are Suzie and that is a whole different discussion. But that doesn't mean an athlete is somehow the property of the gym!
Is this happening (not at this gym but at any gym) because even sane, rational Mothers are afraid of speaking up when needed for fear that their CP may not be on a certain team the next season?
We are PAYING for a service! The gym isn't paying us!!!
What is wrong with letting the athlete's skills place them on the correct team?! Why are people living vicariously through their children?!
I am not saying we should be constantly talking, complaining, moaning, and speculating to the coaches but if you are the parent it is your job to determine when you need to speak up when needed for the sake of your child and to actually speak to the Owner or Coaches instead of talking about it in the parent room with other parents.
I'll say this. No gym is perfect. I know mine isn't and I know from reading on this board that the gym we belong to has been discussed more than once in a less than positive light. I have no issue with any of it. This is a board and open discussion about cheer and things related to it are what it is supposed to be about.
I can say that our gym has no issues whatsoever with an athlete of any level attending an open gym, tumbling class, private, clinic or what have you at any other gym. The gym's "motto" so to speak is "Program first, team second, individual third". It seems to be working quite well for them. Completely second hand but I have been told that at some point people were asking our Owners why it was okay for some of our athletes to tumble at another gym. My understanding is that they basically replied that what did it matter if they tumbled at another gym? That if that was what the athlete needed then let them tumble there. That it only helped our program by having the athletes become stronger in their skills by learning from whomever could teach that athlete the best!
Now I can say without any hesitation that any other cheer gym in our geographical area does not reciprocate this feeling if one of their athletes comes to our gym (or any other) for anything at all. I know that first hand. My own CP just this past weekend at a comp was talking to one of her friends that belongs to another gym congratulating the athlete on a great performance when that athletes coaches started yelling at the athlete for talking to my CP because of the uniform she was wearing!!!! What makes it worse is that they know my CP well as she tumbled at their gym for a few months late last year!
Hey owners, coaches, and crazy a** parents (yes I am including the parents because they can be the worst) news flash:
If you are continually delivering a high quality product and or service to your customers there is no reason to feel threatened by your competition. If you are continually losing your customers to another provider of the same service then your energy would probably best be used by evaluating your own services rather than relying on intimidating your athletes and their parents to stay at your gym.
I haven't ever tried to be secretive about which program we cheer for. I have tried to stay away from commenting on any finger pointing or heated discussion about our gym if it comes up because 1. I don't own the program, 2. While I may have some knowledge about something I certainly do not have all of it and therefore I am not really the correct person to comment or respond, and 3. Even when I do have pretty much all the knowledge about something it just isn't the time, or it just isn't that important, or others opinions don't matter, or it just isn't worth it, or I simply prefer letting it go and focusing on supporting my CP, her team, and her program from within so that they can continue to improve, grow and be the best they can be.
I don't drink the kool-aid from anywhere. I am incredibly supportive of whatever organization my children are heavily involved with in the activities of their choice from college football to the riding barn to the cheer gym. I have done my research. I know my children. I know how they learn, their strengths, their weaknesses, and what they need from their instructors. I trust their instructors. I trust their programs. If I ever lost that trust then we would make the change that would be needed for my child.
No amount of Owner/Coach intimidation would keep me there. I have never been one to tolerate a bully.
Here is my comment:
Absolutely ridiculous. So very sad and ridiculous. Why do gyms, owners, and coaches think they own these athletes? Why do they think that their behavior is somehow justified? An athlete on a World's team knows there are others that could take their position at any gym, even if the place taker isn't the whole package. It doesn't matter if the coaches continually say it or not. You aren't on a level 5 team without knowing it. Unless you are Suzie and that is a whole different discussion. But that doesn't mean an athlete is somehow the property of the gym!
Is this happening (not at this gym but at any gym) because even sane, rational Mothers are afraid of speaking up when needed for fear that their CP may not be on a certain team the next season?
We are PAYING for a service! The gym isn't paying us!!!
What is wrong with letting the athlete's skills place them on the correct team?! Why are people living vicariously through their children?!
I am not saying we should be constantly talking, complaining, moaning, and speculating to the coaches but if you are the parent it is your job to determine when you need to speak up when needed for the sake of your child and to actually speak to the Owner or Coaches instead of talking about it in the parent room with other parents.
I'll say this. No gym is perfect. I know mine isn't and I know from reading on this board that the gym we belong to has been discussed more than once in a less than positive light. I have no issue with any of it. This is a board and open discussion about cheer and things related to it are what it is supposed to be about.
I can say that our gym has no issues whatsoever with an athlete of any level attending an open gym, tumbling class, private, clinic or what have you at any other gym. The gym's "motto" so to speak is "Program first, team second, individual third". It seems to be working quite well for them. Completely second hand but I have been told that at some point people were asking our Owners why it was okay for some of our athletes to tumble at another gym. My understanding is that they basically replied that what did it matter if they tumbled at another gym? That if that was what the athlete needed then let them tumble there. That it only helped our program by having the athletes become stronger in their skills by learning from whomever could teach that athlete the best!
Now I can say without any hesitation that any other cheer gym in our geographical area does not reciprocate this feeling if one of their athletes comes to our gym (or any other) for anything at all. I know that first hand. My own CP just this past weekend at a comp was talking to one of her friends that belongs to another gym congratulating the athlete on a great performance when that athletes coaches started yelling at the athlete for talking to my CP because of the uniform she was wearing!!!! What makes it worse is that they know my CP well as she tumbled at their gym for a few months late last year!
Hey owners, coaches, and crazy a** parents (yes I am including the parents because they can be the worst) news flash:
If you are continually delivering a high quality product and or service to your customers there is no reason to feel threatened by your competition. If you are continually losing your customers to another provider of the same service then your energy would probably best be used by evaluating your own services rather than relying on intimidating your athletes and their parents to stay at your gym.
I haven't ever tried to be secretive about which program we cheer for. I have tried to stay away from commenting on any finger pointing or heated discussion about our gym if it comes up because 1. I don't own the program, 2. While I may have some knowledge about something I certainly do not have all of it and therefore I am not really the correct person to comment or respond, and 3. Even when I do have pretty much all the knowledge about something it just isn't the time, or it just isn't that important, or others opinions don't matter, or it just isn't worth it, or I simply prefer letting it go and focusing on supporting my CP, her team, and her program from within so that they can continue to improve, grow and be the best they can be.
I don't drink the kool-aid from anywhere. I am incredibly supportive of whatever organization my children are heavily involved with in the activities of their choice from college football to the riding barn to the cheer gym. I have done my research. I know my children. I know how they learn, their strengths, their weaknesses, and what they need from their instructors. I trust their instructors. I trust their programs. If I ever lost that trust then we would make the change that would be needed for my child.
No amount of Owner/Coach intimidation would keep me there. I have never been one to tolerate a bully.