All-Star Can't We Support Another Gym?

[Babs]

This past weekend a mom was in the priority viewing area watching a team perform that was not from her own gym - obvious based on the t-shirt she was wearing. She was standing near the back - not in front of any family or fellow gym-mates in this area - and she was actively clapping and supporting the team performing. A police officer told her to move out of the priority area. When she stated she didn't understand what the problem was he told her to "not make him arrest her" which he could because she was "trespassing."

So -- we can't support other gyms? We can't support nieces or nephews or children of friends if they don't cheer for our gym? We can't support the friends our cp's make at other gyms?

Or was it because the team she was watching/supporting was a high profile team from a high profile gym???

 

[BlueCat]

Perhaps it was because she was in the "priority" viewing area and not in the general admission area. Some EPs set aside a specific area reserved for family members of the team performing. If they let everyone in there who was "just a fan", then many of the actual immediate family members don't get to see their daughters or sons.

It isn't that they can't "support other teams". It's that they can't stand in section specifically reserved for someone else.

 

[Mamarazzi]

I got complained at earlier this season by a security guard.
The priority area was far from packed and I was supporting one of my former kids. I dont care what gym one of Mama's babies competes with, I'm gonna be right there in VIP screaming for them.
So thats what I conveyed to "the man." And I kept my spot.

 

[CheerBank]

If she was standing in the back of priority, not blocking anyone who was there to see their children/immediate family perform, and there was room for her there, then I do not know why there would be any issue was with her being there.

If I am at a competition with friends whose kids are at another gym and they are going up to priority viewing, of course I will go up with them if they want me to. I will stand in the back because it is not my program, but why shouldn't I be up there supporting my friend's kid and gym?

We are part of a relatively small gym and the rest of the local gyms are also small gyms. We know many athletes and parents from the different gyms, and quite often parents and athletes from each others' programs go down to the priority/VIP viewing areas to support one another. As long as we/they are not blocking the people from the gym whose athletes are performing, we welcome with open arms the other gyms and their fans; the more support, the better for those kids on the mat working their butts off.

 

[KDCheerMom]

Security guards threatening removal...seems over the top. I think people should be respectful - even when supporting a team from our own gym - I give way to parents first and gym athletes. I have a few from other gyms that I support and personally have not had a problem.

 

[2cheer1here]

At cheersport this weekend the gym behind us went with us to support our girls and we stayed and supported theirs. No one said a word!!


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[Babs]

At cheersport this weekend the gym behind us went with us to support our girls and we stayed and supported theirs. No one said a word!!


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The threat of arrest was at Cheersport also.

 

[cheernerd5678]

At Americas Best, each gym gets to give one athlete on one of their teams an "athlete of the month" award, and they're recognized right after their team performs. One of the girls on our junior 2 team was getting the award from our gym, so our coaches told us to stay in VIP after they performed (we didn't know why). The security guards were trying to get us out, and the gym behind us was pushing us in and giving dirty looks. Seriously? The poor girl got recognized with all of us shoved to the side trying to cheer for her and walk out at the same time. Sometimes I think they take their job a little too seriously (and why would our entire gym sit in the VIP for another random team? Obviously something was going on, which they should've been aware of considering it had been given out multiple times already that day.)
Doesn't sound like what you were doing was harmful or disruptive, so I don't see why they'd do that, especially if the parents don't have a problem with it. If you're out of the way and actually know the people in the section, why does it matter?

 

[coach12]

This all seems a little extreme to me. based on what you said she wasn't in anyone's way.
Sounds to me like she was showing good sportsmanship & they are gonna arrest her for that?
we have a lot of friends on other teams & a lot of times we go and support them.

 

[stuntjumptumble]

At athletic champs in RI, friends of mine from other gyms were supporting my gyms teams and me supporting theirs but every single time we got yelled at by security. I was beyond annoyed, all we were doing was displaying good sportsmanship


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[ACEDAD]

While I understand everyone's complaints, this is 100% a result of a bunch of jerks that for years would camp out in priority. It wasn't every comp, but there often were a group of self important people that ignored all the rules and would take up priority viewing space.

So people, rightfully, complained. Loudly. EPs heard the complaints and have asked security to restrict the area and clear it out immediately. That's their job and I don't envy them.

They don't have room to judge whether you raised the child from a pup. All they see is the colors you're wearing. It doesn't seem right and I wish they could all make reasoned, rational decisions. But it's not going to happen.

And it's sad. Some of my favorite moments are screaming my lungs out for my other "kids". Top Gun, CEA, Midwest, Step One, ICE, Cali, Stingrays, Ultimate Athletics...I've had kids at all these gyms and more.

My only advice is if you want in priority, bring a backpack and multiple shirts.


The Fierce Board: If you're gonna be talked about, shouldn't you at least be here to defend yourself?

 

[12stepCheermom]

At Americas Best, each gym gets to give one athlete on one of their teams an "athlete of the month" award, and they're recognized right after their team performs. One of the girls on our junior 2 team was getting the award from our gym, so our coaches told us to stay in VIP after they performed (we didn't know why). The security guards were trying to get us out, and the gym behind us was pushing us in and giving dirty looks. Seriously? The poor girl got recognized with all of us shoved to the side trying to cheer for her and walk out at the same time. Sometimes I think they take their job a little too seriously (and why would our entire gym sit in the VIP for another random team? Obviously something was going on, which they should've been aware of considering it had been given out multiple times already that day.)
Doesn't sound like what you were doing was harmful or disruptive, so I don't see why they'd do that, especially if the parents don't have a problem with it. If you're out of the way and actually know the people in the section, why does it matter?

Sounds like AB needed a staffer at the entrance to priority seating to let the next team know to wait. They didn't have that when our teams went on.

That same competition both my husband and I went to the back of priority seating and stood against the judges table (obviously not blocking anyone's view since we were literally standing at the judges table to video our sons team). My dh was standing at the end of the judges table and some random woman slapped his shoulder from behind and said "are you REALLY going to stand right there!?"

Dumbfounded as to what her problem could possibly be...and somewhat salty that a random person would a) slap him in the shoulder, b) question where he was standing which he chose for the purpose of not blocking anyone's view and c) would have the audacity to apparently think she was more important than the father of a kid actually taking the floor.... He simply said, "yes." And turned back around.

I don't mind people from other gyms supporting kids on other teams. We do it all the time if we have friends on those teams, as long as they respect the actual families of the competitors.


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[cheernerd5678]

Sounds like AB needed a staffer at the entrance to priority seating to let the next team know to wait. They didn't have that when our teams went on.

That same competition both my husband and I went to the back of priority seating and stood against the judges table (obviously not blocking anyone's view since we were literally standing at the judges table to video our sons team). My dh was standing at the end of the judges table and some random woman slapped his shoulder from behind and said "are you REALLY going to stand right there!?"

Dumbfounded as to what her problem could possibly be...and somewhat salty that a random person would a) slap him in the shoulder, b) question where he was standing which he chose for the purpose of not blocking anyone's view and c) would have the audacity to apparently think she was more important than the father of a kid actually taking the floor.... He simply said, "yes." And turned back around.

I don't mind people from other gyms supporting kids on other teams. We do it all the time if we have friends on those teams, as long as they respect the actual families of the competitors.


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People were so impatient at that comp. It was well run, so there wasn't 20 minutes between teams, but it wasn't like if you didn't get into VIP the moment the other teams music ended you'd miss your team... which is how some people were acting!
The security did do a pretty good job of keeping kids out during the high profile teams. Before you guys even got down there day 1 (I think there was a long break before coed elite) people were trying to creep into the VIP section. Security kicked them out so you guys could get in there. But since they were doing that, I wonder if they would've kicked them out even if they were "with" you guys but in another color...?
My friends were trying to sneak their way in there and I was just like "don't be that person...."

 

[12stepCheermom]

People were so impatient at that comp. It was well run, so there wasn't 20 minutes between teams, but it wasn't like if you didn't get into VIP the moment the other teams music ended you'd miss your team... which is how some people were acting!
The security did do a pretty good job of keeping kids out during the high profile teams. Before you guys even got down there day 1 (I think there was a long break before coed elite) people were trying to creep into the VIP section. Security kicked them out so you guys could get in there. But since they were doing that, I wonder if they would've kicked them out even if they were "with" you guys but in another color...?
My friends were trying to sneak their way in there and I was just like "don't be that person...."

Yeah, Saturday was good. I think that was the day they were on after a break. Sunday I'd agree with your assessment of people acting panicked. That's when the shoulder slapping thing happened. I know we got down to the entrance and were behind groups of athletes from 4 different gyms. It was no big deal to us because we planned to go all the way to the back against the judges stand but it was my first experience with people clearly getting into priority seating ahead of several of our own families. It worked out okay since it was a smaller competition and it was good for our kids because they really need that kind of energy in front of them to turn it on. But it also made me worry what the rest of the season would look like in that respect. Honestly, it hasn't been nearly the fight to watch my kid as I thought it would be so that's been really great :)


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[notimeforthat]

Ar cheersport this past weekend our gym was there with one team.... maybe 25 parents tops. I had to line up 45 minutes before their performance time just to be able to get a decent spot to see my kid. I understand the team has "fans" but i unexpectedly had to drive 16 hours to get there due to flight cancellations.... I best be able to go into priority without being run down and trampled lol.
I explained this to the gate keeper and he allowed me and a few other moms to go in and secure a spot before the masses.
I guess its like anything else... There are the good, the bad and the ugly on every payroll!




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