All-Star Change Of Season: Change Of Gyms, Divisions Etc.

[fabulousity]

Nitros have offered the double full scholarship for years.

 

[yojaehs]

Ok, so I have read the 100's of ways NOT to "recruit/invite" but what are the "fierceboard" appropriate ways TO "recruit/invite"? My gym has a fairly strong stance of "NO RECRUITING" to the coaches. However, if a kid/parent approaches/contacts me I am free to give them information. Our stance is our performances on the floor do our recruiting for us. However I know not every gym does this (and honestly I'm fine with MOST tactics) I'm just curious as to what people are actually "OK" with?

 

[JumpingJackFlash]

Once the season is over, its open season for inviting/recruiting in my opinion. I don't have a problem with it at all. As some posters have said, if you're happy where you are, you won't go.

 

[ufomom]

:eek: Okay. I am all for free market economy (one of my most shimmied posts!) I totally believe that a happy person will stay, so I never had a problem if another gym recruited someone in the off season. For years, I've not cared about people who got free tuition. Gym tryout t-shirts, no big deal. But dang, I have been watching stuff on Facebook and Twitter flit by that is just shameless. Between the wheedling offers of free tuition and non-stop agenda, all I can think is get some dignity. So, I have changed my mind. I can only handle those things if they are done privately and with dignity and out of my sight...because then it's not my business. Thank heavens it's not my gym because I'd be somewhat disgruntled by the public promises of no tuition and shameless pandering. I think I'd be walking in about now asking for my free tuition.

 

[kristenthegreat]

I've been ok with-
*End of season doing the following: Advertising your open gym/tryouts, having people post about the tryouts/pre-tryout stuff on facebook (a couple friends on USA Wildcats, for example, had a 'Bring a Friend' Day so people could see the gym, meet the coaches, learn what a practice was like, etc. Thought that was cool), putting up flyers, etc. If you post your tryout video towards the end of the season, that's cool. Inviting athletes personally to an open gym is one thing that CAN be fine in moderation and it depends on the approach. Inviting them in only to bad mouth their other program..not cool.

 

[tucknduck]

Inviting, recruiting whatever you call it, what's the difference. Athletes have every right to seek out whatever gym they want and gyms have every right to seek out athletes. What I've seen are the top gyms won't need to recruit but rather attract the athlete based on the gym's track record. When my CP changed gyms, she went down there by herself, met the owners who were very nice to her, explained how things worked and why she sought them out and they were right on the money on why she was there. Her gym did/does not openly recruit as far as I know nor would they ever put down another gym in the process.

Advertising for athletes is fine. It makes business sense to build a program so you need athletes. Open tryouts, bring a friend, whatever it takes..it's all good. The consumer will ultimately decide what gym fits best.

Bottom line is it's an open market. Howeer, if an athlete is committed to a gym, then other gyms need to back off the athlete and leave it up to the athlete if they want to join a particular gym.

 

[tucknduck]

I always wonder about those parents and athletes who don't get the same deals and breaks. How they feel about it. And you well said when and where you do it plays a big part. They come inside your doors of your gym you can offer whatever you like. But during the year (because apparently for some the year begins at tryouts, others the end of the summer, others the first competition and others the big nationals season in Feb) competitions, in the parking lots of other gyms, etc is not good at all. Yet every year we hear stories of it being done somewhere by some gym. And all are denied that it happened.

To paraphrase my response from years ago the issue is the gyms that do recruit usually publicly deny they do. They usually deflect the question to "everyone else is doing it too" or "if they are happy they are not going to leave." I have seen kids and parents very happy but when offered a free ride to cheer, they all of a sudden became "unhappy." Kids and parents who actively shop around like free agents looking for the best deal first, core values , training and everything else don't really matter. I would rather hear a gym say "Yes we recruit and if we think we want you to be a part of our gym we will recruit you too" than to deny they do it.

ETA: The discounts are a business decision. As long as they can defend them to the customers who are not getting them, that is their business.

This practice goes on in all travel sports programs. For example, showcase baseball teams are expensive but will recruit blue chip HS prospects that are sure bets to play D1 ball and possibly get drafted in the first year MLB player draft because it adds credibility to their business which is showcasing baseball talent. And these players will take playing time from the paying ones at the showcases. If you can foot the bill for a star player to play in your organization, it's like a feather in their cap in their minds. You need paying customers to keep the business running meanwhile being able to float in a blue chipper for business exposure. I'm sure most parents footing the big bill for their kids to play on these teams aren't so thrilled about it but that's the way it goes.

 

[SarahS]

I approve of any type of recruiting. If you want to put down other gyms and athletes in order to make your gym look better - that's fine by me. It's a GIANT RED FLAG for me to run away in the opposite direction, and I appreciate knowing that's how you operate your business well in advance of me ever giving you my money :)

 

[tucknduck]

I approve of any type of recruiting. If you want to put down other gyms and athletes in order to make your gym look better - that's fine by me. It's a GIANT RED FLAG for me to run away in the opposite direction, and I appreciate knowing that's how you operate your business well in advance of me ever giving you my money :)

Good point. Better to know up front than after you commit to a gym and plunk down the loot.

 

[drewpate]

I wonder why people would choose to go to a program that badmouths other programs while you are visiting? When someone visits the gym i work at, I'll ask them where they've cheered, who their coaches were, make a little small talk (I'm friends with pretty much every coach in our state) but then I show them why they should come to our gym, not why they should leave another. It has a pretty high success rate too :)

 

[NCCheerMama]

We had recruiting done during the season for three of our athletes by another gym in the area. Personal calls to the athletes, promises to the parent for discount/free tuition. It made it a very awkward last half of the season because of it, and really undermined the spirit and cohesiveness of the team. It ended up causing hurt feelings, when it should not have been that way. Off season is a different story. Frustrating that good business ethics are hard to find around here.

 

[Cheermafia]

I think "RECRUTING" has different meanings to different people??? If you are leaving/looking for new gym because you are unhappy then by all means LOOK away!!! For the amount of $$$ all-star cheer cost I believe you should be happy to give your money, but I have a problem when this happens and the PEOPLE try and take as many FOLLOWERS with them! Take a stance yes, be a follower NO!!!! Another thing I dont think contacting kids/parents (for example right before worlds) PLEADING/PROMISING if they come to a new gym that they will "FOR SURE" be on a higher level team is in good taste. I know the grass always looks so GREEN on the other side, but have a little class in the process.

 

[lakerfantlc]

I think "RECRUTING" has different meanings to different people??? If you are leaving/looking for new gym because you are unhappy then by all means LOOK away!!! For the amount of $$$ all-star cheer cost I believe you should be happy to give your money, but I have a problem when this happens and the PEOPLE try and take as many FOLLOWERS with them! Take a stance yes, be a follower NO!!!! Another thing I dont think contacting kids/parents (for example right before worlds) PLEADING/PROMISING if they come to a new gym that they will "FOR SURE" be on a higher level team is in good taste. I know the grass always looks so GREEN on the other side, but have a little class in the process.

We all need to remember “recruiting” is done by employees or coaches!!! The bottom line...dont worry about other gyms...do your job....be a good gym....and you won’t lose people...that simple...:) Cheermafia MM hi...long time no talk..hahaha

 

[thesneakyANDcount]

What's wrong with recruiting? If the season is over and someone wants to try a different gym, that's there right. If the season has started and they up and quit and go to another gym, that's a different story. But if a cheerleader has a friend from school at a different gym, why not invite them to try out at their gym? Or "recruit".

And Allstar cheer is a business. If a gym has a not so great year or provides an underwhelming experience, they run the risk of losing business to gyms who will be recruiting

 

[thesneakyANDcount]

We had recruiting done during the season for three of our athletes by another gym in the area. Personal calls to the athletes, promises to the parent for discount/free tuition. It made it a very awkward last half of the season because of it, and really undermined the spirit and cohesiveness of the team. It ended up causing hurt feelings, when it should not have been that way. Off season is a different story. Frustrating that good business ethics are hard to find around here.

I read this after I replied. But yeah, a parent, coach or staff member has no right to be contacting members of another gym during the season to offer deals or certain level teams. That is trashy.