All-Star Cheer Pet Peeves

[emax13]

I also heard that these cheerleaders from Top Gun bought like 10k followers...

Probably not as big a deal for them since they ARE Top Gun and all ...

 

[Cheermom1969]

Has anyone listed outsiders and critics trying to dictate what cheerleaders should look like and dress like and what moves are appropriate instead of letting the athletes be mature enough to handle these decisions themselves?

I wonder because competitive cheer is one activity where everyone, and I mean everyone, is a critic.

When you have the VAST majority of said athletes being minors, under the age of 18, sorry but you're going to have rules of dress and conduct. Minors don't get to decide what moves are ok in a routine otherwise it would be one big ugly twerk-fest. ;)

 

[emax13]

When you have the VAST majority of said athletes being minors, under the age of 18, sorry but you're going to have rules of dress and conduct. Minors don't get to decide what moves are ok in a routine otherwise it would be one big ugly twerk-fest. ;)

I don't have any problem with rules of dress and conduct, and i think our society indeed has a duty and obligation to set rules of conduct for people that they deem to be not legally full grown adults. the issue is that everyone, including those who know nothing about competitive cheer, try and decide what the athletes should look like and what their performances should be like. And make judgements about them while knowing nothing about that they do, what they are passionate about and the reasons why they do this. I mean, come on, I am sure competitive cheerleaders here could flood this forum with stories about this all day along.

And I'd like to presume that if the athletes had some sort of say in their routines and choreography, it would not all be Miley Cyrus impersonations and make the Las Vegas Stripper blush contests. I'd like to think that at least some of these athletes have more class and character than that. Granted, Maybe I am being a bit optimistic or even a bit delusional here. Aren't there a fair number of high school and even collegiate competitive cheer squads where the athletes at least contribute and aid in choreography and it still does not end up being "twerk" fests and purely sexualized dancing from start to finish?

 

[emax13]

For the competitive cheerleaders here, at high school, all star and collegiate level, maybe you can tell me; if the athletes had at least significant influence in determining what is ok for their routines, would it all be hyper sexualized dancing and Vegas Stripper and Miley Cyrus routines? I am sure a portion of it would be, but would other athletes be able to decide on their own that they have more class and character than that or was I indeed being delusional in assuming they would?

 

[emax13]

BTW, for the post above. I'm looking to keep it real, so to speak, so feel free to let me know if i really was being delusional in what I said above.

 

[G_Carter]

It annoys me soooo much how teams use 85% of their teams to compete in the level below so they can "win". Also when they put it in everyones face and have terrible sportsmanship. BEYOND IRRITATING.

 

[AllstarObsession]

For the competitive cheerleaders here, at high school, all star and collegiate level, maybe you can tell me; if the athletes had at least significant influence in determining what is ok for their routines, would it all be hyper sexualized dancing and Vegas Stripper and Miley Cyrus routines? I am sure a portion of it would be, but would other athletes be able to decide on their own that they have more class and character than that or was I indeed being delusional in assuming they would?

Honestly, if I had to, the routine would be super clean and not sexual at all.

 

[emax13]

Honestly, if I had to, the routine would be super clean and not sexual at all.

Great. Do you think other cheerleaders at the All Star, High School and NCA and UCA collegiate levels would choreograph them the same way you do?

 

[AllstarObsession]

Great. Do you think other cheerleaders at the All Star, High School and NCA and UCA collegiate levels would choreograph them the same way you do?

Most of the girls I know would be the same way or similar.

Basically, I don't think routines would be very different.

 

[alliebby33]

For the competitive cheerleaders here, at high school, all star and collegiate level, maybe you can tell me; if the athletes had at least significant influence in determining what is ok for their routines, would it all be hyper sexualized dancing and Vegas Stripper and Miley Cyrus routines? I am sure a portion of it would be, but would other athletes be able to decide on their own that they have more class and character than that or was I indeed being delusional in assuming they would?

I'm going to agree with @AllstarObsession. I don't think athletes necessarily dislike the way routines go right now. On my high school team for the past four years, we've all had significant influence on the way our routines look. Actually, our coach was extremely uninvolved at times and would send us off during practice so she could work with JV and we had to make up our routine or a dance to go with a mix that she had picked out. We did try to keep it classy. For whatever reason, cheerleaders have the stereotype of being "trashy/sl**s". At my school, we were judged on our actions outside of the cheerleading environment (where most of the girls on my team fit the stereotype to a T). So as captain, at least last year because I couldn't control what the captains before me did unfortunately, I made sure that I was not associating my team or myself with those stereotypes by performing inappropriate routines.

 

[CheerBank]

When gyms have grammatical and/or spelling errors on their websites or Facebook posts. It immediately makes me think less of the owners and coaches.

 

[CheerBank]

It annoys me soooo much how teams use 85% of their teams to compete in the level below so they can "win". Also when they put it in everyones face and have terrible sportsmanship. BEYOND IRRITATING.

That's a very high percentage you've stated there. While I agree this exists to say that many gyms place 85% of their teams at the level below they should just so they can "win" is inaccurate and insulting.

 

[G_Carter]

That's a very high percentage you've stated there. While I agree this exists to say that many gyms place 85% of their teams at the level below they should just so they can "win" is inaccurate and insulting.

Can you explain why you think it is inaccurate and insulting?

 

[CheerBank]

Can you explain why you think it is inaccurate and insulting?

Because I don't believe that 85% of the teams at gyms place their athletes on lower level teams than their skills warrant for the sole purpose of winning. To me that implies that most gyms are purposely sandbagging, and I feel that is insulting to the majority of the gyms who do not do this. I have found that many gyms actually do the opposite; that is, advance their athletes to a higher team too quickly and not enough of the team has the solid skills at that level to be competitive.
Why did you chose that high percentage - is it from personal experience?


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[G_Carter]

Because I don't believe that 85% of the teams at gyms place their athletes on lower level teams than their skills warrant for the sole purpose of winning. To me that implies that most gyms are purposely sandbagging, and I feel that is insulting to the majority of the gyms who do not do this. I have found that many gyms actually do the opposite; that is, advance their athletes to a higher team too quickly and not enough of the team has the solid skills at that level to be competitive.
Why did you chose that high percentage - is it from personal experience?


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First, I didn't say 85% of teams at a gym did this. I meant 85% of A team.
Second, I have seen many teams do this. Not me personally.