You know in RI last year they gave out The Letterman Style jackets with leather sleeves to all level 5 teams except for R5, but only gave the cloth jackets this year to everyone... I was quite surprised by this change here and almost got into a nasty altercations with one of the new mom on my cp's team when I mentioned this and she called me a liar!
But anywho, I hope NCA doesn't decide to go this route too... My take on this level 5 only Letterman jackets possibly mean this competition wants to distinguish the type of winners and even if it seems unfair, most of the interest seems to be center around the level 5 teams only.
Maybe since my kid is on a J3 team, but most of my attention was centered on all of the J3 teams competing and I didn't make it to see one "5" team compete except for the one I had to be present for by attendance taken from our team parent was our own level 5. I subscribed to Dartfish, though, so I could get caught up on all of the teams, because, yes, I enjoy cheer that much, but CP's team was hoping to upgrade to paid for Summit was their dream and 1st leg of triple crown. Ended up with a final score of 98.02 and third place. Yes, some of us truly care about other divisions, too, besides 5, especially when we're chasing Summit bids. I know some kids hungry for the jackets now at NCA, too, but at least they left in their blanket!! (Cheersport, they love the blankets!!) There were four small gym division J3, Three small J3 divisions, 1 large small gym J3 division and 2 large J3 divisions. Think lots of folks cared about J3, too, and other divisions, too. Don't get me wrong, love level 5, but I am fully enjoying CP's path and she will get to 5 eventually, but I'll probably be caring for the level 4 divisions greatly the next two years at least. It is what it is. Love those fleece jackets. Kids grow up too fast. Enjoy each jacket, celebrate each victory, celebrate their highest score this season, even if it meant 3rd place, and keep on admiring and be wowed by those 5 teams, but I promise I don't think less of my J3 kid and enjoying each year and each level. Yes, Cheersport may be trying different things to make it a little more appealing to lure some of the teams back that swore they'd never go back, CP's gym was one of them, first time back in three years, but I think it was the Varsity scoring and Summit bids, Worlds bids that brought our 8 or 9 teams back than the level 5 jacket.
ETA: That whole triple crown thing I think is working for them, too.