All-Star Covid-19 / Varsity Response

[CLynn]

With that in mind, Thanksgiving weekend is the weekend before WSF. So right when people would be getting symptoms is when they will be at a big 2 day competition.

Is this comp still in person? I don't see it on the Kentucky Expo Calendar, though it is on the Varsity website.

 

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

Is this comp still in person? I don't see it on the Kentucky Expo Calendar, though it is on the Varsity website.

We just had to book hotels there.

 

[CLynn]

We just had to book hotels there.

Nice, gotcha! I'm following as that is one of the earlier Nationals and I am interested in hearing how it goes, all the precautions in place etc.

 

[Cheermom1979]

Has anyone here actually competed yet? We have our 1st proposed comp in a month and I’m wondering if it will happen and if so what to expect. Our gym owner is planning as if all is a go and will
adjust if needed. She is apologizing that she doesn’t have specific details yet and is communicating the best she can.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

What's the first big national event? Is it still WSF? Is that still proceeding as an in person?

 

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

What's the first big national event? Is it still WSF? Is that still proceeding as an in person?

We are scheduled for WSF and have not heard any changes yet. I checked the Expo Center website and it's still open.

 

[CLynn]

Has anyone here actually competed yet? We have our 1st proposed comp in a month and I’m wondering if it will happen and if so what to expect. Our gym owner is planning as if all is a go and will
adjust if needed. She is apologizing that she doesn’t have specific details yet and is communicating the best she can.

Welp, NJ just announced "all interstate games and tournaments for indoor youth sports are prohibited". In my area it seems hockey was really driving the numbers up but the restrictions apply to all indoor youth sports...

 

[123jump4!]

Welp, NJ just announced "all interstate games and tournaments for indoor youth sports are prohibited". In my area it seems hockey was really driving the numbers up but the restrictions apply to all indoor youth sports...

Wow. What is it with hockey? Indoors, close contact? I wonder if it’s when they actually play it happens or locker rooms etc.

 

[CLynn]

Wow. What is it with hockey? Indoors, close contact? I wonder if it’s when they actually play it happens or locker rooms etc.

All of the above? Mass, New Hampshire and RI all had pauses for skating rinks to figure out what was going on. Some locker room stuff and a lot of cases were spectators. Massachusetts To Reopen Ice Rinks Saturday With New COVID Guidelines CBS Boston

In NJ, our governor mentioned that similar to schools they feel the transmissions were happening off the ice. When kids are not in structured environments they seem to ignore social distancing and masks and give it to each other. So hockey players hanging with hockey players, carpooling, traveling to tournaments etc. That is why the announcement today largely focused on no interstate tournaments, less time to congregate.

I do imagine with cheer it would be similar. It is not only what happens on the floor when masked but in the team room, awards ceremony, hotel rooms etc.

 

[Cheermom1979]

Yeah- I’m in NJ and the announcements made me wonder what will happen. Can we only compete against NJ teams? Practices have been spotty the past few weeks- no kids are positive but have been possibly exposed and out for 2 weeks minimum- it’s a mess. They haven’t had a full practice in weeks.

All of the above? Mass, New Hampshire and RI all had pauses for skating rinks to figure out what was going on. Some locker room stuff and a lot of cases were spectators. Massachusetts To Reopen Ice Rinks Saturday With New COVID Guidelines CBS Boston

In NJ, our governor mentioned that similar to schools they feel the transmissions were happening off the ice. When kids are not in structured environments they seem to ignore social distancing and masks and give it to each other. So hockey players hanging with hockey players, carpooling, traveling to tournaments etc. That is why the announcement today largely focused on no interstate tournaments, less time to congregate.

I do imagine with cheer it would be similar. It is not only what happens on the floor when masked but in the team room, awards ceremony, hotel rooms etc.

 

[tojofasho]

What's the first big national event? Is it still WSF? Is that still proceeding as an in person?

Not the first major event, but we got told today that American Grand in Vegas (which was Dec 12-13) has been rescheduled to January 16-17. I really think Varsity is just fooling themselves at this point if they think things will be better in January, after people are traveling all over the place for the holidays, than they will be in December.

At this point the entire season should just be digital, honestly. It sucks and I hate it, but that's the safe way to go and would stop getting peoples' hopes up.

 

[Knowcheering]

Not the first major event, but we got told today that American Grand in Vegas (which was Dec 12-13) has been rescheduled to January 16-17. I really think Varsity is just fooling themselves at this point if they think things will be better in January, after people are traveling all over the place for the holidays, than they will be in December.

At this point the entire season should just be digital, honestly. It sucks and I hate it, but that's the safe way to go and would stop getting peoples' hopes up.

Competitions would have to do a lot of planning to get teams in and out of the arena quickly so that there are very limited numbers of people in the building at a time. Outdoor competitions would be even better. It can be done, but I have yet to hear about any event producer actually having these plans set up. I can't see a competition running normally at this point. If they are just magically hoping for the numbers to go down in January, it's not happening. Competitions would need to be set up differently. Maybe 1 or 2 divisions at a time in the building with 1 spectator per kid.

Interesting that Vegas moved American Grand to January 16-17. Vegas is also hosting Ice Skating Nationals that weekend, and Nevada has very strict rules in place to allow them to run that event. The skaters will basically be locked in a so-called bubble and they all have to test negative before being allowed in the bubble. No spectators allowed. I wonder if they would demand something similar out of a cheerleading competition, but cheer involves way more athletes and parents than a skating competition does. The fact that the cheer competition takes place right in the hotel where they'd be staying (correct?) might make it easier to isolate the cheerleaders from the general population, but who knows.

I dread the idea of a virtual season. It's essentially impossible to make that fair, and charging people all these competition fees to perform on their own practice floor feels off to me. I'm hoping something can be worked out. I fear what will happen to the sport if everything gets canceled again. You can keep kids interested if it happens one time, but two times is pushing it. There are rumblings we'll have a vaccine soon, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[cheermomforever]

Yeah- I’m in NJ and the announcements made me wonder what will happen. Can we only compete against NJ teams? Practices have been spotty the past few weeks- no kids are positive but have been possibly exposed and out for 2 weeks minimum- it’s a mess. They haven’t had a full practice in weeks.

that would not make any sense to compete against just NJ teams, where the numbers are high.......it will be virtual.

 

[CLynn]

Yeah- I’m in NJ and the announcements made me wonder what will happen. Can we only compete against NJ teams? Practices have been spotty the past few weeks- no kids are positive but have been possibly exposed and out for 2 weeks minimum- it’s a mess. They haven’t had a full practice in weeks.

that would not make any sense to compete against just NJ teams, where the numbers are high.......it will be virtual.

Exactly. Yes, it does seem we can compete against NJ teams but with the rigid states guidelines re: capacity we can't all be in a gym/arena together so EP's would really need to figure the logistics and how that would even be profitable. I think it was left open probably thinking of activities such as high school basketball.

I really think Varsity is just fooling themselves at this point if they think things will be better in January, after people are traveling all over the place for the holidays, than they will be in December.

At this point the entire season should just be digital, honestly. It sucks and I hate it, but that's the safe way to go and would stop getting peoples' hopes up.

I agree. In NJ he didn't put an end date to when we would be allowed to do interstate competitions but it seems to be ignoring reality to believe it will be anytime other than after winter is over. It's too bad the idea of pushing competitions until spring didn't appear to really be considered.

There are rumblings we'll have a vaccine soon, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I believe recent reports that we will, but realistically there are not enough doses available for this winter which is what we need to get through!

 

[CoachTamara]

At this point the entire season should just be digital, honestly. It sucks and I hate it, but that's the safe way to go and would stop getting peoples' hopes up.

I think the worst part of it all is the uncertainty across the board. In California for high schools, we can't even practice indoors or stunt yet. All Star is practicing, but I have no idea how any competitions are going to happen since the state is going backwards with case numbers and large gatherings are a major no no. Whatever the decision is, I just wish it were made for everyone, even just state by state. Right now we are practicing because others are, but I also am not willing to order things or collect money when there is zero idea of what is going on. The uncertainty is eating away at me and making it worse. I would rather have a virtual only for the year decision or just a straight up cancel it all than the limbo.