- Dec 14, 2009
- 60
- 18
Alright this requires some back-story. Sorry about the length but when I heard about this I found it to be really disturbing and since it involves me I'm not just going to let it rest. I hardly see the need to keep programs anonymous after what's gone one but for now I'll do it anyway.
My first year cheering I was on an Open 6 team at "Gym A." Near the end of that first season a few coaches announced that they were starting their own gym - "Gym B." I finished the season with Gym A and then decided to join Gym B the following season which is where I've been ever since (4 seasons total). Since joining Gym B I slowly became more involved in the sport and with the gym - started coaching the end of 08-09 season, started choreographing 09-10 season, and eventually became program director for the 10-11 season. During Xmas break this year me and Gym B decided to "go our separate ways," and even though it was sudden and unexpected, I left on good terms with everyone. I offered to still be an alternate for their IOC5 team that I was on before I left but was never taken up on the offer (which wasn't a big deal but it will be relevant later)
Side note before I start the next part - when members of Gym A left and started Gym B there was originally a ton of drama/hurt feelings/grudges which eventually subsided for the most part but there always remained some tension and of course a big rivalry between the two gyms, especially with the IOC5 teams from each gym.
A few months ago I got a call from a friend at Gym A. He said they had two spots to fill on the IOC5 team for worlds because there were 2 crossovers that would be competing on the senior5 team for worlds. He said he felt crazy for even calling because he knew I was loyal to Gym B but asked if I would be interested in filling one of the spots on their IOC5 team. I told him it wasn't out of the question, I would think about it and get back to him. As a courtesy I called the owner (my old boss) of Gym B to tell him what was asked of me. I told him I was considering it because I still wanted to be able to compete this season and because he didn't have room for me on his team but I wanted to talk to him about it first because I didn't want anyone to think I was going behind anyone's back or "switching sides" or any of that stupid crap that I know I would have to hear. Basically I was trying to avoid all drama. He said he had no problem with it but he agreed that some of the other coaches/athletes/parents might be rubbed the wrong way, and he would talk to the rest of the admin staff and let me know. He got back to me and said that now they would like to have me as an alternate for their next comp so if they got a bid I would be able to compete with them at Worlds. This was irritating because I was never taken up on that offer in the first place, it wasn't until I was asked by Gym A to compete with them that Gym B took an interest in having me on the team again. It almost seemed like the only reason they asked me was to keep me from going to compete with Gym A.
Anyway long story short (kinda) after Gym B didn't get a bid they decided to disband the IOC5 team for the rest of the season since they weren't going to Worlds, and use the age-eligible members on other teams at the gym. Because of this I didn't feel bad about telling Gym A that I would compete with them. So that's been the plan. Anyway, I just got a text from a family at Gym B that I'm very close with informing me that word on the street is that the new program director (of gym B) talked to old friends at another gym and had them list me as an alternate...with me on the alternate list they got a bid to worlds, and now I'm on their worlds roster...
...I've also heard thru the grapevine that there has been "someone" contacting Gym A telling them that I was trying to sabotage gym A's IOC5 team, that I was on multiple rosters, and that if I competed with Gym A they would turn them in...
Seriously? I understand rivalry, but going THAT far so that I wouldn't compete on another team? RIDICULOUS.
Most of this is just B.S. drama but what concerns me is the possibility of being on a two different team's Worlds rosters - one of which was without my knowledge or consent - because isn't that totally against the rules? and if so, is there anything I can do about it? Is there any way to find out if I'm in fact on a roster for a team I never had any part in?
Help.
My first year cheering I was on an Open 6 team at "Gym A." Near the end of that first season a few coaches announced that they were starting their own gym - "Gym B." I finished the season with Gym A and then decided to join Gym B the following season which is where I've been ever since (4 seasons total). Since joining Gym B I slowly became more involved in the sport and with the gym - started coaching the end of 08-09 season, started choreographing 09-10 season, and eventually became program director for the 10-11 season. During Xmas break this year me and Gym B decided to "go our separate ways," and even though it was sudden and unexpected, I left on good terms with everyone. I offered to still be an alternate for their IOC5 team that I was on before I left but was never taken up on the offer (which wasn't a big deal but it will be relevant later)
Side note before I start the next part - when members of Gym A left and started Gym B there was originally a ton of drama/hurt feelings/grudges which eventually subsided for the most part but there always remained some tension and of course a big rivalry between the two gyms, especially with the IOC5 teams from each gym.
A few months ago I got a call from a friend at Gym A. He said they had two spots to fill on the IOC5 team for worlds because there were 2 crossovers that would be competing on the senior5 team for worlds. He said he felt crazy for even calling because he knew I was loyal to Gym B but asked if I would be interested in filling one of the spots on their IOC5 team. I told him it wasn't out of the question, I would think about it and get back to him. As a courtesy I called the owner (my old boss) of Gym B to tell him what was asked of me. I told him I was considering it because I still wanted to be able to compete this season and because he didn't have room for me on his team but I wanted to talk to him about it first because I didn't want anyone to think I was going behind anyone's back or "switching sides" or any of that stupid crap that I know I would have to hear. Basically I was trying to avoid all drama. He said he had no problem with it but he agreed that some of the other coaches/athletes/parents might be rubbed the wrong way, and he would talk to the rest of the admin staff and let me know. He got back to me and said that now they would like to have me as an alternate for their next comp so if they got a bid I would be able to compete with them at Worlds. This was irritating because I was never taken up on that offer in the first place, it wasn't until I was asked by Gym A to compete with them that Gym B took an interest in having me on the team again. It almost seemed like the only reason they asked me was to keep me from going to compete with Gym A.
Anyway long story short (kinda) after Gym B didn't get a bid they decided to disband the IOC5 team for the rest of the season since they weren't going to Worlds, and use the age-eligible members on other teams at the gym. Because of this I didn't feel bad about telling Gym A that I would compete with them. So that's been the plan. Anyway, I just got a text from a family at Gym B that I'm very close with informing me that word on the street is that the new program director (of gym B) talked to old friends at another gym and had them list me as an alternate...with me on the alternate list they got a bid to worlds, and now I'm on their worlds roster...
...I've also heard thru the grapevine that there has been "someone" contacting Gym A telling them that I was trying to sabotage gym A's IOC5 team, that I was on multiple rosters, and that if I competed with Gym A they would turn them in...
Seriously? I understand rivalry, but going THAT far so that I wouldn't compete on another team? RIDICULOUS.
Most of this is just B.S. drama but what concerns me is the possibility of being on a two different team's Worlds rosters - one of which was without my knowledge or consent - because isn't that totally against the rules? and if so, is there anything I can do about it? Is there any way to find out if I'm in fact on a roster for a team I never had any part in?
Help.
future Wildcat
